1) What do you think about the characters being anthropomorphized
animals? Is this easy or difficult for you to reconcile with their behaviors?
2) Chapter One introduces us to Mole and his experiences one spring day as he decides to forego house cleaning and frolic in the fresh air instead. What do you think of his joy in the spring and of the river: “Never in his life had he seen a river before--this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal, chasing and chuckling, gripping things with a gurgle and leaving them with a laugh, to fling itself on fresh playmates that shook themselves free, and were caught and held again. All was a-shake and a-shiver--glints and gleams and sparkles, rustle and swirl, chatter and bubble. The Mole was bewitched, entranced, fascinated.”
3) What do you think attracts Mole and Rat as friends?
4) In Chapter Two, we meet Toad who “Disregarding the Rat, he proceeded to play upon the inexperienced Mole as on a harp. Naturally a voluble animal, and always mastered by his imagination, he painted the prospects of the trip and the joys of the open life and the roadside in such glowing colours that the Mole could hardly sit in his chair for excitement” and embarks with Mole and Rat in tow. What do you think of Toad, and of their adventure? And, what do you think when at the end of the chapter, Toad buys a car.
5) In Chapters Three and Four winter comes and we are introduced to Badger. What do you think of the contrast between the spring and summer adventures, and the winter adventures? Also, what do you think of the character of Badger and how he joins in?
6) As we finish this section, are there other themes or questions I’ve missed?
(photo credit )
posted by Mimi @ 8/05/2010 12:45:00 PM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
1) When I read this book as a child I never thought about their being animals with human characteristics, or humans with animal bodies. Their physical senses, and some of their social ones, even some of their emotions, are animal, but their reasoning and communication are human. I still don't find this difficult to comprehend - though an animal society comprised of interspecies friendships is harder to believe in!
2) I do find it a little astonishing that even a mole has never been above the ground before, especially when he immediately takes to exclusively above-ground life for months on end. But then, it's a story... It's a simple response to finding a great joy in life, or a truth that you didn't know existed but seems obvious when you finally come across it. Mole has a great 'Damascus-road' moment and responds whole-heartedly, changing his life entirely without a backward glance as he leaves everything familiar behind.
3) Mole is beglamoured by everything to do with the river, and Rat is the embodiment of the relationship he would like to have with the river himself. Rat appreciates Mole's sincerity; two good hearts recognise each other. Mole remains the novice and Rat the experienced mentor for a long time, at least in the ways of the river and the world, but Rat recognises Mole's excellent emotional compass.
4) I can't stand Toad - his only role is as the sand in the oyster, without whom the pearl of the story couldn't happen. Every story needs such an irritant as a catalyst, but I'm afraid Mole and Rat are much kinder and more charitable animals than I! They are irritated of course, but basically they like Toad as he is. I feel more like Badger...
The car was inevitable, just the next phase in Toad's selfish whims.
5) We cross all kinds of thresholds when Mole goes by himself into the Wild Wood - as Rat says himself, Mole has been kept on the sunny side in the early days of summer, getting to know all the happy things about life on the riverbank. But when the weather changes, he starts to feel that he knows what it's all about, gets impatient and pushes the boundaries, life is revealed to be much more complex and painful, full of shadows and uncertainty. And yet in the midst of ther despair, just when they think all is lost...
Well golly, I have never thought of this book as an allegory of the spiritual life before!
1) Like Anna, I have no issue with the characters being animals, and find it endearing. The disconnect for me is that I see them as human sized animals in my head, and the I see the drawings and they are clearly just animals. Blush.
2) I love how he ditches housecleaning and finds that there is an entire world up above. I also was surprised he’d never been there, but loved the descriptions of seeing everything afresh.
3) It’s amazing to me that they become such fast and furious friends, spending months together after their first meeting, but I also think they complement each other well and it shows.
4) I really hated Toad playing Mole “as on a harp” and the adventure is such an allegory of the lure of the shiny and seedy side of life, and Toad is fully immersed in it.
5) I love how the winter scenes are so warm and cozy as the animals are inside. Although, their adventure getting lost in the snow is sad and scary.
6) I was surprised at how difficult I found the story to get into – it reminds me of why I probably never finished it as a kid. But, as the story moved along, I started to get into the rhythm of the storyline, and now when I look back at the chapters and the story, I find it is with pleasure. It isn’t boring in my recall.
PS Alan Bennett's audio dramatisation (much abridged) is lovely, and currently playing on BBC iplayer, which non-UK listeners *should* be able to access too: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qsxdy/Kenneth_Grahames_The_Wind_in_the_Willows_Episode_1/
I answered these over on my blog, I figured trying to do it here would be LOOOONG
1 - Anthropomorphized: I agree with Anna and Mimi; the fact that Mole and Rat live in a world that's got people and cars and houses in it is only an obstacle if you're used to being very logical and literal. If you can easily lay hold of that child-like part of your mind that is much more flexible about reality, the whole thing is done so easily that it's easy to just go along for the ride.
2 - The river: I think that in this and so many other passages, Kenneth Grahame is letting himself go, creating wonderfully sensuous odes to things that he loves and wants everyone else to love, too. Have you noticed how much of his description plays on your senses -- full-bodied, chuckling, glints, gleams, rustle, chatter, bubble? You can not only *see* the river in your mind's eye, you can hear it and smell it and *feel* it. Wish I could write great crap like this when I wanted to. :-)
3 - What makes Rat and Mole such friends: That's a good question, actually. I see what Rat gets out of Mole more than the other way around. Mole is such an accomodating, all-around good sport that he always seems to let Rat (or Badger or Toad) take the lead. Ratty is sort of touted as being an upstanding chap, but he's always the expert. Personally, I can't deal with people that won't share that title, but that's probably just me.
4 - Toad: Oh GOOD. You guys didn't like Toad either. That's a great relief. I had the idea I was really supposed think Toad was lovable and worth all the awful things he puts everyone through. Instead, I find him obnoxious; his egoism is completely unappealing to me.
5 - Winter: This gave Grahame a chance to show something that I think is near and dear to the heart of every Englishman -- the bliss of reaching your own hearth when the winter starts really biting into you.
6 - Themes: One I noticed ... Home. Not just as a place, but as a state of mind, a haven, a holy of holies. Very British, and very Victorian, it seems to me. And notice the contrast with travel and things that take you away from home. Notice Grahame having his own dialogue over which is best: staying home or gadding about. He can make compelling arguments from each side -- and there's a chapter coming up that bring the whole question to a crisis point for Ratty.
So what was Grahame's relationship with home and with being out in the world? Makes you wonder.
i think the animals are delightfully charming and sets the tone for a whimsical book. (at least, I hope it's whimsical!)
i wonder why Mole never went back to his little abode in all the time he spent with Rat. I suppose they are friends because Mole wants to learn new things and ways, and Rat likes teaching them to Mole.
Toad was kinda cute with his dazed look and "poop poop" mesmerized-ation. But he is rude yet tolerated... kinda like high school! So far I don't hate Toad, but like Moley and Ratty I tolerate him.
I too find the imagery outstanding, and the descriptions lend to the whimsical feel. I was knitting and listening during the Badger/winter chapters, and I think i missed too much of it to comment yet. Moley should've listened, but is often the case everything turns out ok even if we make a thorough mess of things.
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