Rikki-Tikki-Tavi | Topics for Further Study

The characters of Nag and Nagaina are portrayed as villains in ‘‘Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.’’ The use of snakes as a symbol of evil is common in Western civilization. Can you think of other stories, myths, or folk tales that use this motif? Research the folktales and mythologies of another, non-Western culture, such as the Chinese culture or the Hindu culture. Are snakes used as symbols in these cultures and, if so, what do they represent?

The Hindu god Brahm, or Brahma, is mentioned in the story ‘‘Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,’’ but nothing about the god’s significance in Hinduism...

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