If you can wait and not be tired by waiting. That is to say that we often lose our radar and get detached from the main point. Kipling himself spent a lot of time in British India. If Summary. Or, we may get complacent thinking that we are so much liked by people, thus reducing our effort. To keep our cool is not easy in such a situation. i read “count with you” as “matter to you” To serve your turn long after they are gone, Kipling wrote the poem after he was inspired by the actions of Leander Starr Jameson. It’s an amazing poem. Kipling makes this a very personal poem by his use of the pronoun “you.” In fact, one could even interpret that the poem is Kipling talking to himself or giving himself a pep-talk. Rudyard Kipling is one of the best-known of the late Victorian poets and story-tellers. Kipling then dives right into the next “if”: If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you. The Glory of the Garden by Rudyard Kipling. December 5, 2015 by Shreya Bardhan. The analysis of the poem IF is really very good and up to the mark. Rather, my take is …. “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 yet another aspect of our mental toughness that we need to possess. To be a good human being and to succeed in life, we should keep calm when other people around us are losing their cool. The poet speaks of the achievement at the end, after discussing all the requirements to reach there. And treat those two impostors just the same; Life is a combination of success and failure, joy and sorrow, good times and bad times. I’m already down to three ham cubes a week and I have kids to feed! The speaker is imploring the reader to endure, even if that feels both physically (sinew) and emotionally (heart and nerve) impossible. And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; We should be able to think over a matter, but should not make the thoughts our aim. If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Free. The first of these is incredibly central to the poem. Born in Bombay, India, which at that time belonged to Britain. Notwithstanding, when Kipling was composing, there was an impressive uprising of revolt among Indians against British control yet Kipling seems to reject this throughout the novel when he could have recognized it (Imperialism in Rudyard Kipling’s Kim). 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. Author: Created by Jane Austen. If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; To do something bigger, we should dream first. In terms of meter, the poem is written in iambic pentameter, with five feet consisting of a stressed and then an unstressed syllable. After developing an ulcer and undergoing surgery, Kipling died less than a week later. Even others may try to prove us wrong at any cost, leading to an unhealthy competition. i find this very helpful, my class is working on this and most of us were confused! Analysis of If by Rudyard Kipling 1. Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—" lists a set of conditionals for the speaker's son to follow in order to become an ideal man. We use cookies on this website. Perhaps Kipling’s most famous poem, “If” urges superhuman stoicism in the face of life’s disasters. The poem is divided into four stanzas having eight lines each. These observations are very good and right on the money. one of the most popular writers in England, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The poem ‘If’ is directed to Kipling’s son, and is a message to him on his route to manhood. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue. It is certainly a poem that has garnered a great deal of attention in popular culture. And lose, and start again at your beginnings Moreover, there goes a number of proverbs. We should show our love and respect to others. 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. What's your thoughts? Again, point to me what is racist here, I see nothing racist!!! "If—" is a poem by English Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), written circa 1895 as a tribute to Leander Starr Jameson. We should work hard and wait for the result patiently. In the four lines above the poet continues the same theme of mental strength and the power of Will. Unfortunately, we have to keep to a word count or the powers that be take away our daily Ham allowance. There’s also the repetition that is used throughout the poem “if you can…” etc. 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? Isn’t he the weirdly enigmatic kids TV host? 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. 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. Review: Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’ is a dissertation on the virtues of model leadership and exemplary manhood. If it transpired that Da Vinci was homophobic they wouldn’t suddenly chuck the Mona Lisa in the bin. Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’ is a didactic poem on the virtues of model leadership and typical manhood. ‘If ‘ is something that can be perceived as a set of virtues laid down by the poet which are conducive for the development of a good human being. And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools. So some of the advice hasn’t aged well. 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. So our thinking should not be scattered misleading us away from the target. Although he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1907, his political views, which grew more toxic as he aged, have long made him critically unpopular. You could argue that the whole poem is about rite of passage. I need more explanation of the line..”if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting”. And, by allowing others’ doubt a little space of thought, we ensure that we are not doing something wrong knowingly or unknowingly. A bit like in Baz Luhman’s sunscree song when he says “sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you are behind”. What are the rites of passage in the poem? The poet in his poem is providing an inspirational insight for the readers to remain humble, soft, and tender and avoid the extremes and live up to all the opportunities of life wherever one can muster any joys of life. That’s why it’s important to speak the truth even if that hurts us. Jamie joined the Poem Analysis team back in November, 2010. Here is a summary, review, and analysis of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’, a didactic poem on the specific traits of a good leader. Quiz Tests (Pro) This poem, “If,” by Rudyard Kipling is a father's attempt to provide his son with specific values to live by in life. If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim. Time (minute) is here called unforgiving , as it waits for none and doesn’t forgive him who wastes it. And never breathe a word about your loss…. We should not get tired by waiting. Thank you for sharing your analysis. The whole poem is written in a single complex sentence. Hi Chris, That is a very astute observation. We may also get too complacent or proud at a small success, reducing our chances to reach higher goals. 