The Wind in the Willows Summary: Plot, Characters and Ending
The Wind in the Willows follows four animal friends in the English countryside: shy Mole, river-loving Ratty, wise Badger and the rich, boastful Mr. Toad, whose obsession with motor cars lands him in prison and loses him his home to the weasels of the Wild Wood.
Kenneth Grahame developed the stories from bedtime tales for his young son.
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Mole | Shy, curious animal new to the river |
| Ratty (Water Rat) | Kind, poetic lover of the river |
| Mr. Toad | Wealthy, vain owner of Toad Hall |
| Badger | Gruff, wise friend who lives in the Wild Wood |
| Otter | Friend of Ratty |
| The weasels and stoats | Troublemakers of the Wild Wood |
How does Mole meet Ratty?
One spring day Mole abandons his cleaning and wanders up to the river, which he has never seen. Ratty takes him out in his boat for a picnic, and Mole moves in with him. Ratty teaches him to row and swim.
↑ Back to the topWhat is Toad's problem?
They visit Toad of Toad Hall, who has a new craze every month. First it is a painted caravan, until a speeding motor car overturns it, and then Toad falls hopelessly in love with motor cars, crashing one after another.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens in the Wild Wood?
In winter Mole sets off alone to find Badger and gets lost in the frightening Wild Wood. Ratty finds him, and in a snowstorm they stumble upon Badger's warm underground home. Later Mole grows homesick, and Ratty helps him find and celebrate in his old house at Christmas.
↑ Back to the topHow does Toad end up in prison?
Badger, Ratty and Mole try to cure Toad by locking him in his room, but he escapes, steals a motor car and is sentenced to twenty years in prison. The jailer's daughter helps him escape disguised as a washerwoman. After many comic adventures he returns, only to learn that weasels and stoats have taken over Toad Hall.
↑ Back to the topHow does The Wind in the Willows end?
Badger knows a secret tunnel into Toad Hall. While the weasels hold a banquet, the four friends burst in with sticks and swords and drive them out. Toad, humbled at last, throws a celebration party at which he does not sing a single boastful song, and he makes amends to everyone who helped him. The friends continue to walk in the Wild Wood, now respected by all.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Wind in the Willows
This summary reveals the whole plot, including the ending.