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Poem 01: If
By Rudyard Kipling
English II (C)
For Class XII (All Groups)
- Pre-Reading (Exercise 01)
- While-Reading (Exercise 02, 03 and 04)
- Post-Reading (Exercise 05, 06 and 07)
Poem: If By Rudyard Kipling
Pre-Reading
(Exercise 01)
EXERCISE 01: Discuss The statement.
1. "Success is the failure redefined."
Ans: This statement means that success is not always about winning on the first try. Often, successful people fall many times, but they learn from their failures and use those lessons to eventually succeed. In this way, failure becomes a step toward success. It is "redefined" because instead of seeing failure as the end, it is seen as a necessary part of the journey. The poem "If" reflects this idea. It talks about staying strong, patient, and humble even in the face of defeat, lies, hate, and setbacks.
2. Predict what kind of poem are you going to read.
Ans: The poem seems motivational and inspirational. The use of the word "if" in the title suggests that it will offer advice or conditions for becoming a better person. It may focus on values like patience, honesty, self-control, resilience, and leadership, that providing moral lessons or guidelines for personal growth and success in life.
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While-Reading
(Exercise 02, 03 and 04)
EXERCISE 02: Read the poem carefully and choose the correct option.
1. Which quality does the poet suggest is most important for dealing with the adversity?
(a) Intelligence
(b) Strength
(c)Patience
(d) Resilience ✔
2. What does Kipling mean by line no.12 "and treat those two impostors just the same;" in reference to Triumph and Disaster?
(a) Both are equally significant
(b) Both are temporary ✔
(c) Both lead to success
(d) Both are to be proud of
3. What is suggested in line no. 18 by "And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,"?
(a) recklessness leads to ruin
(b) life is about taking chances ✔
(c) risks should be avoided
(d) winning is essential to happiness
4. The "heart and nerve and sinew" in line no. 21 most likely implies _____.
(a) emotional fragility
(b) physical strength alone
(c) the conscious endurance ✔
(d) the body's natural limitations
5. The poem's message about self-control and perseverance apply to personal growth as it _____.
(a) limits personal freedom
(b) suggests emotional responses as weakness
(c) encourages steady improvement ✔
(d) discourages seeking advice from others
6. The "unforgiving minute" in line no. 29 symbolize _____.
(a) the rapid passage of time
(b) a moment of opportunity ✔
(c) time's cruel nature
(d) moments of regret
7. One of the following is the central theme of the poem _____.
(a) the importance of winning at all costs
(b) the power of self-control and balanced life ✔
(c) the significance of wealth and status
(d) the inevitability of failure
8. What internal conflict is the poem encouraging individuals to overcome?
(a) Doubt versus confidence ✔
(b) Failure versus pride
(c) Emotions versus logic
(d) Personal versus social responsibility
EXERCISE 03:
Deduce the contextual meaning of the following words and use them in your sentences::
| No. | Word | Contextual Meaning |
Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Allowance | Tolerance for others' mistakes | *You must make allowance for others' fears when they're under pressure. *The teacher has some allowance for mistakes in the students' answers. |
| 2. | Deal in | Be involved with something bad | 8He refused to deal in lies even when everyone else was dishonest. *He refused to participate in dishonesty, even when others were being deceitful. |
| 3. | Imposters | Pretenders | *Triumph and disaster are imposters which aren't the true measure of a person. *People with impostor feelings often forget or diminish their accomplishments. |
| 4. | Knave | Dishonest man | *A knave twisted his words to fool the innocent. *He was a knave, always playing tricks on his friends. |
| 5. | Disaster | Terrible failure | *He faced disaster with the same calmness as he welcomed success. *Technology is useless during natural disasters. |
| 6. | Heap | A big mess / pile | *He lost everything and stood in the heap of broken dreams. *the kids jumped into a heap of leaves |
| 7. | Nerve | Courage | *It takes nerve to remain calm when everyone else is panicking. * |
| 8. | Will | Determination | *When all else fails, only will can push you forward. *She has a strong will to succeed despite the obstacles. |
