‘Mowgli and Shere Khan’
Two ‘Unforgettable’ Characters in the Jungle Book!
The Jungle Book Story is one of those timeless classics of Literature that can be read time and again. Filled with unforgettable characters and infused with several life-inspiring lessons, it is certainly ‘A Tale for The Ages.’ That being said, in all probability you are one of those people who have seen the Jungle Book ‘Movie’, and not read the Book!
Needless to say, none of us can argue over the fact that the Jungle Book Main Character is ‘Mowgli’!
In this article, we at EuroKids are proud to present The Jungle Book Summary. Find yourself transported to another world, as you revisit the tale of ‘The Boy who was raised by Wolves’. Namely, Rudyard Kipling’s magnum opus, ‘The Jungle Book’!
But first, a closer look at the Characters in The Jungle Book.
From Mowgli to Shere Khan: The Characters in The Jungle Book
Whether you’ve seen the movie or read the book, there’s no denying the fact that the Characters in the Jungle Book have distinct personas of their own.
Presenting the Characters in the Jungle Book, that makes an impression on every child’s mind.
- Mowgli
- Shere Khan
- Bagheera
- Baloo
- The Bandar-Log
- Mother Wolf
- Father Wolf
- Akela
- Colonel Hathi
- Kaa
- Junior
- King Louie
- The Vultures
The protagonist of the story, he is that very boy who is ‘raised by wolves’!
The most dreaded animal in the Jungle, this cunning Tiger does not know the meaning of ‘The Law of the Jungle’.
The Black Panther in the jungle, who along with Baloo the Bear, accepts Mowgli as ‘one of his own’.
Who can forget the humorous Black Bear, who teaches Mowgli the Law of the Jungle?
Like Shere Khan, this group of Monkeys does not abide by the Law of the Jungle.
The She-Wolf that takes Mowgli and raises him as though he were her own child.
Just like Mother Wolf, Father Wolf takes care of Mowgli and remains loyal to him till the end.
The leader of the pack of wolves that Mowgli belongs to. Akela gradually starts losing the influence he wields over the Pack, as he ages.
In charge of all the elephants, this elephant is bossy and not all that likeable.
This snake has hypnotizing eyes!
Just a baby elephant looking to have some fun, much like Mowgli.
An Orangutan who is looking to be more ‘human’.
One might think these creatures are going to turn out to be villains, but in fact they make for one of the kindest animals in the story!
The Jungle Book Summary
The Story begins with a Pack of Wolves finding an abandoned ‘human’ baby. They take him in as one of their own, and christen him ‘Mowgli’. He grows up surrounded by animals, and forges endearing friendships with characters like the funny Baloo, and the highly knowledgeable Bagheera.
As Mowgli grows in age, he deftly learns the Laws of the Jungle thanks to the help he garners from his friends, Baloo and Bagheera. That being said, he does not have a keen sense of appreciation for said laws, and that leads to his kidnapping by the similar-minded Bandar-log. Thankfully, Baloo and Bagheera come to his rescue, and return him to the pack of wolves. They do this with the help of Kaa the Snake, who does a brilliant job of hypnotizing the monkeys with his ‘Hunger Dance’, thereby leading them to walk towards their deaths.
Mowgli might have been adopted by Mother Wolf, but the vicious Shere Khan will have none of it. In the council meeting of the animals, he asks the wolves to surrender Mowgli to him, so he can devour him as his prey. However, Mowgli, on Bagheera’s insistence, goes to the nearby village and comes back armed with ‘The Red Flower’ or ‘Fire’, that he uses to burn Shere Khan. Since he has used this ‘human invention’, it is only deemed natural that he leaves the jungle and goes back to the village.
That marks the beginning of yet another story in the Jungle Book. This third story starts off with Mowgli not being accustomed to living his life in a ‘human habitat’. He has been adopted by an old woman called Messua, but instead of spending time with the superstitious villagers, he prefers to tend to the herd of Buffalo. Things take a turn, when one day his ‘wolf brother’ comes to the village, telling Mowgli that Shere Khan is back and intends to hurt him.
Not one to cave in to fear, Mowgli devises a ruse to get rid of Shere Khan once and for all. He enlists the help of the wolves, to herd the buffaloes into a narrow canyon and subsequently, have Shere Khan trampled to death.The plan works and Shere Khan is dead, but there is a problem. All of this has been witnessed by a superstitious old villager Buldeo, who tells the villagers that Mowgli is actually a demon that can turn into an animal!
In the end, things work out for the best. As a result of being evicted from the village, Mowgli returns to the jungle with Shere Khan’s skin, which he most generously presents to The Pack. It is there that he remains, till he grows up and marries!
The Jungle Book Story is a marvelous tale to tell your kids. The Jungle Book Summary outlined herein, embodies the very ‘essence’ of that story. We at EuroKids believe that there is far more to the Jungle Book Story for Kids than meets the eye. That is, apart from the most affable Jungle Book Main Character – Mowgli, of course!