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. Kipling continues right on to his next “if” clause: If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken. PowerPoint to help with analysis of the poem IF by Rudyard Kipling. As apparent from his stories and poems , Kipling interested himself in the romance and adventure …. Again, we should be able to walk with kings without going beyond the reach of the common people. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, 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. People may show their hatred towards us, yet we should not hate them. Joseph Rudyard Kipling 1865-1936 was an English short-story writer, poet and novelist. But, the poet warns us not to go that way. The poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling is a bundle of suggestions from father to his son. Wasting time is not something we can afford in our short lifespan. Rudyard Kipling was an incredibly popular poet and writer during his lifetime and for the years following his death. Apparently saying “he makes good cakes” doesn’t cover it! It should be noted here that the reader soon realizes the poem is really one long sentence. If one is able to keep all of these things in check, one will have the world at one’s fingertips. Everyone has his strengths and weaknesses. [citation needed The third and fourth lines present the next “if” situation. Yes, you have to wait until the very end to find out what will happen if you do the following: keep your head, don't lie and hate, risk everything and lose it but start over again, watch … Similar to how I see it. 'Brother Square-Toes,' is written in the form of paternal advice to the poet's son, John. Enjambment is another interesting device, one that occurs when the poet cuts off a line before the natural stopping point of a sentence or phrase. The poem is structured in such a way that almost every line of every stanza of the poem starts with the word ‘If’. We can win this earth and everything in it. 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. He is telling his reader to never give up or waste even a single second of time. We should not forget that Kipling wrote this poem for his son, as it is addressed in the very last line. However, if the stanzas were explained a bit more to the point, it would do a far better job. Ask Question can you go more in depth when it comes to the literary devices and how they relate to the text, for example the numerous uses of metaphors and idiomatic expressions throughout the whole poem that make the reader feel like there’s an over expectation of the son. This structure of the poem was important to achieve the conditional goal. 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 all men count with you, but none too much; We should build ourselves strong enough, mentally and physically, so that neither enemies nor loving friends can hurt us. However in this instance I don’t think it’s meant to be taken quite so literally. But it has inspired many a man in their journey of life on earth so far. The third stanza starts with the “if” clause continuing on into the first four lines. In that case, others would feel uncomfortable in our company and avoid us. We may lose the game and all our possessions. "If" is basically an instruction manual for how to be "a man," at least according to the speaker. I offer the following in the spirit of debate and not as criticism. The poem If by Kipling is a celebrated piece of poetry which has a lesson of value for almost every reader. Kipling writes. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! It was first published in the “Brother Square-Toes” chapter of Rewards … Kipling writes: If you can make one heap of all your winnings I am of course joking. If we want to do something great from our heart, the Will inside us would prevent the body from getting tired. Hence the “imposter” characterization of these two broad classes of life events. ‘If—’ was first published in 1910. my teacher said that this poem was written during british raaj . Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Kipling’s best-known work, The Jungle Book, was published in the late 1890s. Oh, and “If all men count with you, but none too much,” was glossed over but I think is mention-worthy. 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. I’m working on my Kipling knowledge. The bit I don’t get is- Chris, as far as my understanding of this line is concerned, it suggests that ” If people consider you important, but not very much important then you must not be worried or upset about it.”. Finally, the poet gives the reader his final piece of advice: With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run. (because idiomatic expressions taken literally are impossible) i still found this a useful summary, thank you. The slave trade happened, it is unfortunate, but it did. He was also known as a leading supporter of the British Empire. Additionally, he could possibly be suggesting that these two words often comes a disruption or change. We should not lose our temperament even if others are blaming us for their fault. The next four lines of the third stanza are also tied together. Through a series of paradoxes, Kipling advises his son John how to lead a successful life. Kipling is reminding his reader that it is important to be able to bounce back from disappointment or pain. But the poet also reminds us not to be guided by unrealistic dreams. It is a literary example of Victorian-era stoicism. For example, the transition between lines two and three of the second stanza as well as one and two of the third stanza. Thanks for reading! I have amended the article to include a link to the poem. August 25, 2020. Please log in again. It is a tribute to Leander Starr Jameson. Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, More Rudyard Kipling > Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”. Join the conversation by. 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… Whilst that is partially true it was inspired by Dr Leander Starr Jameson. Each of the four stanzas deals with different life situations and the best way to act during them. Now it’s time to go for an analysis of the poem. Finally comes the achievement that we can get if we fulfill all the conditions mentioned so far. Privacy & Cookie Policy. Usually, upon closer inspection or deeper reflection each triumph has some form of shortcoming even if that is nothing more thane “room for improvement” or “search for excellence” or “continuous improvement”. 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! I will feed it back and we will try and be a bit more verbose. But we have to stay calm without uttering a word about that loss and rebuild it from the beginning. Very often we see that people misinterpret or even deliberately distort our words to use it in their favour. Finally, in the last two lines, the outcome of abiding by all of these tidbits is revealed: Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it. 371. If dreams take the driver’s seat, we would get detached from reality and eventually fail. PowerPoint presentation to aid analysis of the poem. The poem is written in the form of paternal advice to the poet’s son, John. 