IF - Poem in English by Rudyard Kipling | Summary | Questions and Answers

🏠 Home > 📂New Images (Class 8) > 📂IF by Rudyard Kipling.

The poem 'IF' written by Rudyard Kipling is about a father who is guiding his son on how he could become a good man with truthfulness, patience and self development. The poem speaks to each and every reader on what it means to become a complete man and how he could operates through the ups and downs of life. The poem suggest that the key to live a satisfactory life is to remain balanced.

--------------------

# Poem :

--------------------

- IF -

www.MSEducator.in - Poem "IF' by Rudyard Kipling.

If you can when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But 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 just the same;

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

Twisted by to make a trap for fools,

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

And and build 'em up with 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

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 ,

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!

-------------------------

# Summary :

-------------------------

Stanza 1 : The poet advises his son to stay calm and patient when others blame him for their failures, to trust himself even when doubted by others, and to be understanding of their doubts. He emphasises the importance of truthfulness and patience in achieving success through hard work. Additionally, the poet urges his son always to tell the truth, show love instead of hate, and avoid appearing overly perfect or wise, as this may alienate him from others.

Stanza 2 : The poet advises that while having ambitious dreams and positive thoughts about the future is important, one should not let these dreams or thoughts control their actions. Instead, success comes from hard work and dedication. Dreams and thoughts alone are insufficient without effort.

In the third line, the poet emphasizes that both success (Triumph) and failure (Disaster) are temporary and should be treated as such. They are not reliable indicators of one's worth or future.

The fifth line stresses the importance of honesty and integrity. One should always speak the truth and be prepared to confront it, even if others try to misuse it. Additionally, when faced with challenges or setbacks, one should have the courage to rebuild and continue working towards their goals with whatever available resources.

Stanza 3 : The poet advises that one should gather all one’s accomplishments and then take bold risks, unafraid of the potential for success or failure (pitch-and-toss). If one does fail after taking such risks, one should start anew without dwelling on or discussing their losses with others. Persistence is key, and one should keep trying until one achieves success.

In the fifth line, the poet suggests using courage, symbolized by "heart and nerve and sinew," to overcome fatigue or setbacks. Even when faced with adversity, one's strong willpower should be the driving force that motivates them to persevere.

Stanza 4 : The poet advises that individuals should uphold their virtues and not adopt the common behaviour of ordinary people, while also warning against arrogance and pride, especially among those in positions of power like monarchs. Essentially, the poet suggests maintaining humility regardless of one's wealth or status.

Furthermore, the poet emphasises the importance of staying true to one's beliefs and goals, for this protects against harm from both friends and enemies. However, the poet cautions against becoming too reliant on others or allowing them to become overly dependent.

Regarding time, the poet stresses its irreplaceable nature, urging his son to make the most of every moment. In conclusion, if his son follows this guidance, he will achieve success and become a genuine human being.

-----------------------------------

# Word - Meaning :

-----------------------------------

Keep your head : to remain calm under stress

Make allowance for : to consider something

Impostors : people who pretend; untruthful people

Knaves : dishonest people

Stoop : to bend down

Worn out : badly damaged; overused

Sinew : tissue that binds muscle to bone

Virtue : any good quality or habit

Composure : calmness

Crucial : important

Resilience : Flexibility

Perseverance : determination

Adversity : ill luck

Procrastination : delay

Deceitful : dishonest/false

Contemplation : observation

Profoundly : deeply/absolutely

-----------------------------------

# Question Answers :

-----------------------------------

What should you do when you are blamed and doubted?

Answer :

We should maintain our composure and remain patient when we are blamed and doubted.

Why are 'Triumph and Disaster' called 'two impostors'?

Answer :

The poet emphasizes that both success (Triumph) and failure (Disaster) are temporary and should be treated as such. They are called dupers because they are not reliable indicators of one's worth or future.

How is 'Will' important?

Answer :

Willpower is portrayed as crucial for maintaining resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges. The poem emphasizes the importance of having a strong will to hold on and keep moving forward, even when faced with adversity or setbacks. Willpower enables individuals to stay focused on their goals and to overcome obstacles on the path to success.

How should one's behaviour be with crowds and kings? Why do you think it should be so?

Answer :

One's behavior should be composed and dignified both with crowds and kings. This is because maintaining one's composure and humility regardless of the situation reflects the strength of character and integrity.

What is meant by 'the unforgiving minute'?

Answer :

"The unforgiving minute" refers to the importance of valuing each moment and making the most of every second. It emphasises the fleeting nature of time and the need to seize opportunities without hesitation or procrastination.

How relevant is the speaker's advice? How can you imbibe it in your life?

Answer :

The wisdom shared in Rudyard Kipling's "If" is profoundly relevant because it speaks to timeless qualities and virtues that hold value across various aspects of life. One can imbibe it by adopting the following attributes :

1. Resilience : Cultivate the ability to withstand setbacks and challenges without losing hope or surrendering easily.

2. Integrity : Uphold honesty, truthfulness, and moral principles in every facet of life.

3. Patience : Practice patience while dealing with difficulties, uncertainties, and delays. Avoid impulsive decisions by calmly considering your options.

4. Humility : Maintain humility in success, steering clear of arrogance or pride. Treat everyone with respect and dignity.

5. Courage : Demonstrate courage by confronting fears, taking calculated risks, and standing up for what is just.

By intentionally incorporating these virtues into our daily decisions and behaviours, we can embody the core of the speaker's counsel and strive for personal development, resilience, and a balanced life.

Answer the following with reference to the context.

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you

a. Which quality does the speaker want his son to have in these lines?

Answer :

The poet advises his son to stay calm and patient when others blame him for their failures, to trust himself even when doubted by others, and to be understanding of their doubts.

b. What do you understand by the term 'keep your head'?

Answer :

To stay calm and patient.

If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim

a. What do you understand by this line?

Answer :

The line "if you can think - and not make thoughts your aim" suggests the importance of having clear goals and objectives rather than just indulging in abstract thinking. It advises against getting lost in contemplation without taking decisive action or having a purpose behind one's thoughts.

b. What should be the 'aim' of the listener?

Answer :

Kipling emphasizes the value of thinking with intention and using those thoughts to drive meaningful actions towards achieving one's goals.

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

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools

a. Who are the 'knaves'? What quality is attributed to them by the speaker?

Answer :

In Rudyard Kipling's "If," the term "knaves" refers to dishonest people who twist the truth for their deceitful purposes. The speaker attributes the quality of cunningness or deceitfulness to the knaves.

b. What 'truth' is the speaker talking about?

Answer :

The speaker is talking about the truth spoken by the individual himself. One should always speak the truth and be prepared to confront it even if others try to misuse it.

-------------------------

# Learn More :

-------------------------

Story : The Three Question's

Search

mseducator.in

IF - Poem in English by Rudyard Kipling | Summary | Questions and Answers