The Poem, If, By Rudyard Kipling - 1261 Words

Poetry Explication Throughout the world, many different cultures have vastly different definitions of what it is to â€Å"be a man.† From modern rites of passage such as marriage or an eighteenth birthday dating back to ancient Native American rituals, boys have been transforming into men for ages. The poem, â€Å"If,† by Rudyard Kipling, deals with one man’s interpretation of the topic. The poem is narrated by a man speaking to his son, telling him everything that he must do in order to be a man. The poem goes beyond the superficial aspects of modern manhood, and delves into the deeper meaning of the word. The themes of this poem include coming of age and growth and change, since it speaks of a son being guided by his father in his transition from boyhood to manhood. The poem travels through a series of â€Å"ifs,† telling him that if he can do everything that is listed, he’ll be a man. Essentially, what it boils down to is staying true to himself and not succumbing to the pressures of society. The first stanza is telling him to stand strong in his opinions when everyone else’s resolve is crumbling; to have faith in himself; and to hold himself to a higher standard, yet not become haughty. The second stanza tells him to dream as big as he dares, but not let those dreams control him; to acknowledge that triumph and disaster do not hold any real power over him; to listen, even when people twist his words; and to be able to completely start over when everything he built falls apart. TheShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem If By Rudyard Kipling1125 Words   |  5 PagesPoets put their tone into a poem, sometimes poems can be told from different perspectives. What really matters is how you look at a poem, the way you interpret it. Some people are able to see things that others don’t see in a poem, poetry allows readers to take their own mood from the poem and make personal connections with it. My poem is â€Å"If† by Rudyard Kipling, I personally think this is a compelling poem, with an engaging story behind it. Relating back to the poem, I have chosen several songsRead Moreâ€Å"If† In his poem â€Å"If,† Rudyard Kipling is writing to his son, John, about the most important600 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"If† In his poem â€Å"If,† Rudyard Kipling is writing to his son, John, about the most important virtues that a good human being possesses. Through the years of his life, Kipling often traveled around the U.S., and sometimes to other countries. In his travels, Kipling met one of his greatest friends, Leander Starr Jameson, a colonial politician. It is believed that, although it was addressed to Kipling’s son, â€Å"If† was actually about Jameson. By using themes Kipling saw in his friend Jameson, such asRead MoreRudyard Kipling s The Jungle Book1375 Words   |  6 Pagesjingoist (Kipling, RudyardNobel Prize Winners). Rudyard Kipling was a European man born in Bombay India in 1865. Kipling was born during an age of British Imperialism in India (McNamara and Kipling, Rudyard Hutchinson Encyclopedia). He himself was rumored to be an imperialist for Britain. Throughout his lifetime Kipling lived in Britain, India, and the United States of America (Kipling, Rudyard Worl d Authors). He used his many experiences from these areas to shape his writings. Kipling was alsoRead MoreJoseph Rudyard Kipling and his Works1147 Words   |  5 PagesRudyard Kipling â€Å"If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.† –Rudyard Kipling. Rudyard Kipling was born on December 30, 1865 at Bombay, India. Kipling spent the first six years of his idyllic life in India until his family moved back to England in 1871. After six months of living in England his parents abandoned him and his three year old sister, leaving them with the Holloway family, which in turn mistreated him physically and psychologically, this left him withRead More ESSAY ON 3 WAR POEMS1160 Words   |  5 PagesWAR POEMS No man wants to go to war and no government wants war but there are many different circumstances that lead to the action of war. Those involved in war will have political and personal views towards it. The First World War was greeted with great enthusiasm and patriotism; however it was the war in which millions died compared to the wars after. In the past 200 years warfare has changed and with this change the ideas on war have changed too. Wilfred Owen, Rudyard Kipling and DavidRead Moreanalyze The machine poem1046 Words   |  5 Pages1 – Analyze the favorite Poem Due date 10/19/2013 (Final) The secret of the machines (by Rudyard Kipling) Each person has a different worldview. Technology can bring many benefits and convenience to our life. However, these conveniences are not unlimited. In other hand, it makes us become dependent. There is nothing better than our own. Many authors have shown that vision through poetry and writing. And the poem â€Å"The secret of the machines† by Rudyard Kipling is not out of that topicRead MoreWhite Man s Burden By Rudyard Kipling1354 Words   |  6 PagesImperialism English writer Rudyard Kipling published a very famous poem called â€Å"White Man’s Burden† in 1899 which embodied the European feel of superiority over the indigenous peoples. Kipling published this poem when the Americans were conquering different places. In fact, the original subtitle of this poem was â€Å"The United States and the Philippine Islands.† This was because the United States had acquired the Philippines from Spain after winning the Spanish-American War. Kipling was inspired by theseRead More##ment. :If By Rudyard Kipling And The Paradoxical Commandments1369 Words   |  6 Pagesgenders? This question does not have an interpretation as there is an abundance of aspects, the points of view, opinions and more; but we can look at the different pieces of recommendation given to males and the generic suggestions. â€Å"If†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ by Rudyard Kipling and â€Å"The Paradoxical Commandments† written by Dr. Kent M. Keith encloses similarities and differences in the way the author’s grant information to their addressed masses, on the other hand, they are different in their targeted readers. â€Å"If† isRead MoreSimilarities Between The Third And Final Continent And Uglies912 Words   |  4 Pageshistory. Any person in a difficult situation always considers giving up on their road to success; however the authors of â€Å"If†, â€Å"The Third and Final Continent†, and Uglies intentionally portrayed a theme of perseverance which impacts the reader. The poem, â€Å"If† articulates several real-life circumstances that would consider the qualified person, a strong individual. â€Å"The Third and Final Continent† is a story of a man and how he overcame obstacles on his journey to America. The novel, Uglies is a futuristicRead MoreThings Fall Apart vs. Heart of Darkness Essay1617 Words   |  7 Pagesthat it was somehow the duty of the â€Å"superior† white man to spread his ideas to the lesser people of the world. This philosophy is manifested tangibly in such Wester n writings as Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and The White Man’s Burden by Rudyard Kipling. The strongest counter argument to this idea comes from the African native and distinguished writer Chinua Achebe. His novel, Things Fall Apart, provides an in depth glance into the diversity and character of the African culture and the atrocities