The Wind in the Willows Study Guide

The Wind in the Willows

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows is the classic children's tale of Mole, Rat, and Toad. When Mole gets tired of spring cleaning, he meets his new friend Rat, who teaches him about boating and life on the river. They visit the rich and irresponsible Toad, who is always getting into trouble, and also meet the wise old Badger, who decides that something must be done about Toad's self-destructive behavior. This story explores themes of pastoralism, fantasy, childhood, and adventure.

The Wind in the Willows Characters

Table of Contents
  • Mole : A mild-mannered, home-loving animal, and the first character introduced in the story. Fed up with spring cleaning in his secluded home, he ventures into the outside world. Initially overawed by the hustle and bustle of the riverbank, he eventually adapts.
  • Rat : Known as "Ratty" to his friends (though actually a water vole), he is cultured, relaxed and friendly, with literary pretensions and a life of leisure. Ratty loves the river and takes charge of Mole. He is occasionally mischievous and can be stubborn when it comes to doing things outside his riverside lifestyle.
  • Mr Toad : The wealthy scion of Toad Hall who inherited his wealth from his late father. Although good-natured, kind-hearted and not without intelligence, he is also spoiled, conceited, and impulsive. He is prone to obsessions and crazes (such as punting, houseboats, and horse-drawn caravans). He gets bored with each of these in turn, and drops them. His motoring craze eventually sees him imprisoned for theft, dangerous driving and gross impertinence to the police. Several chapters of the book chronicle his daring escape from prison.
  • Mr Badger : Gruff and solitary, who "simply hates society", Badger embodies the "wise hermit" figure. A friend of Toad's late father, he is uncompromising with the disappointing Toad, yet remains optimistic that his good qualities will prevail. He lives in a vast underground sett, part of which incorporates the remains of a buried Roman settlement. A brave and a skilled fighter, Badger helped clear the Wild Wooders from Toad Hall with his large cudgel.
  • Otter and Portly : A friend of Ratty with a stereotypical "Cockney costermonger" character, the extrovert Otter is tough and self-sufficient. Portly is his young son.
  • The Weasels : The story's main antagonists. They plot to take over Toad Hall.
  • Pan : A god who makes a single, anomalous appearance in Chapter 7, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn".
  • The Gaoler's Daughter : The only major human character; a "good, kind, clever girl", she helps Toad escape from prison.
  • The Chief Weasel : The story's main antagonist. He and his band of weasels, stoats, and ferrets from the Wild Wood plot to take over Toad Hall.
  • Inhabitants of the Wild Wood : Weasels, stoats, ferrets and foxes, who are described by Ratty thus: "all right in a way... but... well, you can't really trust them"
  • The Wayfarer : A vagabond seafaring rat, who also makes a single appearance. Ratty briefly considers following his example, before Mole persuades him otherwise.
  • Squirrels and rabbits , who are generally good (although rabbits are described as "a mixed lot").

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