The Jungle Book

Character Guide

Spoiler-free — fuller detail (with spoilers, if you want them) lives in the reader's Guide tab.

Mowgli (Mowgli the Frog)

A human infant found alone in the jungle and adopted by a wolf family; he grows up learning the Law of the Jungle and running with the Seeonee Wolf Pack.

Father Wolf

The wolf who finds Mowgli and brings him into his den, later presenting him to the Pack Council for acceptance.

Mother Wolf (Raksha ("The Demon"))

Father Wolf's mate who fiercely claims Mowgli as her own cub and defies Shere Khan when he demands the boy be handed over.

Akela (the Lone Wolf)

The aging, respected leader of the Seeonee Wolf Pack who speaks in Mowgli's defense at the Council Rock.

Shere Khan (Lungri (the Lame One))

A lame tiger who considers Mowgli his rightful prey and stirs resentment among the younger wolves against him.

Bagheera (the Black Panther)

A sleek black panther, born in captivity among men, who buys Mowgli's place in the Pack with a bull and becomes one of his closest teachers and protectors.

Baloo

The brown bear who teaches Mowgli the Law of the Jungle and the Master Words that grant him protection among the jungle's peoples.

Kaa

An enormous, immensely strong python who rescues Mowgli and his friends from the mischievous Bandar-log using his hypnotic 'Hunger Dance.'

Tabaqui (the Dish-licker)

A cringing, mischief-making jackal who scavenges scraps and stirs up trouble, often as Shere Khan's flattering hanger-on.

Gray Brother

One of Mother Wolf's cubs and Mowgli's loyal wolf companion, who keeps him informed of jungle happenings.

The Bandar-log (the Monkey-People)

A disorganized, boastful tribe of monkeys with no leader or laws, who kidnap Mowgli hoping he can teach them skills.

Buldeo

An older village hunter who confronts Mowgli over a tiger kill, embodying the suspicious, rule-bound world of men.

Glossary

Bandar-log

"Monkey-People" — the disorganized, chattering tribe of monkeys who have no leader and are looked down on by the other jungle animals.

Red Flower

The jungle animals' fearful name for fire, which no creature will call by its true name.

Law of the Jungle

The body of customs and rules governing behavior, hunting rights, and pack membership among the animals of the jungle.

Free People

The wolves' name for themselves as a pack, emphasizing their independence and right to self-governance.

Man-cub

The jungle animals' term for a human child, used throughout to describe Mowgli.

Dewanee

The jungle creatures' word for madness or rabies-like frenzy, greatly feared even by tigers.

Sambhur

A large Indian deer species, hunted by the wolves and other jungle predators.

Gidur-log

"The jackal people" — a dismissive term used for jackals like Tabaqui.

Council Rock

The hilltop meeting place where the Wolf Pack gathers under the full moon to induct cubs and settle pack matters.

Master Words

Special phrases Baloo teaches Mowgli that grant him protection and recognition among the birds, snakes, and beasts of the jungle.

Lungri

Shere Khan's nickname meaning "the Lame One," referencing his lame paw.

Bagheera

Hindi-derived name meaning panther/tiger, used as the character's proper name in the book.

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