The road to mandalay by rudyard kipling read by charles dance. Rudyard kipling poems poems of rudyard kipling poem hunter. In 1907, kipling was the first english writer ever to be awarded the nobel prize in literature. If if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. During his lifetime, even kipling started to resent the poems popularity, saying it had been anthologised to weariness. Heres a guy in a lot of different outfits reading the poem. Lets enjoy if by rudyard kipling a poem that has inspired me for years. His mother was one of the talented and beautiful macdonald sisters. By rudyard kipling aims this worksheet should help you to carry out a close reading of the poem understand the wider context of the poem understand the content, including unusual vocabulary in the text analyse the way the poet has used language, including the use of literary devices and techniques. Some things in this poem i try to follow everyday, such as paraphrase if your being hated, dont give way to hating. The poems line, if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same, is written on the wall of the players entrance at wimbledon. Pdf freedom and culture in maphallas translation of kiplings if. Rudyard kipling s if, instills a sense of positive forthcoming, the likes of which poetry like this, generally does what sets this apart, however, is that within these verses, kipling spells out the requisites for a virtuous existence, trimming the fat off it.
Worksheet 1 by rudyard kipling amazon web services. Common core aligned poem study of if by rudyard kipling. Tpcastt if by rudyard kipling by noelle harrity on prezi. World cup 98 if closes out the most famous tournament in the world. Complete collection of poems by rudyard kipling born december 30, 1865, died january 18, 1936 now this is the law of the jungle as old and as true as the sky. The poet conveys his ideas about how to win this life, and after all, how to be a good human being. He was born in india, which inspired much of his work. The poem was inspired by the jameson raid, an 1895 military action in the boer war in south africa.
If rudyard kipling english spanish translation acropolis. Based on lines 5 and 6, what can you conclude about the speakers values. Check out the first paragraph of this piece by george orwell to read some rather scathing remarks about kipling. For whom is the poem if by rudyard kipling intended for and why. I am sure it is on youtube somewhere, and i recommend you give it a listen if you can. What is the message presented in the poem if by rudyard.
What is a detailed summary of the poem if by rudyard. But as well as being a prolific author of fiction, rudyard. If by rudyard kipling if you can keep your head when all about you. About the poem the poem if by the indiaborn british nobel laureate poet rudyard kipling is a poem of ultimate inspiration that tells us how to deal with different situations in life. This is seen in the very last line of the poem, when kipling writes. Rudyard kiplings 1909 poem if, from his collection rewards and fairies. Dennis hopper, johnny cash, rudyard kipling nuf said. Its a poem that has been written by rudyard kipling around the end of the xix century. Rudyard kipling was born on 30 december 1865 in bombay, in british india to alice kipling nee macdonald and john lockwood kipling. A personal favorite is god could not be everywhere, so he made mothers. Kiplings most famous poem, if, was a tribute to yet another physician friend. Rudyard kipling is one of the bestknown of the late victorian poets and storytellers.
Rudyard kipling s poem if lists a set of conditionals for the speakers son to follow in order to become an ideal man. May i put a link to it in an ebook i am finishing on how to enjoy modern poetry, in wh i use if as an example of a traditional poem, in contrast to most modern poems. Rudyard kipling rudyard kipling 18651936, writer, was born in india where he spent his early childhood before his family returned to england. What is a detailed summary of the poem if by rudyard kipling. It was first published in the brother squaretoes chapter of the book rewards and fairies, a 1910 collection of poetry and short stories set in historical times with a linking contemporary narrative. It expresses the values needed to become a man and advices on how to do so. Maphalla took the initiative to translate kiplings poem if into sesotho.
The best kipling poems selected by dr oliver tearle. If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. Subtitled as brother squaretoesrewards and fairies, the poem if is a masterpiece written by rudyard kipling. The medical kiplingsyphilis, tabes dorsalis, and rombergs test. To translate rudyard kiplings if into a sesotho poem as. Rudyard kipling 18651936 was a tireless experimenter with the short story form, a novelist, a writer who could entertain children and adults alike with such books as the jungle book, plain tales from the hills, the just so stories, puck of pooks hill, and countless others. This page is best viewed in an uptodate web browser with style sheets css enabled. A unique characteristic of if by rudyard kipling is that it consists grammatically of a single sentence, so we can call it a onesentence poem. If by rudyard kipling if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too. Rudyard kipling s poem if as well as being inspirational and motivational, offers philosophical pointers on personal integrity, behavior and selfdevelopment. There is something so inspiring and yet humbling about the words. A short analysis of rudyard kiplings if interesting.
