Who are Rat and Mole?

Rat (Water Rat) is river-dwelling host — boat, picnic, loyalty, poetry — who introduces Mole to water life. Mole is burrower pulled to adventure, brave in wild wood, sentimental about home. Their friendship frames the novel’s domestic charm.

They contrast Toad: steady versus flashy. Mole’s first boating, Rat’s resistance to Sea Rat’s wanderlust, and joint rescue of Portly show complementary temperaments. Name both when students ask protagonists — Grahame ensemble resists single hero.