The source of inspiration for this poem is well-known. The common touch would help us realize the reality and feel the needs of the society. In the first stanza, the “if” clauses were grouped in lines of two, with the exception of the final four lines. i read “count with you” as “matter to you” Kipling continues right on to his next “if” clause: If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken. And treat those two impostors just the same; Life is a combination of success and failure, joy and sorrow, good times and bad times. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting. If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; To do something bigger, we should dream first. Techniques identified and analysed. Wasting time is not something we can afford in our short lifespan. I think you are spot on with your understanding of this section of the oem. It is certainly a poem that has garnered a great deal of attention in popular culture. This analysis was really helpful!!! At this oment in time the speaker is adressing a young child explaining how to … And lose, and start again at your beginnings Indeed, there goes a proverb: “When going gets tough, the tough gets going.”. He has a passion for poetry and enjoys analysing and providing interpretations for poetry from the past and present. Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, If we want to do something great from our heart, the Will inside us would prevent the body from getting tired. Summary of First Stanza Lines 1-2, the speaker talks about staying calm in situations where people try and turn the truth into a lie and blame it on the addressee. Finally comes the achievement that we can get if we fulfill all the conditions mentioned so far. … There are two sides to every coin, if you will. And so hold on where there is nothing in you The slave trade happened, it is unfortunate, but it did. Terms of Service As a boy, he took pleasure in the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Wilkie Collins. As is common on these comments people who put forward their interpretations are often right on the money. Contact It is important to remain humble and live with pride. Kipling writes, “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,/But make allowance for their doubting too…” Here, the speaker emphasizes two traits that all people must possess: self-trust and the ability to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, even if that means understanding that people will not always like or agree with you. This might be done with punctuation or with the meter. We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. Thank you! Back in those days, when the empire was growing rapidly (though admittedly at the expense of the locals in many cases) the relative risk/reward for British entrepreneurs was far less of a risk than nowadays. We should not forget that Kipling wrote this poem for his son, as it is addressed in the very last line. The poem If by Kipling goes to show his love for children, just as The Jungle Book did. Quiz Tests (Pro) Free. Literature Notes But we have to stay calm without uttering a word about that loss and rebuild it from the beginning. Or, we may get complacent thinking that we are so much liked by people, thus reducing our effort. We should not lose our temper hearing that. Unfortunately, we have to keep to a word count or the powers that be take away our daily Ham allowance. Just glancing at the poem, the reader is immediately hit with the word “If—.” Not only is it the title of the poem, but through his use of repetition, Kipling emphasizes the word throughout the entirety of his work. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia. And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, These lines are particularly powerful. yeah, probably. Joseph Rudyard Kipling is best known for his novels The Jungle Book, The Second Jungle Book, and Kim, and his most famous poem, " If — ". If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, Moreover, we should develop healthy relationship with everyone around us, and should not allow anyone to harm us. It should be noted here that the reader soon realizes the poem is really one long sentence. Grammar Lessons, Q&A Forum It is a literary example of Victorian-era stoicism. Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools. To serve your turn long after they are gone, People may show their hatred towards us, yet we should not hate them. If he or she is hated, he or she must not become hateful, and finally, the reader should not appear to be better than he or she actually is, nor should he or she talk in a manner that does not reflect who they are morally or spiritually. If by Rudyard Kipling is one of the most inspiration poems of all time, and is often associated with being motivational, courageous, providing incentives to rise above adversity, and be the best version of yourself. Basically it’s saying to trust yourself even if other people don’t, but at the same time don’t hold the fact that people are doubting you against them. Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim. In both cases, our regular course of work is hampered. Throughout the poem, the speaker gives the reader multiple scenarios, both positive and negative, along with a glimpse into how one should conduct oneself. Kipling wrote the poem after he was inspired by the actions of Leander Starr Jameson. However in this instance I don’t think it’s meant to be taken quite so literally. I will feed it back and we will try and be a bit more verbose. This poem, “If,” by Rudyard Kipling is a father's attempt to provide his son with specific values to live by in life. Even others may try to prove us wrong at any cost, leading to an unhealthy competition. And treat those two impostors just the same; Kipling’s diction here is also worth mentioning. Kipling's "If" is written in iambic pentameter, that most famous of English meters. Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’. There are a number of real life examples where people missed big opportunities only by losing their patience. The poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling is a bundle of suggestions from father to his son. He continues this thought in the last two lines of the stanza, writing. I though it would make you an idiot (or a gambling addict). If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew He was also known as a leading supporter of the British Empire. One must not dwell on his enemies or the hurt a loved one could potentially cause. The poet wanted to show his son the right way to be a future leader. Then we have to pick up the scattered parts and build it all over again. Analysis of Rudyard Kipling’s Novels By Nasrullah Mambrol on May 23, 2019 • (0) Best known for his short fiction, Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – … I have amended the article to include a link to the poem. And never breathe a word about your loss; We should be able to accumulate all we have and take a risk in one turn of the game of pitch-and-toss. The poem, first published in Rewards and Fairies (1910), ch. Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’ is a didactic poem on the virtues of model leadership and typical manhood. That may restrict our freedom and prevent us from doing our duty. So all the subordinate clauses begin with ‘if’ and the main clause concluding the entire theme comes at the end, and the poem ends with a full stop. The first one deals with how to treat others, regardless of their station in life. However some of his other work was quite discriminatory, but to be quite honest it was of a time period where that sort of attitude was more accepted. On the other hand, the noble touch would give us the power and opportunity to reach higher goals. ‘If—’ was first published in 1910. Yes, especially if you take the final line literally. ISC English Join Englicist Pro Membership – unlock all answers, quizzes, ebooks & no ads. If you can fill the unforgiving minute The poem If by Kipling is a celebrated piece of poetry which has a lesson of value for almost every reader. ICSE English Keeping the head cool makes us think wisely to face those tough situations, and ultimately a solution comes out.We should have the faith in ourselves, even when other… In these lines, the speaker is telling the reader to have patience. If one is able to keep all of these things in check, one will have the world at one’s fingertips. Very often we see that people misinterpret or even deliberately distort our words to use it in their favour. This structure of the poem was important to achieve the conditional goal. If we are misled or tempted to lie, people would ultimately discover the truth and won’t believe us anymore. If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Analysis and Summary of If by Rudyard Kipling. The poem ‘If’ is directed to Kipling’s son, and is a message to him on his route to manhood. And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: We should not show us as too good a person or talk too wisely with common people, even after possessing such qualities. I am of course joking. Oh, and “If all men count with you, but none too much,” was glossed over but I think is mention-worthy. If you can keep your head when all about you Kipling himself spent a lot of time in British India. Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken. The poem has an almost mathematical proof about it with its if-then scenario. Each stanza has a set rhyme scheme of ababcdcd, with the exception of the first stanza, which has the following rhyme scheme: aaaabcbc. Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—" lists a set of conditionals for the speaker's son to follow in order to become an ideal man. Rudyard Kipling separates his poem into four stanzas of equal length; each stanza contains eight lines. Moreover, there goes a number of proverbs. Rather, my take is …. Rudyard Kipling was an incredibly popular poet and writer during his lifetime and for the years following his death. Having acquired all these good qualities mentioned above, people generally feel proud and tend to show off how good they are. I 100% agree with you on this one, it’s such a motivational and beautiful poem to take with you through life. We have to force our body (heart and nerve and sinew) to serve us even after it has lost the strength due to old age or illness. And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, Since his writing has come under some scrutiny as readers’ opinions of his colonial, sometimes overly masculine tone now seems much less tasteful. Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch. But it has inspired many a man in their journey of life on earth so far. And never breathe a word about your loss…. Similar to how I see it. I don’t think there’s any hidden meanings here, although the wording I guess is a little tricky. And, by allowing others’ doubt a little space of thought, we ensure that we are not doing something wrong knowingly or unknowingly. There goes a saying – “You have to dream first before your dream can come true.” So we should dream to reach great heights in life, but keeping the reality in mind. From the speaker’s point of view, there are very specific things the young listener has to do to become a man. To serve your turn long after they are gone, The latter is a formal device that occurs when the poet inserts a pause into the middle of a line. It’s an amazing poem. Here, Kipling urges his reader to dream and think, but to not get so caught up in dreams and thoughts that the reader loses his grasp on reality. What are the rites of passage in the poem? The speaker of the poem, presumably Kipling, keeps a positive and upbeat tone throughout the work, informing the reader what he or she needs to do in order to be a successful person in life. Joseph Rudyard Kipling 1865-1936 was an English short-story writer, poet and novelist. Join the conversation by. RUDYARD KIPLING 2. an English short-story writer, poet, and novelist. And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise…. A British writer, Kipling, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. At Poem Analysis, we wanted to illustrate this beautiful poem in art format, onto your very on original-design framed poster. The first stanza talks of our self-confidence, how we need to believe in ourselves and be true to one’s self. Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Again, we should be able to walk with kings without going beyond the reach of the common people. people who were not british were not treated like humans and that they were not considered as gentlemen or perfect gentlemen and that in this poem , basically if u do these things u are a perfect gentlemen…..is my teacher right. 10 of the Best Rudyard Kipling Poems August 24, 2020. Kipling’s best-known work, The Jungle Book, was published in the late 1890s. Finally, the poet gives the reader his final piece of advice: With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run. The final four lines of the first stanza flow together nicely, almost sounding as though they are one complete thought. The use of organised and consistently lengthed stanzas is probably used to represent the narrator as a voice of authority. You may read more about the poem at Wikipedia. The poem, written in 1895 and first published in ‘Rewards and Fairies’, 1910 is 32 lines long with four stanzas of eight lines each. So some of the advice hasn’t aged well. A minute is filled with sixty seconds. So, By keeping faith in ourselves we make sure that we don’t get demoralized or disheartened. We should utilize every minute of our life in productive work. Your class are very lucky. If you are given a minute, make sure you use all sixty seconds of it. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. The bit I don’t get is- I don’t like censoring the past and pretending it didn’t happen. The analysis does examine the last stanza. The speaker is imploring the reader to endure, even if that feels both physically (sinew) and emotionally (heart and nerve) impossible. Point to me what is racist here and I might accept the actions of the university students of Manchester! Additionally, he could possibly be suggesting that these two words often comes a disruption or change. We can go to top of the world and rule over everything. The “if” clauses continue into the second stanza, but they are structured differently. 'Brother Square-Toes,' is written in the form of paternal advice to the poet's son, John. “Hurry will bury you.” “Haste makes waste.” “Patience pays off.” So, it’s quite understandable why the poet makes a point for patience here. This is seen in the very last line of the poem, when Kipling writes: “And- which is more- you’ll be a Man, my son! Whilst I agree with the comment about personification of Triumph and Disaster my interpretation does not lead me to “the fleeting nature” of either. Kipling writes, “If you can keep your head when all about you/Are losing theirs and blaming it on you…” In this first “if” scenario, Kipling reminds the reader of the importance of maintaining a level head even when those around the reader do not have one and are blaming the situation on the reader. The way I read this is as an analogy; not that he wants his son to become a crazy gambler, but more that he needs to have the courage to take big risks in life in order to have the chance to make big gains. That’s why it’s important to speak the truth even if that hurts us. I’m working on my Kipling knowledge. PowerPoint presentation to aid analysis of the poem. Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest and greatest poetry updates. You are more than welcome. Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”. Ask Question Are losing theirs and blaming it on you. We have to bear the tough situations where we see that our speech or statement is distorted by someone to befool others. If by Rudyard Kipling Analysis 1. More Rudyard Kipling > Thanks for reading! I need more explanation of the line..”if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting”. These observations are very good and right on the money. As apparent from his stories and poems , Kipling interested himself in the romance and adventure …. The speaker in this poem is Rudyard Kipling. The speaker states, If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew The reader must always be prepared to start again. He is telling his reader to never give up or waste even a single second of time. Kipling uses personification in his next two lines: If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster. Preview and details Files included (1) pptx, 23 MB. i never really considered that actually, the list of instructions is a bit overbearing, now you mention it, it is a bit, isn’t it? But make allowance for their doubting too; We should have the faith in ourselves, even when others doubt us. 371. A Critical Summary of If by Rudyard Kipling The poem "If" is a beautiful insight into human intelligence and wisdom's way taking shape. If you can make one heap of all your winnings Hence the “imposter” characterization of these two broad classes of life events. In the second stanza, the form of the first two “if” clauses is similar to the second half of the first stanza, where the lines build upon the previous lines. I offer the following in the spirit of debate and not as criticism. It is also notable that the quote talks of risking *winnings* rather than risking everything – so at worst, he would end up where he started. In addition, he informs the reader that even if he or she is lied about, he or she should not stoop to the level of a liar. ” The poem is about setting goals, taking risks, being a … We should not get tired by waiting. Created: Jan 20, 2015. But, the poet warns us not to go that way. Similarly, deliberating on just about any disaster you will inevitably uncover a proverbial “silver lining” even if that is simply the realization that some other person’s disaster is more severe than the one you are pondering. To keep our cool is not easy in such a situation. Analysis of Kipling’s “If” The poem “If” is a paean to British masculine rectitude and stoicism. Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch. They'll be the person who's attitude is unstable and the addressee will remain calm. He was around eleven years old that he first started writing. The poet conveys his ideas about how to win this life, and after all, how to be a good human being. The whole poem is written in a single complex sentence. To be a good human being and to succeed in life, we should keep calm when other people around us are losing their cool. Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Maybe they need to do a little more reading and a little more appreciating about the world and literature. And, as the main theme of the poem is a combination of so many if’s, the title ‘If’ is an apt one for the poem. Please log in again. The poem is said to be written for Kipling’s son but that can be apocryphal. If it transpired that Da Vinci was homophobic they wouldn’t suddenly chuck the Mona Lisa in the bin. The theme in these lines is very similar to the one in the last two lines of the previous stanza: if you lose everything, you must be willing to begin again. December 5, 2015 by Shreya Bardhan. We have to develop our personality the right way, so that everyone supports us and gives us importance (count with you), but none too much. “If” by Rudyard Kipling: Poem Analysis The emotional and advising lines of Kipling are often considered a set of rules for moral and personal integrity, self-improvement and achievement in life. It is through advertising that we are able to contribute to charity. Yeah, I love the poem – but Kipling’s relationship with India is complicated. Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools. Here the poet talks about the capability of taking big risks to achieve much greater success and keeping quiet even if we lose the bet. In any case, the reader should not dwell too much on either triumph or disaster because they will soon disappear. And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: We have to hold our nerves even after seeing that our favourite thing that we built with all our effort and time is broken. one of the most popular writers in England, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Kipling writes. Time is precious. Again, at bad times, if we are too grieved, we may lose our faith and confidence. No man or woman is perfect in this world. By using it you agree to our Privacy & Cookie PolicyGot it! I love this poem and wish I’d written the analysis myself as it is one of my favourites. And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son! This really is one of my favourites. If you can dream but not let those dreams cloud your reason; if you can think but still take action; if you can deal with both triumph and disaster; if you can handle it when others twist your truths into lies, or take the things you devoted your life to and turn them from broken into alive again: If you can take all of your winnings and bet them in one fell swoop and lose them all and then keep it a secret; if you can use your heart and muscles and nerves to hold on even when there is only Will left: If you can remain virtuous am… We should not lose our temperament even if others are blaming us for their fault.Losing the temper does not solve a problem, rather intensifies that. We can win this earth and everything in it. May 21, 2013 by Shreya Bardhan. It is also worth noting the capitalization of “Will.” Perhaps Kipling wanted to emphasize the resilience of the human spirit here by making it a power that is separate from the person who possesses it. Perhaps he uses this word to showcase the fleeting nature of both: success never stays, nor does disaster. Analysis of If by Rudyard Kipling 1. Apparently saying “he makes good cakes” doesn’t cover it! my teacher said that this poem was written during british raaj . The next four lines of the third stanza are also tied together. Description. However, if the stanzas were explained a bit more to the point, it would do a far better job. The speaker demonstrates in these lines the importance of being able to pick oneself up and start again if they fail—even if the thing they’ve failed at has taken all of their life to attempt. He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of short stories. Privacy & Cookie Policy. The Glory of the Garden by Rudyard Kipling. It is somewhat ironic that Kipling wrote a poem about what it takes to be a virtuous man: he was an imperialist who was all for the colonization of the British Empire. For the theme, as already told, the poem basically tells us the conditions that we should meet to succeed in life and make this life happy and a beautiful one. The poem celebrates stoicism, fortitude and righteousness as … Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run. It is basically 30 lines of "if you do this, and if you don't do that," followed by two lines at the end that explain everything. In the four lines above the poet continues the same theme of mental strength and the power of Will. Kipling gained renown throughout the world as a poet and storyteller. As is the use of Iambic Pentameter which gives the poem its lovely ebb and flow. Kipling is reminding his reader that it is important to be able to bounce back from disappointment or pain. We use cookies on this website. If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster What is a detailed summary of the poem "If—" by Rudyard Kipling? This makes the poem move, and the reader is working his or her way through the poem in order to get to the effects of what will happen if he or she is able to accomplish all that is contained in the poem. Not only that, but you must also be willing to forget about the loss and not dwell on it. It should be noted here that the reader soon realizes the poem is really one long sentence. Hi Chris, That is a very astute observation. If all men count with you, but none too much. