How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
At the hole where he went in
Red-Eye called to Wrinkle-Skin.
Hear what little Red-Eye saith:
"Nag, come up and dance with death!" (Epigraph)
The epigraph is part of an entire epic poem devoted to Rikki-tikki's courage. You know a theme's important when the story can't wait to tell you about it.
Quote #2
It is the hardest thing in the world to frighten a mongoose, because he is eaten up from nose to tail with curiosity. The motto of all the mongoose family is, "Run and find out"; and Rikki-tikki was a true mongoose. (7)
You can't have curiosity without bravery—or, you can, but then you're just an armchair explorer. And no one likes that guy.
Quote #3
[…] and if he had been an old mongoose he would have known that then was the time to break her back with one bite; but he was afraid of the terrible lashing return-stroke of the cobra. (30)
Rikki-tikki may be brave, but he's also inexperienced. He doesn't yet have the know-how to properly fight the cobras. Bravery only goes so far if you don't mature with it. (See "Coming of Age" for more).
Quote #4
Rikki-tikki did not care to follow them for he did not feel sure that he could manage two snakes at once. (32)
Sure, Rikki-tikki is brave, but he's not stupid. Would you take on two cobras at once? Would you take on one? Seriously.
Quote #5
If you read the old books of natural history, you will find they say that when the mongoose fights the snake and happens to get bitten, he runs off and eats some herb that cures him. That is not true. The victory is only a matter of quickness of eye and quickness of foot,—snake's blow against mongoose's jump,—and as no eye can follow the motion of a snake's head when it strikes, that makes things much more wonderful than any magic herb. (33)
If the mongoose has some secret herb that works as antivenin, then their battles are a little one-sided, aren't they? And he doesn't. Instead, it's pure courage that allows the mongoose to go toe-to-toe with a cobra, and the narrator wants you to know he thinks that's pretty cool.
Quote #6
"Those who kill snakes get killed by snakes," said Chuchundra, more sorrowfully than ever.
"And how am I to be sure that Nag won't mistake me for you some dark night?" (42)
"Live by the sword, die by the sword" is definitely not Chuchundra's motto. Hey, you need a not-so-brave character to really appreciate how courageous Rikki-tikki really is.
Quote #7
"Now, when Karait was killed, the big man had a stick. He may have that stick still, but when he comes in to bathe in the morning he will not have the stick. I shall wait here till he comes. Nagaina—do you hear me?—I shall wait here in the cool till daytime." (58)
Nag is a dangerous snake, but he isn't brave. He waits to sneak attack the father. This is a major difference between Nag and Rikki-tikki's personalities. (Also, the whole mammal / reptile thing, too. Talk about specieist.)
Quote #8
"Nag is dead—is dead—is dead!" sang Darzee. "The valiant Rikki-tikki caught him by the head and held fast. The big man brought the bang-stick and Nag fell in two pieces! He will never eat my babies again." (66)
It's easy to be brave and sing songs when you're not the one doing the fighting. Once again a not-so-brave character points out how courageous Rikki-tikki is.
Quote #9
"Yes, you will go away, and you will never come back; for you will go to the rubbish-heap with Nag. Fight, widow! The big man has gone for his gun! Fight!" (98)
Nagaina offers Rikki-tikki a way out of the fight, but he won't take it. We don't know if Rikki-tikki's refusal makes him cold-hearted, reckless, or courageous, but that speech is certainly action-hero worthy.
Quote #10
[…], and as [Nagaina] plunged into the rat-hole where she and Nag used to live, [Rikki-tikki's] little white teeth were clenched on her tail, and he went down with her—and very few mongooses, however wise and old they may be, care to follow a cobra into its hole. (101)
Rikki-tikki's bravery takes him into the one place we wouldn't want to go, a cobra's den. Wonder if he regrets being so brave at this point and time? Eh, probably not.