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. The poet conveys his ideas about how to win this life, and after all, how to be a good human being.
What is the message presented in the poem If?
The main theme of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If—’ is Victorian-era stoicism. This theme is present throughout the work along with some important themes such as being human, success, failure, life, strength, and self-control.
What is the main idea of if?
The overarching theme of the poem If is successful, virtuous living based on values pertaining to integrity, rightful behavior, and self-development. The poem speaks to every reader on what it means to become a complete man and how he operates through the thick and thins of life.
What is the tone of the poem If?
The tone of the poem is didactic. This means that it sets out to teach, to instruct. The speaker is a father advising his son how to live his life, but the lesson can apply to any reader, and indeed the poem continues to find much favour with audiences; undoubtedly it is Kipling’s best known and best loved poem.What does heart and nerve and sinew symbolize?
“If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, … Kipling is saying that at those times we need to force our hearts, nerves, and sinew to do what we do not want to do or what we feel we are incapable of doing.
What is the conclusion of the poem If?
Conclusion of the Poem IF Some of the virtues and qualities forwarded in the poem might seem lofty and even impossible to attain but there is no denying the fact that they are the crux of what humanity can offer best. In short, this poem paints a wonderful and inspiring picture of how an ideal man leads an ideal life!
What does the poem If teaches us?
Kipling emphasizes that it is important to dream and have an imagination, but control of one’s imagination is necessary, as well, for one must be realistic: If you can dream–and not make dreams your master… …things you gave your life to, broken, and bend down to pick them up and “build’em up with worn-out tools.
What literary devices are used in the poem If?
Rudyard Kipling ‘s “If” employs many different devices. Three of those devices include iambic pentameter, paradox , and didacticism. The poem has four octaves written in iambic pentameter. (Incidentally, Shakespeare’s sonnets are famous for using iambic pentameter, too.)How do you find the mood of a poem?
The writer of the poem creates the mood using a number of elements such as setting, tone and theme. To define the mood of a poem, the reader should analyze how these different elements interact and what feeling or atmosphere they evoke.
What is the meaning of if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same?Triumph signifies victory, success, and achievement. These things bring happiness and joy in our life. We are satisfied with it and have more confidence and faith in ourselves. On the other hand, disaster signifies sadness, adversity, heart- broken, misfortune, and defeat.
Article first time published onWhat does and lose and start again at your beginnings mean?
And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss: … Yeah “winnings” and “pitch-and-toss” are totally gambling words, but gambling is here a metaphor, for the most part. It’s a metaphor for earning money and losing it by taking chances, by gambling (but not at a casino or something).
What does if you can fill the unforgiving minute mean?
To me, “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run” means – “If you can take advantage of every single moment, if you can squeeze time for all it’s worth, if you can, to quote Thoreau ‘live deep and suck out all the marrow of life’ then you’ll be a man”.
What does the speaker mean by heart and nerve and new?
Explanation: It means that not to giveup in the life but instead of giving up we should do hard work for the next time and it also mean that of we loss once that doesn’t matter we will lose again and again . That’s why we should do hard work.
What advice does Kipling give for achieving success in life?
Kipling advises you to build from what has been broken without losing hope. The key is to persevere and never give up.
Who is the speaker of the poem If?
The speaker is the poet Rudyard Kipling itself and it is addressed to his son John.
What are words to describe the mood of a poem?
Here are some words that are commonly used to describe mood: Cheerful. Reflective. Gloomy.
What are some examples of tones?
- Cheerful.
- Dry.
- Assertive.
- Lighthearted.
- Regretful.
- Humorous.
- Pessimistic.
- Nostalgic.
What is the imagery of the poem?
Imagery is the name given to the elements in a poem that spark off the senses. Despite “image” being a synonym for “picture”, images need not be only visual; any of the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) can respond to what a poet writes.
Where is the metaphor in If by Rudyard Kipling?
Here is a metaphor from the poem: ‘[If you can] watch the things you gave your life to, broken, / And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools.” The metaphor is effective because it makes the reader understand the loss being discussed by using the words “broken” and “stoop,” physical descriptions that describe an …
What are the personified characters in the poem If?
There are quite a few examples of personification (a metaphor in which a thing or idea is given human characteristics) in Rudyard Kipling’s classic poem, “If.” One comes in the second stanza: The words “Triumph” and “Disaster” are given the human characteristics of “impostors.” Also in the second stanza, “truth” is “.. …
What figurative language does the poem if have?
Metaphor. Finally, Kipling uses metaphors in the poem to make hidden comparison between two things that are very different from each other but have some common characteristics. An impostor is actually a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others.
What does the poet mean by treat those two imposters just the same?
Answer: If you can meet with triumph and disaster. And treat those two imposters just the same; The speaker is stating that triumph and disaster are the both imposters. This means that triumph may not be a victorious moment in which to celebrate.
What does the knave represent?
1. Knave, rascal, rogue, scoundrel are disparaging terms applied to persons considered base, dishonest, or worthless. Knave, which formerly meant merely a boy or servant, in modern use emphasizes baseness of nature and intention: a dishonest and swindling knave.
What do knaves represent in the poem If?
Answer: Knaves represent scoundrels, liars or conman.
What does and never breathe a word about your loss mean?
You should “start again at your beginnings,” meaning make a fresh start. You should also “never breathe a word about your loss,” meaning never speak of the loss because not complaining about adversity shows strength of character and true humility.
What does keep your virtue mean?
Virtue is the quality of being morally good. … At first virtue meant manliness or valor, but over time it settled into the sense of moral excellence. Virtue can also mean excellence in general. One of your virtues might be your generous willingness to help out your friends.
Why should we not make dreams your master in the poem If?
In the poem if Rudyard Kipling wants to advise us that it is good to fulfil your dreams but you should not make them your “master” i.e. your dreams should not overpower your mind because of which you are not able to widen your horizons if one dream is not fulfilled.
Why are triumph and disaster called impostors?
Why? In Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘IF’, the poet personifies Triumph and Disaster and calls them ‘two impostors’ (pretenders/cheaters/deceivers). People become too happy in success and forget their duty at hand. … That is why the poet calls triumph and disaster ‘two impostors’.
What is the meaning of the first stanza in the poem If?
Answer: In the first stanza of the poem, the poet is emphasizing an individual’s ability to rise above the circumstances. Explanation: When he writes, “if you can dream, and not make dreams your master,” in the first stanza, he is saying that do not let circumstances control you just because you have a dream.
What is the message conveyed in the last stanza of the poem If?
Answer: The final verse asserts: that a person should be able to address and converse with large groups of people and still hold on to his integrity. a man should be able to talk with royalty or nobility and keep from growing arrogant or staying true to himself.
