SOURCE: "The Wind in the Willows: A Tale for Two Readers," in Classical and Modern Literature, Vol. 10, Fall, 1989, pp. 81-7.

In the following essay, DeForest explains the similarities between Toad in The Wind in the Willows and Homer's Ulysses.

First published in 1908, Kenneth Grahame's masterpiece, The Wind in the Willows, has appealed to readers of all ages. The child who hears the story enters its cozy river world with its pleasant inhabitants, Mole, Ratty, and Badger. In counterpoint to the peaceful charm of this world are set the lunatic adventures of Toad, who has successfully shaken off the trammels of responsible behavior. The adult who reads to the child gets a more subtle enjoyment because the pattern of the story follows that of one of the most venerable pieces of literature, the Odyssey. Under the mottled skin of the Toad can be discerned the features of Ulysses.

One...