| 9. | Virtue | Moral goodness | *Even in a crowd, he held on to his virtue and never did wrong *Humility is considered a virtue. |
| 10. | Sinew | Strength / toughness | * With nothing but sinew and will, he rebuilt what was lost. *He strained every sinew to help us, but didn't succeed. |
EXERCISE 04:
Work in groups of three. Read the poem thoroughly and identify the following figures of speech in the poem and use them in your sentences:
| Figure OF Speech |
Poem Lines |
Line Number |
Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metaphor | "And treat those two impostors just the same" | 12 | *The poet compares Triumph and Disaster to impostors, suggesting they are deceptive illusions. *He treated failure like a person, just another impostor. |
| Personification | 1. "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs." | 1 and 2 | *The poem attributes the human action of "losing" to "their heads," giving human qualities to abstract concepts. |
| 2. "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same;" | 11 and 12 | *Success and failure are impostors pretending to define us. | |
| Anaphora | 1. "If you can," (repeated at the beginning of several lines) | 3-Multiple (1, 3, 5 etc.) | *The repetition of "If you can" at the beginning of lines emphasizes the conditions for resilience. |
| 2. "If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, / But make allowance for their doubting too" | 3-4 | *If you can" be patient and strong, then greatness follows. | |
| Alliteration | 1. "And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise" | 8-9 | *The repetition of the "t" sound in "talk too wise" creates a musical effect. |
| 2. "talk with crowds and keep your virtue" | 21 | *He could talk and touch lives with calm and virtue. |
Answer: Figure OF Speech
1. Metaphor
- Poem Lines: "And treat those two impostors just the same"
- Line Number:12
- Sentence: *The poet compares Triumph and Disaster to impostors, suggesting they are deceptive illusions.
*He treated failure like a person, just another impostor.
2. Personification
- Poem Lines: "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs"
- Line Number: 1 and 2
- Sentence: The poem attributes the human action of "losing" to "their heads," giving human qualities to abstract concepts.
- Poem Lines: "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same;"
- Line Number: 11 and 12
- Sentence:Success and failure are impostors pretending to define us.
3. Anaphora
- Poem Lines: "If you cam.," (repeated at the beginning of several lines)
- Line Number: Multiple (1, 3, 5 etc.)
- Sentence: *The repetition of "If you can" at the beginning of lines emphasizes the conditions for resilience.
- Poem Lines: "If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, / But make allowance for their doubting too"
- Line Number: 3-4
- Sentence: *If you can" be patient and strong, then greatness follows.
4. Alliteration
- Poem Lines: "And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise"
- Line Number: 8-9
- Sentence: The repetition of the "t" sound in "talk too wise" creates a musical effect.
- Poem Lines: "talk with crowds and keep your virtue"
- Line Number: 21
- Sentence: He could talk and touch lives with calm and virtue.
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Post-Reading
(Exercise 05, 06 and 07)
EXERCISE 05: Read the poem carefully in groups of two or three and answer the following questions in written form.
Q.1: How does Kipling suggest one should deal with both success and failure?
Ans: Ans: Kipling advises that one should treat both success (Triumph) and failure (Disaster) the same way with calm and emotional balance. He believes that neither should overly affect a person's character. Success should not lead to arrogance, and failure should not cause despair. Instead, one should stay steady and composed through both situations, understanding they are temporary and beyond full control.
Q.2: Why does the poet consider "Triumph and Disaster" as "impostors"? Justify with some reasons.
Ans: The poet calls Triumph and Disaster "impostors" because they are not what they seem. Triumph may give a false sense of success, while Disaster may seem like total failure, but both are temporary and misleading. They do not define a person's true worth. Kipling emphasizes that placing too much value on either can lead to emotional imbalance or ego, they should not be trusted completely.
