The Jungle Book · Character

Shere Khan

A lame Bengal tiger who burned his feet at a woodcutter's fire and now demands the man-cub as his rightful kill, shouting threats he cannot always back.

supporting

Also known as Khan

First appearance: Mowgli's Brothers

As a supporting figure in The Jungle Book, Shere Khan is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The lame tiger who demands Mowgli be handed over; plots against Mowgli by befriending the younger wolves.

In the storyMowgli's BrothersOpen this moment free

See Shere Khan in Mowgli's Brothers Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Shere Khan is the jungle's loudest grievance, a cattle-killer whose limp and burned paws make him a bully rather than a hunter. He claims Mowgli by right of the kill he never made, and his roar at the cave mouth is…

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The fuller portrait of Shere Khan sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Shere Khan in Mowgli's Brothers

Character Web

14 connections

A slice of how Shere Khan sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Mowgli's mentors and allies
Mowgli's wolf pack associates

+9 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

In this excerpt, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Kala Nag, after a lifetime of obedient servi…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Mowgli
rivalry · negative
Mowgli and Shere Khan are mortal enemies, with the tiger relentlessly hunting the man-cub… How this plays out →
Mother Wolf
rivalry · negative
Akela
rivalry · negative
Mowgli
rivalry · negative
Mowgli and Shere Khan are mortal enemies, with the tiger relentlessly hunting the man-cub… How this plays out →
Mother Wolf
rivalry · negative
Akela
rivalry · negative
Mother Wolf
rivalry · negative
Mowgli
rivalry · negative
Mowgli and Shere Khan are mortal enemies, with the tiger relentlessly hunting the man-cub… How this plays out →
Akela
rivalry · negative

Mowgli
Mowgli and Shere Khan are mortal enemies, with the tiger relentlessly hunting the man-cub and Mowgli ultimately seeking to destroy him.
Mother Wolf
Mother Wolf fiercely opposes Shere Khan, defying his claim on Mowgli and protecting the man-cub as her own cub.
Akela
Akela and Shere Khan are adversaries, with the tiger plotting to undermine Akela's leadership and destroy the wolf pack.
Mowgli
Mowgli and Shere Khan are mortal enemies, with the tiger relentlessly hunting the man-cub and Mowgli ultimately seeking to destroy him.
Mother Wolf
Mother Wolf fiercely opposes Shere Khan, defying his claim on Mowgli and protecting the man-cub as her own cub.
Akela
Akela and Shere Khan are adversaries, with the tiger plotting to undermine Akela's leadership and destroy the wolf pack.
Mother Wolf
Mother Wolf fiercely opposes Shere Khan, defying his claim on Mowgli and protecting the man-cub as her own cub.
Mowgli
Mowgli and Shere Khan are mortal enemies, with the tiger relentlessly hunting the man-cub and Mowgli ultimately seeking to destroy him.
Akela
Akela and Shere Khan are adversaries, with the tiger plotting to undermine Akela's leadership and destroy the wolf pack.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Shere Khan in Mowgli's Brothers

In the story

Shere Khan appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Shere Khan unlock in the free preview.

See Shere Khan in Mowgli's Brothers