If is the poem that describes the authors life which includes many obstacles that kipling faced and how to deal with these problems if one may come across them. After reading this poem, and a poem yesterday, im starting to like poetry a bit. The jungle book has had lasting popularity, both as a story and in film adaptations. So you could say that this poem has an imperial, sexist subtextjust a little bit. Rudyard kipling follow rudyard kipling 18651936 was born in bombay on december 30th, son of john lockwood kipling, an artist and teacher of architectural sculpture and his wife alice. Stunning if rudyard kipling typography posters usa. Rudyard kipling kipling, rudyard 18651936 an english novelist, shortstory writer, and poet who spent most of his youth in india, and is best known for his childrens classics. Using a combination of spencerian hand lettered fonts, arranged around an illustration from an old victorian letter writing manual to convey a father penning advice to his son. The song of the sufferer, which he wrote after a bout of fever and sore throat at age. Since then, ive found myself frequently searching for it on the internet just so i can reread it at all hours of the day. Born of expatriate parents in bombay, india, in 1865, rudyard kipling was the. I think that this poem, in spite the true meaning or the idea that kipling wanted to transmit, can have many interpretations in fact, thats the beauty of poetry. It is important to remain humble and live with pride.
This project was completed to illustrate the poem iif by rudyard kipling. If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too. Analysis the poem if is directed to kiplings son, and is a message to him on his route to manhood. Rudyard kipling was an english poet and writer of short stories and novels, many of them for children. If by rudyard kipling poem study by rethinking reading. Despite all this, however, the poem does offer some sage wisdom. Born of expatriate parents in bombay, india, in 1865, rudyard kipling was the first english. Kipling composed many of his poems while living for several years in the united states in the mid1890s. Anyway, i just wanted to mention the song form, in case you have never heard of it.
Rudyard kipling s if, instills a sense of positive forthcoming, the likes of which poetry like this, generally does what sets this apart, however, is that within these verses, kipling spells out the requisites for a virtuous existence, trimming the fat off it, and concisely putting it on a platter. Written in 1895, the principles that kipling present still apply to todays world. What do the details of this poem reveal about the poets point of view towards being a man. Kipling travelled widely and wrote travel articles as well as poetry. The poem s line, if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same, is written on the wall of the players entrance at wimbledon. In fact, any lover of tennis can probably tell you that several of the poem s lines are hanging in the player. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, dont deal in lies, or being hated, dont give way to hating, and yet dont look too good, nor talk too wise. I bought the book thinking it was a meaningfull number of rudyard kipling s poems, it was in fact all about one poem with lots of meaningless drawings, i feel that the description of the book was misleading and not upto amazons usual standards. A custom lettering poster of rudyard kipling s poem if. In a 1995 bbc opinion poll, if was voted the united kingdoms favorite poem. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get. I created one character that faces the situations mentioned in the poem in a literary or metaphoric way.
Joseph rudyard kipling is best known for his novels the jungle book, the second jungle book, and kim, and his most famous poem, if. The title and the repetition of the word throughout this poem means uncertainty. If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and b. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, dont deal in lies, or being hated, dont give way to hating. In the new yorker, charles mcgrath remarked kipling has been variously labelled a colonialist, a jingoist, a racist, an antisemite, a misogynist.
And were not the only one to ever notice this about kipling. The stories of mowgli, a mancub who was the central character in the jungle book, brought kipling great popularity in england and the united states. To this day he is still the youngest person ever to have received it. I will be comaparing if by rudyard kipling to once upon a time by gabriel okara. During his lifetime, even kipling started to resent the poem s popularity, saying it had been anthologised to weariness. Joseph rudyard kipling is best known for his novels the jungle book.
All except the first stanza are quatrains with a repeating abab rhyme scheme. For me, in a few words, it represents many advices worth of not leaving them behind. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about. If by rudyard kipling vidya sury, collecting smiles. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. The other important consequence of the jameson raid was rudyard kiplings poem if. Analysis of if by rudyard kipling in preparation for the edexcel igcse english literature paper 1 exam. If by rudyard kipling is a poem i came across a few years ago and fell in love with it. If rudyard kipling, dennis hopper on johnny cash show. The meter is an iambic pentameter like many of shakespeares. 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. Kipling s only son, lieutenant john kipling, died in world war i in 1915, only a few years after if was.
