童猛(meng)出場于《水滸傳》的(de)“梁山泊吳(wu)用舉戴宗(zong),揭(jie)陽嶺(ling)(ling)宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)逢李俊”一(yi)回(hui)(hui)(hui)(多(duo)數(shu)版本為(wei)第三十六(liu)回(hui)(hui)(hui),金圣嘆評本為(wei)第三十五回(hui)(hui)(hui))。宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)被發配江(jiang)(jiang)州時(shi),途徑潯(xun)陽江(jiang)(jiang)邊的(de)揭(jie)陽嶺(ling)(ling),在(zai)催命判官李立(li)的(de)酒(jiu)店里(li)(li)吃酒(jiu),結果與兩(liang)個防(fang)送(song)公人張千、李萬一(yi)同被麻翻,正要(yao)被李立(li)宰割之時(shi),同霸(ba)揭(jie)陽嶺(ling)(ling)的(de)李俊帶著童猛(meng)和(he)童威出現,救下了宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)。李俊向(xiang)宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)介(jie)紹(shao)童氏兄弟,說他們是“此間潯(xun)陽江(jiang)(jiang)邊人”,做私鹽買賣(mai),投在(zai)李俊家里(li)(li)安身(shen),擅(shan)長(chang)駕船、潛(qian)水。
宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)三(san)人(ren)(ren)一(yi)路來(lai)(lai)到(dao)(dao)揭陽(yang)(yang)鎮,被當地(di)一(yi)霸穆弘、穆春(chun)兄弟尋事追(zhui)趕,到(dao)(dao)潯陽(yang)(yang)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)邊又上了船火兒(er)張(zhang)橫的(de)船,船到(dao)(dao)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)心,張(zhang)橫要奪宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)等人(ren)(ren)的(de)財物(wu),并逼他們(men)跳下水去(qu)。這時,童(tong)猛又隨李(li)俊、童(tong)威(wei)撐(cheng)船出現,又一(yi)次(ci)救下宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)。李(li)俊讓揭陽(yang)(yang)嶺、揭陽(yang)(yang)鎮諸人(ren)(ren)與(yu)宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)化敵(di)為友之后(hou),宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)繼(ji)續到(dao)(dao)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)州(zhou)去(qu)。在江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)州(zhou),宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)因(yin)“提反(fan)詩”事被黃文炳發(fa)現,要被斬首(shou),被梁山泊(bo)眾將大(da)鬧江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)州(zhou)劫法場(chang)救出。童(tong)猛與(yu)童(tong)威(wei)、李(li)俊以及揭陽(yang)(yang)嶺、揭陽(yang)(yang)鎮諸人(ren)(ren)也駕船要來(lai)(lai)救宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang),卻在江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)邊白(bai)龍廟遇見救出宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)的(de)梁山眾將,于是一(yi)共二(er)十九人(ren)(ren)進行了白(bai)龍廟英(ying)雄小(xiao)聚義。
宋江要攻打無為(wei)軍(jun)(jun)捉黃(huang)文炳報(bao)仇,童(tong)(tong)猛(meng)被安排獨自棹(zhao)一只打漁(yu)快船去(qu)無為(wei)軍(jun)(jun)成立打探消息,在此次(ci)行動中(zhong)功勞重大(da)。攻打無為(wei)軍(jun)(jun)結束,宋江報(bao)得(de)仇后,童(tong)(tong)猛(meng)便隨著大(da)隊人(ren)馬上了(le)梁山(shan)。上梁山(shan)后,童(tong)(tong)家兄弟坐在“新頭領”當(dang)中(zhong)。
后(hou)(hou)來(lai),童(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)猛(meng)在(zai)梁山(shan)上的職(zhi)位(wei)(wei),屢次(ci)變(bian)動,但多數(shu)時候都與(yu)(yu)哥(ge)(ge)(ge)哥(ge)(ge)(ge)童(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)威(wei)(wei)在(zai)一起。朱富、李云上山(shan)后(hou)(hou),童(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)家兄弟被(bei)安(an)排(pai)在(zai)西(xi)(xi)山(shan)經(jing)營酒店兼打(da)探(tan)消息;后(hou)(hou)來(lai)孫新、顧大嫂夫婦上梁山(shan)后(hou)(hou),替掉兩兄弟職(zhi)位(wei)(wei),兩兄弟被(bei)安(an)排(pai)守金沙灘小寨。晁蓋(gai)曾頭市中箭身亡后(hou)(hou),宋江作為(wei)新寨主重新安(an)排(pai)眾(zhong)將(jiang)職(zhi)務,童(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)威(wei)(wei)、童(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)猛(meng)與(yu)(yu)其他水(shui)軍頭領一同駐(zhu)守山(shan)下水(shui)寨,童(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)猛(meng)是八位(wei)(wei)水(shui)軍頭領的最后(hou)(hou)一位(wei)(wei)。