History Literature / TheWindInTheWillows

* CoolBoat: It's just a punt, but Ratty's boat is described as beautifully painted and gaily decorated, and there's always a picnic basket on board. Unfortunately, it gets sunk near the end of the novel thanks to the stoats.

* '''Ratty''': The Water-Rat (aka Water Vole). Somewhat of an [[OddFriendship odd friend for Mole]], but [[TrueCompanions fiercely loyal to his friends]]. Says that "There is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats," and owns a CoolBoat to punt down The River. Acts as the voice of reason when Badger isn't present, and is somewhat annoyed by the fast pace of modern living.
* '''Mr. Toad''': A great example of an UpperClassTwit, living in Toad Hall and [[FleetingPassionateHobbies throwing himself enthusiastically at every passing fad]]. First it's boats, then wagons, then "Motorcars! Poop-poop!" A KleptomaniacHero who DrivesLikeCrazy. All the while he fancies himself a GentlemanAdventurer and sings hilariously conceited songs.

* RealityEnsues: In the first of William Horwood's sequels, ''The Willows in Winter'', Toad discovers that he's still wanted for all the crimes he committed in the first book, ''and'' for breaking out of prison. His continued escapades to stay out of prison results in a life-long enmity between him and the High Judge, who becomes his most prominent adversary and pretty much the Big Bad of the rest of the series.

''"By it and with it and on it and in it,' said the Rat. 'It's brother and sister to me, and aunts, and company, and food and drink, and
(naturally) washing. It's my world, and I don't want any other."''

''"By it and with it and on it and in it,' said the Rat. 'It's brother\\
and sister to me, and aunts, and company, and food and drink, and\\

* FiveManBand:
** TheLeader: Badger he comes up with the strategy.
** TheLancer: Toad, both to the recluse Badger and [[TheHero the shy Mole]]. He is the most talkative and loud.
** TheSmartGuy: Rat, who knows all the ins and outs of the Wild Wood and becomes a mentor for Mole.
** TheChick: Mole is the most sensitive.
** TheBigGuy: Otter, being a BoisterousBruiser.

** "The Wild Wood" a retelling by Jan Needle, told from the viewpoint of the Wild Wooders, who have a very different view on the lifestyle of the Riverbankers.

** "The River Bank" by Kij Johnson. It takes place a year after the original introducing two new characters Miss Mole (who is disliked by Mole due to past history) and Miss Rabbit, who encourages Toad to get into a new mania -- motorcycling.

* AdaptationOverdosed: There's inevitably a ''lot'' of adaptations of the novel. Curiously though a large surge of them were made within the mid-1980s to mid-1990s.

* Disney released a heavily parred down version as part of their final package film, ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad''. Ever wonder what the inspiration was for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Toad%27s_Wild_Ride the most terrifying ride]] at [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland and Walt Disney World]]? This.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: According to the annotated edition, "Up tails all" was slang for coitus.

* LowerClassLout: The Wild Wooders are treated this way, a product of Grahame's class-based mistrust of the English working class whom were seen as lazy, idle, prone to theft rather than honest labour, ill-educated and vicious to their social betters. (And, unlike the more selective middle-class house-owning voles, moles and badgers, breed uncontrollably). The book is a pretty reactionary text, written at a time when the English bourgeoisie were frightened of unrest, labour agitation and socialism among the lower orders -- in short the proletariat rising up against the hard-working middle classes. It is no accident the heroes are all members of the stout English yeomanry.

* Disney released a heavily parred down version as part of their final package film, ''Disney/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad''. Ever wonder what the inspiration was for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Toad%27s_Wild_Ride the most terrifying ride]] at [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland and Walt Disney World]]? This.

* ''Disney/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad'' (Disney, 1949)

* RichInDollarsPoorInSense: Oh, Mr. Toad. He has more than enough money to throw away on all the luxury cars he wants, but can't seem to grasp that driving recklessly is a bad idea that will crash them and land him in jail.

* SpoiledSweet: Despite his faults, Toad is as Rat says "So simple, so good-natured, and so affectionate."

** "The Wild Wood" a retelling by Jan Needle, told by the view of the Wild Wooders whom have a very different view on the lifestyle of the Riverbankers.

* ''Film/TheWindInTheWillows1996'' (known as "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" in America), a live-action version directed and starring Creator/TerryJones as Toad, Creator/EricIdle as Rate, Creator/SteveCoogan as Mole, and Nicol Williamson as Badger. Also features cameos by Creator/StephenFry, Creator/JohnCleese, and Creator/MichaelPalin.

* RoleReprisal: Creator/RichardBriers played Rat no less than three times in three different different productions. First for Alan Bennett's dramatization for the National Theatre, then in the BBC Radio 4 version of the play, and finally in Martin Gates' trilogy of animated specials.

-->"There’s cold chicken inside it," replied the Rat briefly; [[MotorMouth coldtonguecoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrollscresssandwidgespottedmeatgingerbeerlemonadesodawater]]–"

* TheLeader: Badger is the de factor authority figure amongst the animals by virtue of his seniority, strength, and sheer force of personality.

* LowerClassLout: The Wild Wooders are treated this way, a product of Grahame's class-based mistrust of the English working class whom were seen as lazy, idle, prone to theft rather than honest labour, ill-educated and vicious to their social betters. (And, unlike the more selective middle-class house-owning voles, moles and badgers, breed uncontrollably). The book is a pretty reactionary text, written at a time when the English bourgeoisie were frightened of unrest, labour agitation and socialism among the lower orders -- in short the proletariat rising up against the hard-working middle classes. (It is no accident the heroes are all members of the stout English yeomanry).

-->"There’s cold chicken inside it," replied the Rat briefly; [[MotorMouth coldtonguecoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrollscresssandwidgespottedmeatgingerbeerlemonadesodawater]]––"

* Another animated movie produced by Creator/BurbankFilmsAustralia.