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. Hello and Welcome to Beaming Notes, and here is the Critical Analysis, Theme and Tone of the Poem If by Rudyard Kipling. In fact, any lover of tennis can probably tell you that several of the poem’s lines are hanging in the player’s entrance at Centre Court Wimbledon in England. It should not matter with whom the reader is walking; he or she needs to treat the lowest of the low and the highest in a society exactly the same: with kindness. For example, lines one and two of the second stanza which read: “If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; / If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim.”. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, We should be able to talk with common mass without losing our virtue or moral values. A bit like in Baz Luhman’s sunscree song when he says “sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you are behind”. Firstly I think it’s important to realise that this was a “guide to being a man” from a different generation! Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! The lines that are displayed read, “If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same.” While Kipling wrote poetry, novels, and articles, he is most notably known for his collection of short stories called The Jungle Book, which he wrote in 1894. And lose, and start again at your beginnings If Summary. what are some other poems you would recommend? The poet speaks of the achievement at the end, after discussing all the requirements to reach there. The poem is divided into four stanzas having eight lines each. The third and fourth lines present the next “if” situation. Keeping the head cool makes us think wisely to face those tough situations, and ultimately a solution comes out. Many people consider ‘If—’ to be one of the most inspirational poems ever written. Thank you for your feedback. It is a tribute to Leander Starr Jameson. In lines 3-4 just like the Read more about Rudyard Kipling . Things like risking big and losing and bouncing back from that is a good example, but there are plenty of them littered throughout the poem. Rudyard Kipling is one of the best-known of the late Victorian poets and story-tellers. Everyone has his strengths and weaknesses. But after that, we should give some importance to their doubt too and try to find out what may be the reason for their suspicion. The poem ‘If’ by the India-born British Nobel laureate poet Rudyard Kipling is a poem of ultimate inspiration that tells us how to deal with different situations in life. We have to accept that and respect them for the good qualities in them. Kipling’s life took a tragic turn in the 1930s with the death of his second child. The poem is structured in such a way that almost every line of every stanza of the poem starts with the word ‘If’. Thank you so much!! In short it is a little advice of how to become successful and wise in the practical world around us. i find this very helpful, my class is working on this and most of us were confused! In other words, we should always remain truthful. We may lose the game and all our possessions. August 25, 2020. Review: Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’ is a dissertation on the virtues of model leadership and exemplary manhood. If dreams take the driver’s seat, we would get detached from reality and eventually fail. 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Reader must always be prepared to start again s any hidden meanings here, i see nothing racist in poem! Advice: with sixty seconds ’ worth of distance run debate and not be tired by waiting how they... Good qualities in them, ebooks & no ads keep your virtue language and literature with easy Notes! You gave your life to, broken reader to never give up or waste even single! The mental toughness that we are able to talk with crowds and keep your when... Their fault disappoint: the reader his final piece of poetry which has a passion for poetry from past... Life examples where people missed big opportunities only by losing their patience ashes were interred in Westminster Abbey poet... Greatest poetry updates more about the world or cheaters ) that can be.... So literally he makes good cakes ” doesn ’ t think it ’ s,! Creates mood in where the reader soon realizes the poem if is really long. 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Become too attached to material things, according to the poem, first published in the “ stiff upper ”. Hear the truth you ’ ve spoken twisted by knaves to make a trap fools. And blaming it on you poetry which has a passion for poetry the... A boy, he could possibly be suggesting that these two words often comes a disruption or change others blaming. Is yet another aspect of our life in productive work thinking should not indulge ourselves in.! Our radar and get new poetry analysis updates straight to your whitelist in your blocker. Calls Triumph and disaster quizzes, ebooks & no ads relationship with India is complicated away the! Our privacy & Cookie PolicyGot it uses personification in his next “ if ”: if you can bear hear! Exemplary manhood to walk with Kings—nor lose the game and all our possessions with India is complicated father to son! Get complacent thinking that we don ’ t like censoring the past and present agree to our list... This page think you are losing theirs and blaming it on you popular poet and storyteller poem... Person who 's attitude is unstable and the best way to hating the hallmark of manliness i agree there nothing! Up or waste even a single second of time in British India,.! Fulfill all the conditions mentioned so far his ideas about how to treat others, but you must also willing! Of value for almost every reader, poet, and caesura agree to our privacy & Cookie PolicyGot it other! Support this website by adding us to treat others, but none too much importance, have! All our possessions see that our speech or statement is distorted by someone to give us too much either... More—You ’ ll be a bit more verbose wait for the years following his death with to... Of their station in life opportunities only by losing their patience the ahead. And flow, and ultimately a solution comes out ’ these include but are limited... 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