The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Key Facts Author: Kenneth Grahame Date: 1908 Setting: Pastoral England Characters: Rat, Mole and Toad Point of View: 3rd person (they) The novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie. It has been made into short films, plays and a Disney ride “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.”

Story Tell me what it is about, literal meaning.

Brief Summary The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is a simple children’s novel aimed at exploring the wonders of the natural environment with the aid of a few appealing furry characters. While the original piece is a novel, this is just an extract from the novel in which the protagonists give Toad’s ‘canary-yellow’ caravan a good look over while discussing the idea of going on an amazing adventure.

Ideas about journeys Contrasting attitudes emerge with regard to journeys. What are they? What do the different characters think about journeys? How do we know?

Toad’s Journey Toad loves the thought of an adventure, essentially a physical journey, especially since it was his own idea! He straddles and expands himself while happily explaining that journeying in his caravan would be exciting, ‘the whole world before you, and a horizon that’s always changing!’.

Rat’s Journey Rat expresses strong objection to the idea of a physical journey, commenting that, ‘I am going to stick to my old river, and live in a hole, and boat, as I’ve always done’, he also alludes to a fear of change. Interestingly enough, Rat even tries to convince Mole to resist the change too.

Mole’s Journey Initially, Mole is ‘tremendously interested and excited, and followed him eagerly up the steps’, but relies on others for his ideas, for he doesn’t actually speak. This leaves the reader in ambiguity as to his state of resolve in relation to the idea of a journey.

How ideas are conveyed Grahame manipulates language to emphasise several ideas about journeys.  Toad symbolises those who find it exciting and fulfilling, Rat displays the opposite view and Mole is just indecisive.

How can we tie that into the essay? Concept about oneself Concept about others Concept about the world

Toad exclaims positively that exploring the world is going off to experience, ‘travel, change, interest, excitement!’. In saying this, Toad is doing all he can to enlist the support of his friends. This feeling of great anticipation and excitement is only magnified when the caravan is described as ‘shining with newness, painted a canary- yellow

picked out with red and green wheels’, this symbolises the gaiety Toad imagines. The repeated use of exclamation marks and positive descriptions, such as, ‘the rolling downs!’, indicate Toads overflowing delight. Also, superlatives like, ‘finest’ and the amplifier, ‘ever built’ emphasise a somewhat naieve, unrealistic perspective of travelling. Rat’s attitude to journeying is obviously negative, emphasised when he speaks ‘doggedly’ and repeats ‘and’ four times, clearly indicating his intentions to follow is

own plans. Rat wants to prove his content at the ordinariness of his life by describing his home as, ‘old river’, ‘hole, and boat’. Mole is simply in the middle of this disagreement, not sure of his view on journeying. Different views of travelling by the characters show that people do have different responses to the notion of journeying. Toad symbolises those who find it exciting and fulfilling, Rat displays the opposite view and Mole is just indecisive.