Poem Review: ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling - A Father’s Advice to His Son

Source - Pixels

‘If’ is a poem you may not find often. Undoubtedly this is one of those beloved poems written by Kipling and the most favourite on my list. It has greatly inspired me and will to all its readers that may come across it.

Introduction

Poem’s Name - If

Author’s Name - Rudyard Kipling

Genre - Lyric, Didactic

Language - English

The Poem 

‘If’ is a lyric poem which emphasizes musical qualities and encompasses a spontaneous overflow of emotions through musical qualities with the rhyme scheme A-B-A-B-C-D-C-D for three stanzas, except the first stanza with the rhyme scheme A-A-A-A-B-C-B-C. 

The poem is also didactic in nature as it advocates the readers specific lessons for life. The poem provides the readers with paradoxical (both negative and positive) scenarios and has mentioned proofs for it throughout.

The poem talks about certain attributes of contemporary setting raising questions to what role one has to play in the society. The entire poem makes remarkable use of punctuations and pauses that aim to give a certain set of instructions or advice, the correct way to cultivate leadership, develop personality and a character such that can help achieve manhood.

 About the Author

Source - NPR

Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay  (now Mumbai), India in December 1865 and died on January 18, 1936. 

He is an English short-story writer, poet and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, his tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.

About the Book - Rewards & Fairies 

The poem ‘If’ was first published in the ‘Brother Square-Toes’ chapter of the book Rewards and Fairies that talks about the French Revolution. The book is a 1910 collection of poetry and short stories for children in historical times with links to contemporary narrative.

His poems and short stories for centuries have inspired millions of people all over the world and still continue to do so. The book is set one year later though it was published four years afterwards.

Source - Amazon De

The characters that the book is based upon are Dan and Una, two children living in Sussex in the area of Kipling’s own home. Another character that recurringly occurs is Old Hobden representing the continuity of inhabitants of the land. 

Some of the stories in Kipling’s book contain elements of the supernatural as well as history and each story is preceded or followed by a poem. ‘If’ has often been described as Britain’s favourite poem. Few other well known poems are ‘Cold Iron’ and ‘The Way through the Woods’. 

First Read Impression - Poem Review

The poem provides an incredible read for all its readers by making use of pronouns like ‘you’ portraying a personal feeling. Each stanza has been crafted beautifully with a continuous flow of thought repeatedly emphasizing contrasting circumstances one may face in lifetime.

Kipling advises all long on how to handle situations with virtue and dignity not only listing specific virtuous characteristics but providing strong foundational illustrations on building a manly or gentlemen like personality.

The poem superficially seems to be written for his son John, bestowing him with advice on the aforementioned aspects. The motivational words in the poem full with humility tap right into the core of anyone who reads it, which is why it is a masterpiece.

Lessons from the Poem

Source - Behance

Each stanza has a different lesson and advice to give. The first stanza talks about ‘righteousness’, the environment around the individual and how one should behave. It talks about what is being righteous, that one should not get lost and become self-righteous in the process while learning to be patient.

The second stanza talks about ‘equanimity’ and the balance between personal desire and professional responsibility. It emphasizes that disastrous situations are fickle and a voluntary sense of detachment is required to become a leader. At the same time being bearing enough to listen to the truth that you speak getting exploited by your haters. 

The third stanza makes use of hyperbolic statements emphasizing the theme of accomplishing that which is unachievable and not to feel the sense of despondency on losing, to build the will of striving to do it all over again. 

“If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue (goog will),

Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch..”

The fourth stanza talks about ‘resilience’ reminding the leader to be inclusive, practice equality and fraternity while living and talking to the Kings (rich) but not losing contact with the common people. It emphasizes the quality of respecting time and using it to the best of  one’s ability.  

Where could one find a poem so rich in context? Everything said is still so relatable and doable in this contemporary life. 

Literary Aspects 

Kipling in ‘If’ makes use of various literary expressions to provide a wonderful imaginary read that can help readers to connect well with, some of which are mentioned below:

Anaphora - The entire poem is written in If and Or statements with answers to it. 

“If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim”

“If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 

But make allowance for their doubting too”

Irony - Both contradictions urge readers to ignore doubt as well as make allowance for doubt constructing a paradoxical tone throughout.  

“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster..”

“Except the Will which says to them: Hold on!..”

“Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it. 

And - which is more - you’ll be a Man, my son!”

Personification - Important elements like Triumph and Disaster that anyone may face in life are personified that tell the reader to not lose grip and deal with both these impostors the same way. 

‘Yours’ and ‘Earth’ are personified to remind the readers that the world you are born in is yours and everything you do in it should attain some kind of accomplishment at the end of it. ‘Man’ is personified to emphasize all that is said in the poem if followed will ultimately make you the man everyone wishes to be.

The poem is written in an iambic pentameter form and also uses other poetic devices such as Alliteration, Repetition and Hyperbole. 

The Bottom Line

The poem serves as an instructional but quality read for all ages from all walks of life. The poem will stir a variety of feelings through Kilping’s words of wisdom that are universally and equally valuable and relevant to everyone.

My ratings for the poem - 5 on 5

Written By - Umme-Aiman