Shere Khan as the Enemy in Mowgli's Brothers of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling was written in the year 1894 as a
series of short stories based primarily in the jungles of India. The
first story, 'Mowgli's Brothers' introduces a number of characters
that feature throughout additional stories in the novel. The
antagonist a tiger named Shere Kahn, is introduced early in the novel
and presents the ongoing danger against the protagonist, 'man-child',
Mowgli. Kipling conveys Shere Kahn as the enemy early in the novel
through varied use of language and the events that create tension
between Mowgli & himself. Shere Khan's character ignores of the 'Law
of the Jungle' and the constant threat he poses to Mowgli establishes
him as the enemy in the story.
Kipling first introduces the reader to Shere Khan through the voice of
Tabaqui the Jackal at the beginning of the novel. We are told that:
"Shere khan, the Big One, has shifted his hunting grounds."
This shows us that Shere Khan is perceived as the enemy. He is known
as the "Big One" and the capitalization here makes him seem more of a
threat. We see him as a predator who poses an imminent danger.
The wolves first talk about Shere Khan with the use of sarcasm. The
wolves are told by Tabaqui that Shere Khan "has shifted his hunting
grounds" which is very bad for the wolves and they state how lucky
they are by saying: "indeed we are very grateful to Shere khan."
This tells us that Shere Khan is disliked by the animals.
Shere Khan breaks the laws of the jungle. He disobeys the law because
there is no one big enough to deal with "the Big One".
She...
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... is no longer a boy but a man who knows the meaning of hate and
respect. Mowgli "promise" the wolves that he would "betray ye to men
as ye have betray me" this confirms his understanding of the wolves
and how his language changed and became more serious towards Shere
Khan and the wolves.
Shere Khan is established as the enemy in "Mowgli's brothers" with the
use of continual comparisons with other animals and with what the
other animals think of him. Conflict is started straight from the
beginning because of the Tiger's miss to catch his prey and his hate
of men when he meets Mowgli but not being able to kill him as he is
accepted by the wolves. Other animals tell Mowgli to fear Shere Khan
because of there own fear of him and his establishment by Kipling as
the enemy of Mowgli and other wolves who stand in his way.
As you read the book Johnny Tremain from the front to the back you see a young boy change into a mature man. Although you cannot see into the future of Johnny Tremain, you know that he will be respected and make wise decisions as an adult because he learned from his many mistakes at a young age. He changes from being proud to humble, having a fiery temper to being understanding and calm, and from selfish to a very caring man. As all of these pieces fit together to get a mature young man. At the end of the story, a woman posed a question. “’How old are you Johnny’ she asked. ‘Sixteen.’ ‘And what's that-a boy or a man?’ He laughed. ‘A boy in time of peace and a man in time of war.’”
The Pax Mongolica, also known as the Mongol Peace and Pax Tatarica, was brought up at the end of the time of Mongols’ conquests. Western Scholars designated the fourteenth century as the Pax Mongolica. The Pax Mongolica contributed to the development of a new global culture because the Mongol Khans pursued peaceful trade and diplomacy (220). The bubonic plague epidemic of the 1300s led to the destruction of the Mongol Empire because of the deaths it caused; also, the plague had demoralized the living and deprived the Mongol Golden Family of its primary source of support by cutting off trade and tribute (247).
man, develop into an adult while dealing with the many crude actions and ways of
ran the whole gambit of life experiences from the most innocent acts of a boy in
finally realizes that his son loves him and in a way holds him as number one,
He does not act like the blood hungry beast he is seen as in Beowulf. In
When the word “Mongol” is said I automatically think negative thoughts about uncultured, barbaric people who are horribly cruel and violent. That is only because I have only heard the word used to describe such a person. I have never really registered any initial information I have been taught about the subject pass the point of needing and having to know it. I felt quite incompetent on the subject and once I was given an assignment on the book, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern Age, I was very perplexed for two reasons. One I have to read an outside book for a class that already requires a substantial amount of time reading the text, and secondly I have to write a research paper in History. I got over it and read the book, which surprisingly enough interested me a great deal and allow me to see the Moguls for more than just a barbaric group of Neanderthals, but rather a group of purpose driven warriors with a common goal of unity and progression. Jack Weatherford’s work has given me insight on and swayed my opinion of the Mongols.
While Grendel may possess a brute strength, his lack of wit and logic is what ultimately leads to his downfall and demise. In Beowulf, the actions and character that of Beowulf, or an Epic Hero, define the perfect Anglo-Saxon warrior. Epic heroes are indicated by a variety of traits, including that they, “must look like a hero, they must be noble, famous, strong, courageous, humble, prideful, thick-skinned, self-sacrificing, faithful, focused, be a leader, and have a tragic flaw” (Jones 3). Unfortunately, aside from the ‘tragic flaw’ and ‘strong’ categories, Grendel’s character is antithetical to all characteristics of an Epic Hero. This makes him quite the villain, and a generally despicable character. “Suddenly then, / the God-cursed brute creating havoc: / greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men”
In the book Genghis khan and the making of the modern world, Jack Weatherford allows us to see the conquest of the world by the Mongols. He starts us from before Temujin was ever born. He introduces us to many of the Mongols great achievements, like the conquest of china.
To her Dave was now just a slave and an “it” she referred to him as “the boy”. Although sometimes Dave’s father would try to help him or defend him in arguments he would always give in to Dave’s mother.
when a boy was to become a man, he was sent to find his protective spirit. First, h...
but has a mind of a child. They are the main characters and are two
an unhappy little man. He feels he has to make himself seem tough by surrounding
boy is one of the latters. He’s going to be into everything!” (264). Here we get an insight into his personality. He may not just be a thoughtless killer. He may actually act the way he does because he has thought about things rather seriously, challenging religious beliefs and whether he should follow them or not.
...ly man handle him. Also the kidnapping of Mowgli was of harmless intention to discover the secret of man’s fire. On the other hand, Kaa and Shere Khan, the tiger antagonist, make clear threats against Mowgli. The only apparent reason of the discontent held towards the monkey people is there lack of self control and monkey ways of life.