"If" By Rudyard Kipling : compulsory English -2 (Sem-2)

"If" By Rudyard Kipling

(‘Brother Square-Toes’—Rewards and Fairies)

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;   

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;   

    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;   

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

    And treat those two impostors just the same;   

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

    And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   

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

“If—” – Overview

“If—” is a famous inspirational poem written by Rudyard Kipling. The poem was first published in 1910 in the poetry collection Rewards and Fairies. It is one of Kipling’s most well-known poems and is admired for its strong message about character, patience, self-control, and moral strength.

Basic Information

Title: If—

Poet: Rudyard Kipling

Year Published: 1910

Genre: Inspirational / Didactic poem

Collection: Rewards and Fairies

Background

The poem was inspired by the qualities of Leander Starr Jameson, a British political figure admired by Kipling for his courage and leadership. Kipling wrote the poem as advice on how a person should behave in life, especially during difficult situations.

Short Summary

In the poem, the speaker gives advice about how to become a mature and successful person. He explains that a person should remain calm when others panic, believe in themselves while still listening to others, and remain patient during challenges.

The poem also emphasizes the importance of honesty, humility, perseverance, and self-discipline. A person should not be controlled by success or failure, because both are temporary.

Kipling advises people to take risks, work hard, and remain strong even after losing everything. The poem ends with the message that if someone can practice all these qualities, they will become a true and complete human being.

Themes

Self-discipline and patience

Courage and perseverance

Balance between success and failure

Maturity and personal growth

Literary Features

Structure: The poem is written in four stanzas with conditional statements beginning with “If”.

Tone: Motivational and advisory.

Language: Simple but powerful language giving life advice.

Conclusion

If— is an inspiring poem that teaches important values such as patience, courage, honesty, and self-control. Through a series of life lessons, Rudyard Kipling shows that true success comes from strong character and the ability to remain balanced in both victory and defeat.