Does anyone know of Literary Criticism for Rudyard Kipling's poem "If"?

Answer 1

Literary criticism, by that, do you mean a critique of Kipling's work, or the social message his "if" poem imparts?

I think Mr. Kipling wrote a fine poem concerning how to become a man, and had the correct iambic pentameter to go with it.
He was an Indian boy himself, who grew up in Great Britain, and
gave us many useful prose and poetry to read and enjoy.

I think Mr. Kipling was sharing some of his thought passages and insights via the poems that he composed, in an effort to contribute something positive and worthwhile to his society of the
time in which he grew up in.

Each one of his four stanzas he wrote all have constructive and useful inner messages, as I see it, and using thought patterns that we can all relate with, ideas in humanity that we can easily
understand, because most of us have been where Mr. Kipling
has been before.
It also sends a positive message out to all those who think they
are failures, and encourages them not to give up, life is worth
fighting for, and believing in yourself, which is one of the main thoughts of the entire poem.
"If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run, yours is the earth and everything thats in it, and which is more, you'll be a man, my son."

Its like a father talking to his young son, telling him about how important he is in the world, and how he may look at himself, if he follows the advice that the poem offers.
Speaking to him in quiet tones, one can almost imagine how
impressive this poem would be to hear by the son, from the dad.


Thats my message, enjoy. Good luck.



Donald H. Sites
[e-mail]

Answer 2

Hi. I does not look controversial.

IF.....

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!

Answer 3

I opt to forget what Synopsis purely informed us and browse the words as if they were addressing me, no conspiracy or hate, only a international of valuable opportunities it type of feels each and every the position i look the words and song of the previous is rolling over in its grave, the conflict hymn of the Republic, now there is a few heritage that makes me recoil, besides the undeniable fact that the song is one I sang from early existence, recognize it by heart is this a kind of mind washing?

Answer 4

Try www.jstor.org