The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling - Book Analysis (2024)

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling - Book Analysis (1)

Article written by Ebuka Igbokwe

Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

The Jungle Book’ is a collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling, published in 1894. The stories are mainly about Mowgli, a feral boy raised by a pack of wolves in the Indian jungle, and his adventures. The stories explore themes of law, freedom, loyalty, and identity, as well as the contrast between civilization and nature. ‘The Jungle Book‘ is considered a classic of children’s literature and has been adapted into many films, TV shows, and musicals.

Key Facts

  • Title:The Jungle Book
  • Published: 1894
  • Literary Period: Victorian Literature
  • Genre: Children’s Book
  • Point of View: Third-Person
  • Setting: Colonial India, North Pole
  • Climax: Mowgli stampedes buffalo herd to trample Shere Khan

Rudyard Kipling and The Jungle Book

Influenced by the stories he picked up growing up in India, Rudyard Kipling wrote ‘The Jungle Book’, a collection of short stories, some related and others stand-alone. In a fashion reminiscent of Hindi fable texts, Kipling writes anthropomorphic animal tales that teach moral lessons. There are indications Kipling wrote these tales for his young daughter, Josephine. These tales were first published in magazines in 1893 and 1894 and were later collected in a book in 1894, accompanied by illustrations made by Rudyard Kipling’s father, John Lockwood Kipling.

Rudyard Kipling was born and raised in 1865 in Bombay, British India. This experience influenced most of his work, including ‘The Jungle Book’. He was a prolific writer, publishing several novels, short stories, poetry, and newspaper articles. His notable works include ‘Kim’, ‘Just So Stories’, and ‘The Second Jungle Book’. He received the 1907 Nobel Prize in Literature for his contributions to world literature.

The story of ‘The Jungle Book’ features the adventures of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves, a panther, and a bear, and his hostility with a lame tiger, Shere Khan. It also contains stories of a white seal’s search for a home for a paradise for his kind, away from human predation; a little mongoose’s brave defense of its adoptive family; and a young elephant keeper’s lucky witness of the mysterious elephants’ dance. This book is an everlasting classic and has continued to be a pleasure to read over the ages.

Books Related to The Jungle Book

If you enjoyed ‘The Jungle Book,’ you might also like these books by Rudyard Kipling.

  • The Second Jungle Book’— This is a sequel of the ‘The Jungle Book’. It is a collection of stories featuring anthropomorphic animals, like its prequel, and most stories star Mowgli. It includes stories about how the tiger got its stripes, Mowgli’s revenge on the villagers who banished him, and Mowgli’s plan to rescue his wolf pack from a pack of dholes.
  • Just So Stories’— This also is a classic children’s book and a collection of humorous origin tales. In this imaginative work, Kipling weaves enchanting narratives explaining how certain animals acquired unique characteristics. It features the elephant who got its long trunk by trying to pull himself from the grip of a crocodile that had bitten its nose, or how the kangaroo got powerful hind legs by running away from a pursuing dingo dog.

Other similar books by other authors include:

  • The Graveyard Book—This novel by Neil Gaiman is a spellbinding coming-of-age tale that unfolds in a graveyard. After an assassin kills his parents and leaves him an orphan, Nobody Owens finds refuge and a peculiar upbringing in a graveyard, raised by ghosts and supernatural guardians. Gaiman’s masterful storytelling blends fantasy, mystery, and heart-warming moments as Bod encounters ancient secrets and faces the dark forces threatening his life. ‘The Graveyard Book’ explores identity, family, and the journey from childhood to independence.
  • Tarzan of the Apes’—In this classic adventure novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lord and Lady Greystoke are shipwrecked on Africa’s wild coast. His father and mother die, and their infant son, Tarzan, is orphaned and alone. Adopted and raised by a tribe of great apes, Tarzan grows up learning the ways of the jungle. As he matures, Tarzan discovers his true identity and human heritage and must harmonize the savage world of the jungle with the civilized world. Filled with action, romance, and a captivating exploration of the clash between nature and society, ‘Tarzan of the Apes’ remains a classic adventure that has enthralled readers for generations.

The Lasting Impact of The Jungle Book

In over one and a quarter century since Kipling published ‘The Jungle Book‘, it has over 500 print editions, 100 audiobooks, and has been translated into over 30 languages. Its popularity has hardly waned since. It has been adapted into diverse media, including live-action movies, animated films, musicals, radio dramas, comic books, audiobooks, and video games.

Several writers have borrowed inspiration from it to write popular and award-winning tales. Robert Heinlein’s 1961 novel, ‘Stranger in a Strange Land‘ is a science-fiction adaptation of the story. In this Hugo Award-winning book, the protagonist is raised by Martians. Neil Gaiman’s 2008 novel ‘The Graveyard Book‘ gives the idea a morbid twist. An English graveyard replaces the Indian jungle of the original tale. Ghosts stand in for wolves. And in the place of a sly and murderous tiger is a cunning and lethal assassin. This book, too, won the Hugo Award., in addition to the Newbury Award and the Carnegie Medal.

Several comic book issues pay homage to this Kipling classic, including a DC Elsewhere edition where the hero Superman is a feral boy raised by wolves; a Marvel Fanfare series collected in a Marvel Illustrated one-shot; and a Manga Classics version of the story published by UDON Entertainment in 2017.

The stories of ‘The Jungle Book‘ have been adapted countless times as animated series and live-action movies for the screen. The favorites are the Mowgli stories, but even ‘The White Seal’ and ‘Rikki Tikki Tavi’ have had films made of them. A few of these are the Chuck Jones cartoon series Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (1975), The White Seal (1975), and Mowgli’s Brothers (1976); the eponymous Disney’s 1967 and its remake in 2016; and a 2010 CGI-animated TV series, The Jungle Book.

Rudyard Kipling and Robert Baden-Powel, the founder of the Scouting Movement, were friends, and Baden-Powell drew inspiration for his movement’s organization from the stories. Not only was the book made an inspirational read for the Cub Scouts, but the leader of a Cub Scout pack is called Akela, in homage to the leader of the Seoonee wolf pack in the Mowgli stories.

The Jungle Book Review

What does a book expert think: Get a comprehensive overview of the reception and review of The Jungle Book.

The Jungle Book Historical Context

Setting the scene for The Jungle Book: Understand the time and place that inspired its creation and relevance.

The Jungle Book Quotes

The words that resonate: Find memorable quotes from The Jungle Book that capture its essence of the book.

The Jungle Book Characters

Get to know the characters: Understand the characters in The Jungle Book.

The Jungle Book Themes and Analysis

Unlock the hidden meanings: Dive deeper into the central themes and symbolism, and analysis of The Jungle Book.

The Jungle Book Summary

The Jungle Book in a nutshell: A quick overview of the essential plot points, characters, and ideas.

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling - Book Analysis (2)

About Ebuka Igbokwe

Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

Ebuka Igbokwe is the founder and former leader of a book club, the Liber Book Club, in 2016 and managed it for four years. Ebuka has also authored several children's books. He shares philosophical insights on his newsletter, Carefree Sketches and has published several short stories on a few literary blogs online.

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling - Book Analysis (2024)
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