if Flashcards
Q: What is the overall theme of the poem If-?
A: The poem explores themes of masculinity, resilience, self-control, balance, and perseverance, offering life advice from a father to his son.
Q: What is the poem’s structure?
A: The poem consists of four stanzas, each containing eight lines. The structure follows conditional statements, leading to a final conclusion in the last stanza.
Q: What is the significance of the repeated use of “If” in the poem?
A: The repetition of “If” creates a sense of anticipation and conditions for success, emphasizing that achieving maturity and wisdom depends on specific actions and attitudes.
Q: How does Kipling establish an intimate tone in the poem?
A: The poem’s direct address from father to son, its informal language, and idiomatic expressions like “keep your head” create an intimate and advisory tone.
Q: What does the phrase “keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs” suggest?
A: It suggests the importance of composure and rational thinking in times of crisis, reinforcing the theme of self-control.
Q: How does Kipling emphasize the importance of patience, honesty, and modesty?
A: He uses polyptoton (e.g., “don’t deal in lies” and “don’t look too good, nor talk too wise”) to stress the virtues of honesty and humility.
Q: What is the meaning behind “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster / And treat those two impostors just the same”?
A: The personification of “Triumph” and “Disaster” as impostors emphasizes the importance of maintaining emotional balance and not being overly affected by success or failure.
Q: How does Kipling highlight resilience and determination in the poem?
A: Through imagery such as “stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools,” Kipling suggests the importance of perseverance even when faced with setbacks.
Q: What is the significance of “risking it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss”?
A: It symbolizes the courage to take calculated risks and accept losses with resilience, reinforcing the theme of endurance.
Q: How does the poem encourage self-discipline and willpower?
A: The phrase “hold on when there is nothing in you / Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’” emphasizes inner strength and determination in adversity.
Q: What does “walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch” mean?
A: It highlights the importance of humility and balance—being able to interact with both powerful and ordinary people without losing one’s character.
Q: Why does Kipling use the phrase “fill the unforgiving minute / With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run”?
A: It underscores the value of making the most of time and striving for continuous self-improvement.
Q: What is the final message of the poem?
A: The poem concludes that if the son follows all these virtues, he will achieve true manhood and the world will be his.
Q: How does the poem reflect Edwardian ideals of masculinity?
A: It emphasizes virtues such as endurance, stoicism, and moral integrity, which were key ideals of masculinity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Q: What role does the poem’s rhythm and meter play?
A: The poem is largely written in iambic pentameter, creating a natural, speech-like rhythm that adds to its inspirational tone.
Q: How does If- compare with Prayer Before Birth?
A: While If- is optimistic and suggests success is possible with the right virtues, Prayer Before Birth presents life as cruel and full of suffering.
