The Wind in the Willows Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter I Summary

Chapter I Summary

The adventure begins not so adventurously, with the main character, the Mole, engaged in hard spring cleaning, choking on the dust kicked up by his busy broom. Up above in the fresh air, the season of spring is calling, with its appealing spirit of carefree restlessness. Mole can no longer ignore its call. Leaving the cleaning behind, he goes out of his house without a backwards glance.

Topside, Mole finds himself in a gorgeous meadow, with all the birds of spring singing in the fine air. Mole's keen animal senses are overjoyed by the sunshine and the soft breezes. He crosses the meadow and jeers at the rabbit sentries who try to charge him money for using their lane. Mole leaves the meadow, which is near his home, and wanders aimlessly, exploring areas he's never before seen. He wanders until he finds a river. Mole, a small creature who lives...
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