TO MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR = A LUA IN CALCUL SI .../ A AVEA IN VEDERE
KNAVES = LIARS
TO STOOP = TO BEND
TO TOSS= TO THROW
TO PITCH= A SE INCLINA
SINEW= PUTERE FIZICA/ MUSCHI
NERVE= SANGE RECE/ FORTA / ENERGIE
VIRTUE= GOOD QUALITIES
1. Justify the title of Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘IF’.
Top answer
The poem ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling deals with the human qualities and character traits that we need to develop to succeed in life, and more so to be a good human being. The poem is written in one conditional sentence where the poet talks about the virtues first and about the outcomes at the end. In the process, he has ended up in writing a number of conditional clauses beginning with ‘if’. This structure is actually symbolic in suggesting that we can get the rewards only after we fulfill the preconditions. Moreover, this makes the readers eager to know what would happen if and when we meet all these conditions, thus retaining the curiosity and interest till the end. 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.
2. What are the qualities the poet talks about in the poem ‘If ‘by Rudyard Kipling?
The list of qualities desired in Kipling’s poem ‘If’ is rather a long one. According to the poet the following qualities can ‘make a man’ —
A man should keep his calm in difficult situations. Self-belief in one’s own ability and integrity is important. Being truthful in any circumstance is a virtue. Hate is not the way to go. And one should not by showy or arrogant for possessing all these good qualities.
We have to dream bigger and think deeply without getting detached from the reality. We should be indifferent to success and failure, knowing ‘Triumph and Disaster are two impostors‘. We should also possess the mental strength to bear with any situation in life — especially hearing someone twisting our words in their favour and seeing something, which we gave our life to, broken. Not only that, we have to build them up from the beginning again.
One should have the courage and determination to take big risks for good reasons. And if he loses, he should not utter a word about the loss but start all over again. Moreover, a strong Will for carrying on can force our body to continue even in the old age. This is all about the toughness of character that makes a man successful.
Be social and stay in touch with men from different corners of the society — walk with Kings, nor lose the common touch. Behave well with people, even with enemies. And be careful so that neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you and make you weak and sad. Realizing the value of time and utilizing it wisely is vital for success.
The poet has stated these qualities in four stanzas of his poem. According to him, if one can possess all these qualities, one can win this world, and what is more, one can be a perfect human being.
3. What are the poetic devices in this poem ?
Metaphor Metaphors are implied comparison between two different things where there is a point of similarity.
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same
In the above lines, ‘triumph and disaster’ are compared to impostors. Success and failure both can deceive us, as we may become too happy or too sad and forget our duty. Moreover, triumph and disaster both are transitory — in most cases they don’t last long. Happiness comes after sorrow and vice-versa. But we are often deceived in thinking them to be permanent.
Personification
Personification is attributing human characteristics to non-human objects.
If you can dream — and not make dreams your master
In the above line, the poet urges us not to allow our ‘dreams‘ to act like our master and control us. Our dreams acting like a master is a personification of dream.
If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two impostors just the same;
‘Triumph‘ and ‘disaster‘ are here attributed human characteristics and called ‘impostors’ or deceivers who can befool us.
If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
‘Minute‘ or time is here personified by the term ‘unforgiving’. Time waits for none. The poet says, it does not ‘forgive’ those who waste their valuable time. Forgiving is a human quality attributed to ‘minute’ here.
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
‘Will‘ or human resolution is personified as it can encourage us not to give up.
Symbolism It is the use of language in a way that something has a symbolic or deeper meaning other than the apparent one.
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
‘Pitch-and-toss‘ is a game. But here it is a symbol for big risks in life. The poet advises us to take bigger risks if it is for good reasons.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch
In the above lines, ‘crowds‘ symbolizes the common people, ‘kings‘ symbolizes important persons and ‘common touch‘ refers to humbleness.
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
This line is not to be taken literally. Kipling means to say that if we possess those good qualities, we would find ourselves to be highly successful in life and winning the hearts of people. It would resemble winning the earth itself.
Sinecdoche It is when we use parts of something to mean the whole or vice-versa.
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
‘heart and nerve and sinew‘ are parts to mean the whole body. The poet says, we have to force our body to keep working by the power of will, even after it has lost its vigour.
Anaphora Anaphora is a rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses.
The poem ‘If-‘ is a collection of a number of ‘if clauses’ which start with ‘If you can…‘
