In “The Wind in the Willows,” the mole is named Mole.
Mole is an anthropomorphic mole and the first major character introduced in Kenneth Grahame’s 1908 children’s novel. Tired of spring-cleaning his underground home, he suddenly abandons the chore and ventures above ground. At the riverbank, he meets Water Rat—usually called Ratty—and begins a new life filled with boating, friendship, and adventure.
Unlike the impulsive and wealthy Toad, Mole is shy, thoughtful, gentle, and home-loving. His friendship with Ratty gradually gives him confidence, while his loyalty helps the group deal with Toad’s obsession with motorcars and the struggle to reclaim Toad Hall. The book generally treats “Mole” as his character name rather than giving him a separate personal name; friends sometimes call him “Moley.”
The novel grew from bedtime stories Grahame told his son Alastair, nicknamed Mouse. It was first published by Methuen on October 8, 1908, and later became a classic of British children’s literature.