In this case the poem is only of its time, and not translatable to the present day. While kipling is best known these days for the jungle book 1894, he wrote lots of poems, stories, and even a novelall works that are not as widely. Pdf a translation is generally regarded as a transportation of the message from one text into. The just so stories are probably the most wellknown examples some of his poems are about the experiences of british soldiers in india, like gunga din and mandalay which are probably the most famous examples of his work. Kim 1901 a novel of indian life widely considered kiplings. Rudyard kipling 18651936, writer, was born in india where he spent his early childhood before his family returned to england. Mar 30, 2015 kipling became one of the mostpaid writers during the victorian age. If is a poem aimed at kipling s son or in general to any growing young male. Terms in this set 23 if you can anaphora framing to the whole poem and shows life is unknown. A short analysis of rudyard kiplings if a summary of a muchloved 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 bestknown poems, and was even voted the uks favourite poem of all time in a poll. Alice one of four remarkable victorian sisters was a vivacious woman about whom a future. In 1896, thirtyoneyearold rudyard kipling was an internationallyrenowned poet and storyteller when he wrote a poem with a oneword title. Thanks for the great art, great poem and the huge helping of nostalgia that you have given me. The poem is inspirational, motivational and a set of rules for grownup living.
The poem, first published in rewards and fairies 1910, ch. If by rudyard kipling is yet another example of great 19th century poetry. This famous poem, written by britains imperial poet born in india, boarding school in britain, journalist in india, fame in britain, and marriage and live for a time in usa, was a response to the american take over of the phillippines after the spanishamerican war. Many people consider this poem to be one of the most inspirational, and the poem has garnered much attention in popular culture.
Cinematic trailer heres a pretty moving video montage, featuring tons of movie clips. It wasnt until recently when my hubby wanted to give a meaningful gift to his mentor, did i reread it. Rudyard kipling 30 december 1865 18 january 1936 an english poet, shortstory writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of british imperialism, tales and poems of british soldiers in india, and his tales for children. His famous poem, recessional, written in 1897 in honor of queen victorias diamond jubilee, contains a strong warning to the british not to exploit other races. A fathers invaluable advice to his son, written with the beauty and elegance that only the 19th century could achieve. Joseph rudyard kipling was an english journalist, shortstory writer, poet, and novelist. Kipling s if contains mottos and maxims for life, and the poem is also a blueprint for personal integrity, behaviour and selfdevelopment. If is undoubtedly one of the most beloved poems written by rudyard kipling. Phenomenal woman, still i rise, the road not taken, if you forget me, dreams. Typography and illustration poster of the poem if by rudyard kipling. If by rudyard kipling poems academy of american poets. Mar 24, 2015 if rudyard kipling, dennis hopper on johnny cash show taylor tillinger.
In his classic textbook, a manual of diseases of the nervous system. This poem shows advice someones gives to his son, telling him if he follows it, hell be a man. The great british poet who was born in mumbai, india is best known for his novels the jungle book, the second jungle book, and kim. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, dont deal in lies, or being hated. Kipling received the 1907 nobel prize for literature. Rudyard kipling s wonderful poem if supplies a guide for how to live an honorable, successful life. Brother squaretoes, is written in the form of paternal advice to the poets son, john. One of my favorite poems is if by rudyard kipling and id like to share it today rudyard kipling 1865 to 1936 was an english shortstory writer, poet, and novelist most notably remembered for his tales and poems of british soldiers in india, and his tales for children. Rudyard kipling was an english poet who lived from 18651936. Rudyard kipling was born in bombay, india in december of 1865. The speaker of the poem believes that resilience primarily comes from. Rudyard kipling s 18651936 inspirational poem if first appeared in his collection rewards and fairies in 1909. Kipling is said to have written the poem if with dr leander starr jameson in mind, who led about fivehundred of his countrymen in a failed raid against the boers, in southern africa.
The poem if is inspirational, motivational, and a set of rules for grownup living. This page as created by chez morgan, because the poem if is the best poem ever written. If is his most famous poem, and loved by people the world. In 1907 kipling became the first english language writer to be awarded the nobel prize in literature. 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. If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too. Rudyard kipling this poem was one of the most valuable things i took from high school.
Ifrudyard kipling if rudyard kipling, classic poems. In 1900, kipling went to south africa to report the boer war for an english newspaper. In 1905, kipling completed kim, his first major novel. Short summary of if by rudyard kipling article shared by 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. I learned this poem orally, and am reciting it from memory, so this version differs from the published form in some minor errors. The jameson raid was later considered a major factor in starting the boer war 18991902. Oh wait, i just checked and this poem was first published in 1910 but i will still categorise it as 19th century because it takes a while to get.