Rudyard Kipling, “a superb literary craftsman” (Horton 682), is one of the world’s most beloved children’s authors. He utilized many literary styles, writing novels such as Kim, Captains Courageous, The Light That Failed, and poems such as “If” and “The White Man’s Burden.” However, he is most well known for his array of colorful children’s stories such as Just So Stories, and perhaps his most well-known piece, the Jungle Book. Possessing a deep admiration for Indian culture, Kipling penned colorful, captivating pieces of literature. Nearly all of his writings carried common themes surrounding the life and culture in India, and many of his works are directly reflective of certain periods in his dynamic life. Joseph Rudyard Kipling was born
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Raised by the keeper of an opium den, Kim spends his days scurrying about the crowded city streets. He soon meets a Buddhist ' from Tibet, who has come to find the Holy River of the Arrow in order to free himself from the Wheel of Things and achieve enlightenment. Kim decides he will accompany him to help him find the River, becoming his Chela or disciple. The duo travels along the Grand Trunk Road, only to be stopped and for Kim to be seized by an English regiment, leaving the Lama to continue his pilgrimage alone. Kim attends school for three years, and is eventually employed as a spy for the British. During his time in school, Kim manages to keep in contact with his beloved Lama, and is able to rejoin him after finishing school. Under the guise of the search for the River, Kim leads the way into the Himalayas where he completes his task as a spy, obtaining items from the Russians working to undermine British control of the region. Left weary and sick from the strenuous journey through the hills, Kim falls asleep for two days while the Lama fasts. When Kim awakes, he finds that the Lama had seemingly fallen into a trance during his fast. The Lama had a vision of the Great Soul, and indeed achieves enlightenment. However, the Lama is faced with a question, “what shall come of the boy if thou art dead?” (Kipling 277). The Lama pities Kim and forsakes his own enlightenment so that he may return to his beloved disciple and bring salvation to
Raised by the keeper of an opium den, Kim spends his days scurrying about the crowded city streets. He soon meets a Buddhist ' from Tibet, who has come to find the Holy River of the Arrow in order to free himself from the Wheel of Things and achieve enlightenment. Kim decides he will accompany him to help him find the River, becoming his Chela or disciple. The duo travels along the Grand Trunk Road, only to be stopped and for Kim to be seized by an English regiment, leaving the Lama to continue his pilgrimage alone. Kim attends school for three years, and is eventually employed as a spy for the British. During his time in school, Kim manages to keep in contact with his beloved Lama, and is able to rejoin him after finishing school. Under the guise of the search for the River, Kim leads the way into the Himalayas where he completes his task as a spy, obtaining items from the Russians working to undermine British control of the region. Left weary and sick from the strenuous journey through the hills, Kim falls asleep for two days while the Lama fasts. When Kim awakes, he finds that the Lama had seemingly fallen into a trance during his fast. The Lama had a vision of the Great Soul, and indeed achieves enlightenment. However, the Lama is faced with a question, “what shall come of the boy if thou art dead?” (Kipling 277). The Lama pities Kim and forsakes his own enlightenment so that he may return to his beloved disciple and bring salvation to