‘If’ – Rudyard Kipling

Question 1

what is the general over view for ‘If’

Answer 1

• Speaker is delivering a motivational speech
• inspiring younger people how to be successful and deal with challenges
• Celebrates traditional masculine traits

Question 2

what are the Key themes in ‘If’

Answer 2

*Stoicism/ bravery
*Parent/ child relationship
*Advice
*Appreciative of life
*Virtuous living
*resilience

Question 3

what are some language points in the poem ‘If’

Answer 3

Anaphora – ‘you can’
Listing – life full of consequences
Didactic tone used to teach the reader
Synecdoche – use of the body part ‘head’ to refer to composure.
Dashes – emphasis and balance
Personification stresses both failure and success
Imperatives
Rhetorical hyperboles

Question 4

What are some form points in the poem ‘If’

Answer 4

Commanding tone
Rhetorical tone
Second person to appeal universally
Emphatic
Iambic pentameter
Fixed rhyme scheme
One extended sentence
Dramatic monologue

Question 5

What other poems does ‘If’ link to ?

Answer 5

‘Prayer before birth’ –the ways of life
‘piano’ – parent and child relation
‘Poem at 39’ – life lessons
‘half caste’ – giving advice