這(zhe)個(ge)位(wei)(wei)置(zhi)一直延續(xu)到大聚義(yi)排(pai)座(zuo)次(ci)時,童(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)猛(meng)排(pai)名第(di)六十九,星(xing)號地退星(xing),與(yu)(yu)比(bi)他高一位(wei)(wei)的哥(ge)(ge)(ge)哥(ge)(ge)(ge)童(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)威(wei)(wei)是僅有的兩名地煞水(shui)軍頭領。但是安(an)排(pai)職(zhi)務時,童(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)猛(meng)被(bei)安(an)排(pai)與(yu)(yu)阮小七(qi)一同守把西(xi)(xi)北水(shui)寨。
童(tong)猛(meng)上梁(liang)山(shan)后,在大(da)多數作(zuo)戰行動(dong)中仍(reng)然(ran)與(yu)哥哥童(tong)威一起,有(you)時(shi)則有(you)李俊(jun)帶頭,或者(zhe)跟(gen)隨更多的水軍頭領一同行動(dong),基本上沒有(you)個人單獨的表(biao)現。梁(liang)山(shan)受招安后,童(tong)家兄弟仍(reng)然(ran)以普(pu)通的水軍頭領身份,跟(gen)隨梁(liang)山(shan)大(da)軍征討遼國、田虎(hu)、王慶(qing)、方臘。
梁山大軍被派去征(zheng)討方臘,攻打蘇州時(shi),李俊被宋江派到太湖(hu)打探情(qing)況,帶上(shang)了童家兄弟(di),三人被榆柳莊赤須龍費(fei)保等(deng)人賺入莊里,消除(chu)誤會后(hou),三人與費(fei)保、倪(ni)云、卜青、狄成結為兄弟(di),并相(xiang)約日后(hou)一同出(chu)海。
后來征方臘結束,宋江大(da)軍班師(shi)回京,童(tong)(tong)家兄弟跟(gen)隨詐病的李(li)俊(jun)(jun)(jun)留在(zai)蘇州,回太湖找到了費保等人,一(yi)同從(cong)太倉港(gang)出海,投“化(hua)外(wai)(wai)國(guo)(guo)”去了,李(li)俊(jun)(jun)(jun)后來做了暹羅(luo)國(guo)(guo)主,童(tong)(tong)猛個人的結局在(zai)原著中沒(mei)有具體說(shuo)明,但有“童(tong)(tong)威、費保等都(dou)做了化(hua)外(wai)(wai)官職,自取其樂,另霸(ba)海濱”一(yi)語(yu),可見童(tong)(tong)猛應該也是(shi)在(zai)“化(hua)外(wai)(wai)國(guo)(guo)”或(huo)者就是(shi)在(zai)李(li)俊(jun)(jun)(jun)為王(wang)的暹羅(luo)國(guo)(guo)做了官。
童(tong)猛(meng)出場較(jiao)多的續書(shu)(shu)主(zhu)要是(shi)(shi)陳忱(chen)的百回(hui)本(ben)續書(shu)(shu)《水滸(hu)后(hou)傳》。此書(shu)(shu)以李俊到暹羅(luo)(luo)國創業(ye)為(wei)(wei)故事主(zhu)線,童(tong)威、童(tong)猛(meng)兄弟自然(ran)(ran)有(you)較(jiao)多的登場機會,但是(shi)(shi)實際上童(tong)猛(meng)基本(ben)上仍(reng)是(shi)(shi)與(yu)哥哥一同(tong)行動,極(ji)少(shao)有(you)單獨表現的情節(jie),因此形象仍(reng)然(ran)(ran)并(bing)不鮮明。書(shu)(shu)中寫到宋高宗冊立李俊為(wei)(wei)暹羅(luo)(luo)王時,童(tong)猛(meng)和費保等人一同(tong)被(bei)封為(wei)(wei)水軍正(zheng)總管、武(wu)衛將軍。
在俞萬(wan)春的(de)《蕩(dang)寇志》(70回本續(xu)書)中,童猛則有單獨表現的(de)情節,徐槐(huai)攻打梁(liang)山(shan)泊,盧俊義派童猛等(deng)截殺,最(zui)終寡不敵眾,童猛被李宗(zong)湯所(suo)斬。
在程善之的《殘水滸》(70回本續書)中(zhong),童猛奉宋江、吳用之命下山(shan),路過曹州(zhou),中(zhong)欒廷玉之計,被當(dang)場(chang)斬訖。
在(zai)張恨水(shui)的(de)《水(shui)滸新(xin)傳》(70回本續書)中,童猛與其(qi)余三十多名好漢一同誤飲毒(du)酒身亡。
其(qi)他續書(shu)中的童(tong)猛形象大(da)多并(bing)不出彩。
20世紀80年代初(chu)山東版(ban)電(dian)視劇《水滸傳》:劉向(xiang)東飾童猛;
1998年央視版電視劇《水(shui)滸(hu)傳》:王中(zhong)偉(wei)飾童猛(meng);
2011年鞠覺(jue)亮導演版電視劇《水(shui)滸傳》:胡(hu)錳(meng)飾童猛。
童(tong)(tong)猛(meng)因(yin)(yin)(yin)為(wei)(wei)在原著(zhu)中出場不多,形象(xiang)較(jiao)為(wei)(wei)模糊,因(yin)(yin)(yin)此(ci)很少被歷代(dai)(dai)名家及(ji)現代(dai)(dai)讀者所點評(ping),容與堂本關于(yu)李(li)俊(jun)出海稱王一(yi)段的(de)評(ping)語“妙人(ren)(ren)”也是(shi)(shi)籠(long)統地針對李(li)俊(jun)、童(tong)(tong)家兄(xiong)弟、費(fei)保等人(ren)(ren)而已。現代(dai)(dai)的(de)評(ping)點者多認為(wei)(wei)童(tong)(tong)家兄(xiong)弟就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)李(li)俊(jun)個人(ren)(ren)的(de)跟(gen)班,只因(yin)(yin)(yin)“跟(gen)對了人(ren)(ren)”,最終得到好(hao)結果。但是(shi)(shi)對于(yu)童(tong)(tong)猛(meng)本人(ren)(ren),實在無法將他與童(tong)(tong)威區分開來,有(you)的(de)評(ping)點者甚至認為(wei)(wei)童(tong)(tong)家兄(xiong)弟只是(shi)(shi)“一(yi)個靈魂兩(liang)個軀殼”。