1.      Toad is a character, which doesn't really have his own goal to accomplish, but rather has a goal set by his three most loyal friends - Mole, Rat, and Badger. There is no doubt that without these three friends of his that stick up for him even in the worst situations, when Toad himself has never done anything of much significance or meaning for them, that this goal set by them would never be accomplished. Even if Toad set this goal himself, I doubt he would be able to accomplish it or get very far trying, just because of his nature. This goal set by his friends is for him to change himself, his attitude, his personality. Toad was always a very conceited, vain, and boisterous fellow. He was always a very jolly, carefree, optimistic chap, and was blessed with natural talent of conversation. His father also left a huge sum of money for him when he passed away, and by combining this money with his bragging, he has become very spoiled. And with this lifestyle of constant boasting and talking his way out of things, he doesn't always succeed, thus, getting him into much trouble. Time and again, his friends keep scolding him, telling him how shameful and disgracing he is, and asking him to just reflect upon himself. But this contemplation of himself just makes him feel clever and capable of doing anything and getting anything he pleases upon recalling incidents where he talked his way out, or the tide of events just happened to turn in his favor. In a sense, these situations Toad gets himself into and gets out due to his enormous luck and some quick talking, don't serve as a lesson to Toad, but instead make him think it was his cleverness that got him out of any situation, therefore making him even more conceited. Every time Toad came out of one of these situations, his friends would always criticize his behavior and actions, and Toad would then pretend to be sorry and describe himself as a despicable, horrid, thoughtless creature, and perhaps even start sobbing, but soon enough, he would be at it again, and the whole process would start all over again. Toad never truly cried sincere tears of remorse and regret or apologized with true feeling until near the climax of this novel when Toad has finally made it back from his escape from prison and his long journey through the country with many twists and turns here and there, and found his friends. Upon returning, Toad learns that when he was sent to prison, everyone thought he was never coming back, but his two of his most loyal friends - Badger and Mole - stuck it through, never losing hope that you would come back. They actually moved into Toad Hall, Toad's home, and kept it in good condition for Toad's arrival, and when the weasels took over Toad Hall, they spent day and night outside surveying and observing Toad Hall, particularly the guards, and planning on a way to recapture what was rightfully Toad's. The only ability that Toad possessed that helped him accomplish the goal to change set by his friends is his never-failing luck that seems to get him out of any situation along with some of his witty talk. Though this often gets him into trouble, it also gets him out of it and gives him another chance to correct himself. Possessing so much money also benefits Toad greatly because after wasting so much of the money on things that don't matter, and losing much money due to events, he still has money left that he can use to get off to a better start on his next chance to correct himself.

2.      There is no question about it that the theme embodied and expanded upon in this classic is the importance of loyalty and friendship. This novel mainly revolves around Toad's struggle to correct himself and the adventures he experiences. Without Mole, Badger, and Rat, always there, standing beside and with him, through all the rough times, Toad would never have made it this far in life. Also, the loyalty and friendship that exists between Mole, Badger, and Rat themselves, and the community, keep this ring of loyalty and friendship together. One example of true friendship is demonstrated on pages 23 and 24. Rat has taken Mole upstream to Toad Hall to see Toad, and currently, the fad that Toad is into is traveling on a caravan. To this idea, Rat responds, "I don't care. I'm not coming, and that's flat. … And what's more, Mole's going to stick to me and do as I do, aren't you, Mole?" Mole then loyally answers, "Of course I am. I'll always stick to you, Rat, and what you say is to be-has to be. All the same, it sounds as if it might have been-well, rather fun, you know!" But Mole was just being introduced to this life of adventure and its thrills that he was indeed very tempted by this journey proposed by Toad. The Rat, being very fond and understanding of Mole, sees this, and staying loyal to his friend, he gives in. Another example happens between pages 70 and 76. Rat and Mole had just left from Badger's home in Wild Wood and was journeying home back to Rat's house when Mole suddenly sensed familiarity in the air, finally realizing the place to be his home, from where he had first emerged in the spring, and had not come back to since. The Mole stopped and tried to detect the scent again, but the Rat was now far ahead, eager to get back home. Mole called to Rat, but Rat just replied, "O, come along, Mole, do," never giving Mole a chance to tell Rat what had just happened. When finally they stopped for a break, and Mole finally got the opportunity to explain what happened, Rat, after hearing what Mole managed to choke up between sobs, didn't just recommend that they just go back to his place, and come back tomorrow morning to search for Mole's home, he called himself a "pig," and said, "Hang River Bank (Rat's home), and supper too! I tell you, I'm going to find this place now, I if I stay out all night. So cheer up, old chap, and take my arm, and we'll very soon be back there again." These are just two particular events that demonstrate the theme of loyalty and friendship, but this classic is loaded with bonds and friendships throughout it.

3.      One of the main reasons I believe my Classic is a Classic, is because of the theme that it holds, the theme of loyalty and friendship. This is a theme, which we can all relate to some way or another in our lives. This Classic contains four very different animals with unique personalities and intelligences, instead of using humans, to illustrate how friendship can be created between two people who are completely opposite of one another. The author created the Mole, Rat, and the Badger, who are the three more similar animals, which represent average humans with slightly different characteristics, out of them and the Toad, and then added in Toad, which I believe represents the person who always seems to get into trouble and tight situations, and needs to change something. The author then combined these four main characters, blended them with the environment, and described in extreme detail a small portion of their lives together. Events such as Mole getting lost in Wild Wood, Rat finding him, Badger inviting them in after find them completely exhausted, Mole stumbling upon his old home, Toad being sent to prison, Toad escaping, the weasels taking over Toad Hall, the recapturing of Toad Hall, Toad finally completing transformation, and many, many other events in this story all seem to illustrate events that happen in our lives. Those events described translated into human events I believe would be something like someone getting overwhelmed, someone helping him out, a whole bunch of friends coming together, people reflecting on the past to improve, someone getting in serious trouble, him working his way out of it, other people interfering with you, learning to deal with things, and becoming the best you can possibly be. The fact that this book relates so closely to real life and that everyone can relate to it some way or another is what I believe is the main reason that makes this Classic a Classic.