67 pages 2 hours read

Rudyard Kipling

Kim

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1901

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Introduction

Teacher Introduction

Kim

  • Genre: Fiction; adventure novel
  • Originally Published: 1901
  • Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 940L; grades 9-12; college/adult
  • Structure/Length: 15 parts; approximately 368 pages; approximately 13 hours, 19 minutes on audiobook
  • Protagonist/Central Conflict: The central conflict in the story follows Kimball “Kim” O’Hara, an orphaned, biracial British boy who grows up in the streets of British-occupied India during the late 19th century. As he becomes entangled in the world of espionage, Kim’s adventures take him on a journey through the diverse landscapes and cultures of India. The story explores themes of identity, espionage, and the clash of cultures in colonial India.
  • Potential Sensitivity Issues: Colonial-era themes; cultural appropriation; depictions of British colonialism

Rudyard Kipling, Author

  • Bio: Born 1865; died 1936; British author and poet; known for his works of fiction and poetry inspired by his experiences in India and other British colonies; awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907; famous for works such as The Jungle Book and Just So Stories; controversial for his views on imperialism and colonialism
  • Other Works: The Jungle Book (1894); Just So Stories (1902); Captains Courageous (1897); “The Man Who Would Be King” (1888); “The White Man's Burden” (1899); “If—” (1910)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

  • Life as a Game
  • Personal Identity
  • Religious and Cultural Diversity

Related Titles

By Rudyard Kipling

Study Guide

logo

Rikki Tikki Tavi

Rudyard Kipling

Rikki Tikki Tavi

Rudyard Kipling

Study Guide

logo

Seal Lullaby

Rudyard Kipling

Seal Lullaby

Rudyard Kipling

Study Guide

logo

The Conundrum of the Workshops

Rudyard Kipling

The Conundrum of the Workshops

Rudyard Kipling

Study Guide

logo

The Jungle Book

Rudyard Kipling

The Jungle Book

Rudyard Kipling

Plot Summary

logo

The Man Who Would Be King

Rudyard Kipling

The Man Who Would Be King

Rudyard Kipling

Study Guide

logo

The Mark Of The Beast

Rudyard Kipling

The Mark Of The Beast

Rudyard Kipling

Study Guide

logo

The White Man's Burden

Rudyard Kipling

The White Man's Burden

Rudyard Kipling