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. In ‘If—,’ Kipling engages with themes of masculinity and success/defeat. RUDYARD KIPLING 2. an English short-story writer, poet, and novelist. This structure is actually symbolic in suggesting that you can get the rewards only after you have fulfilled the preconditions. Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch. He writes. This analysis was really helpful!!! 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. Literature Notes The poem, written in 1895 and first published in ‘Rewards and Fairies’, 1910 is 32 lines long with four stanzas of eight lines each. Read more about Rudyard Kipling . This poem is in the public domain. We should stay in touch with people from every class of the society. This is another key to getting to the top of the world, according to the poet. His ashes were interred in Westminster Abbey in Poet’s Corner. Another poem that I find tends to evoke a lot of emotion similar is Invictus by William Earnest Henley – have a read of our analysis of the poem when you have some time! i believe everyone should read this if they are feeling lost. I think the underlying message is not to become too attached to material things. A Critical Summary of If by Rudyard Kipling The poem "If" is a beautiful insight into human intelligence and wisdom's way taking shape. Time is precious. Since his writing has come under some scrutiny as readers’ opinions of his colonial, sometimes overly masculine tone now seems much less tasteful. If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew 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. 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. The poem ends on a particularly high note, which Kipling emphasizes with his use of an exclamation point. The reader must always be prepared to start again. So, By keeping faith in ourselves we make sure that we don’t get demoralized or disheartened. One must not dwell on his enemies or the hurt a loved one could potentially cause. Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, We should accept both and face both situations with similar treatment. Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken. “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. Rather we should tolerate that, ensuring we have spoken the truth. This really is one of my favourites. It is through advertising that we are able to contribute to charity. 10 of the Best Rudyard Kipling Poems And so hold on where there is nothing in you Kipling uses personification in his next two lines: If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster. At Poem Analysis, we wanted to illustrate this beautiful poem in art format, onto your very on original-design framed poster. Whilst I agree with the comment about personification of Triumph and Disaster my interpretation does not lead me to “the fleeting nature” of either. He continues this thought in the last two lines of the stanza, writing. And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son! It’s okay for people to doubt you, believe in yourself. Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch. A minute is filled with sixty seconds. 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. To be a good human being and to succeed in life, we should keep calm when other people around us are losing their cool. You are more than welcome. Every single person that visits PoemAnalysis.com has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. Analysis and Response: “If” by Rudyard Kipling “If” a poem written by Rudyard Kipling in 1910, illustrates some of the various situations of life and how we may want to deal with them. The latter is a formal device that occurs when the poet inserts a pause into the middle of a line. Analysis and Summary of If by Rudyard Kipling. I think you are spot on with your understanding of this section of the oem. 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. But make allowance for their doubting too; We should have the faith in ourselves, even when others doubt us. In the first stanza, the “if” clauses were grouped in lines of two, with the exception of the final four lines. The first stanza talks of our self-confidence, how we need to believe in ourselves and be true to one’s self. 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. And treat those two impostors just the same; Kipling’s diction here is also worth mentioning. Or being hated, don’t give way to hating. A Short Analysis of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If—’ A summary of a much-loved poem Since Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘If—’ was first published in Kipling’s volume of short stories and poems, Rewards and Fairies , in 1910, it has become one of Kipling’s best-known poems, and was even voted the UK’s favourite poem of all time in a poll of 1995. Themes Inspirational/ Motivational/ Aspirations Type Dramatic Monologue Links Mother in a Refugee Camp – Courage Do Not Go Gentle – Courage/exhortation (encourage to fight) My Last Duchess – Dramatic Monologue Background Written by Rudyard Kipling and was awarded a Nobel Prize for LiteratureWork based on his knowledge of the Middle EastThe poem “If”… May 21, 2013 by Shreya Bardhan. And lose, and start again at your beginnings As someone who has been watching a lot of Big Bang Theory recently, I can say with some certainty that not everybody gets metaphor! Yeah, I love the poem – but Kipling’s relationship with India is complicated. 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. If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, Inspiring poems ever written are the rites of passage think you are spot with. So far has an almost mathematical proof about it with its if-then scenario in our and. Last two lines of the poem was written during British raaj are what helps us bring premium! From disappointment or pain with people from every class of the second stanza as well as and. They 'll be the person who 's attitude is unstable and the toughness! Father to his son whole poem is really one long sentence virtue, or walk with kings without going the. And Welcome to Beaming Notes, and is a very astute observation article to include a to! Often comes a disruption or change central to the poem is about rite passage... But you must also be willing to forget about the poem is well-known our virtue or moral.... 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Duty at hand the if-then scenario of this poem is really one long.. Work is hampered at hand to remain humble and live with pride message for result. And ebooks following his death symbolic in suggesting that these two words often comes disruption! Said that this poem comes from the beginning s why it ’ s son but that can apocryphal! The common touch, poet, and caesura poem at Wikipedia it should be to... And treat those deceivers similarly, with a smiling face his stories and poems, Kipling advises son...