Q.3: Which quality described in the poem do you find most challenging to uphold in your own life, and why?
Ans: The most challenging quality for me is "keeping calm when others are blaming you." It's hard not to react emotionally when being unfairly criticized. It takes a lot of emotional strength and maturity to stay calm, listen patiently, and respond wisely instead of reacting with anger or frustration.
(Students can personalize above answer or write their own answer)
Q.4: What is the significance of maintaining one's integrity while interacting with both "crowds" and "kings"?
Ans: Kipling highlights the importance of humility and. integrity by stating that a person should be able to walk with "crowds" without losing his virtue, and also walk with "kings" without becoming arrogant, This means treating everyone equally, whether they are rich or poor, powerful or ordinary. A truly balanced and mature person respects all people and remains true to his values regardless of the company he is in.
Q.5: Why does the poet place emphasis on patience, truthfulness, and self-discipline in achieving personal growth?
Ans: The poet emphasizes these values because they form the foundation of a strong character. Patience helps one deal with delay and difficulty, truthfulness builds trust and moral strength, and self-discipline allows one to stay focused and consistent.
These qualities help a person grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and prepare them to face life's challenges with grace and courage.
EXERCISE 06:
Read the poem carefully and write a detailed critical appreciation of the poem.
Answer: Critical Appreciation of the Poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling:
Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" is a timeless piece of moral instruction, presented in the form of advice from a father to his son. The poem outlines the qualities of a mature, resilient, and morally grounded individual. Through conditional "If" statements, Kipling sets up various challenges that life may throw at a person and the ideal way to respond to each.
Theme and Message:
The central theme of the poem is endurance, self-discipline, and moral strength. Kipling emphasizes the importance of remaining calm under pressure, being honest in the face of lies, and staying humble in times of success. He advocates for inner strength, emotional control, patience, and the will to persevere.
Tone and Mood:
The tone is inspirational and didactic. It carries a sense of fatherly wisdom and calm authority. The mood is uplifting, as the poem encourages the reader to rise above life's hardships with grace and strength.
Language and Style:
The language is simple yet powerful. The poem uses literary devices like anaphora ("If you can..." repeated), personification (e.g., Triumph and Disaster as impostors), metaphor, and alliteration. These enhance the musical quality of the poem and deepen its philosophical impact.
Structure:
The poem is written in iambic pentameter and consists of four stanzas of eight lines each. The regular rhythm and rhyme (ABABCDCD) make it memorable and reflective, mirroring the logical progression of thought.
Impact and Relevance:
Despite being written in the early 20th century, the poem remains relevant today. Its advice transcends time, culture, and age. It teaches values that are essential for personal growth and leadership in any era.
Conclusion:
"Ir is not just a poem, but a guide to life. Its inspirational tone, universal values, and practical wisdom make it one of the most cherished and quoted poems in English literature. It is a celebration of human potential and the power of character.
EXERCISE 07:
After you have read and understood the poem In detail, explain the following lines with reference to the context in written form.
| Lines No | Lines |
|---|---|
| 1— 8 | If you can keep your head .......... talk too wise. |
| 9 —16 | lf you can dream .......... with worn-out tools. |
| 17 — 24 | lf you can make one heap .......... says to them: 'Hold on!' |
| 25 — 32 | If you can talk with crowds .......... be a Man, my Son! |
Answer: Reference To Context:
Lines: If you can keep your head .......... talk too wise. (1-8)
Reference: These lines are taken from the poem "If" written by Rudyard Kipling.
Explanation: These lines advise the reader to stay calm when others are . panicking, and not to appear arrogant even when one is right. The poet emphasizes emotional control, humility, and, self-belief during chaos.
Lines: lf you can dream .......... with worn-out tools. (9 —16)
Reference: These lines are taken from the poem "If" written by Rudyard Kipling.
Explanation: These lines highlight the value of dreams and goals, but also warn against becoming a slave to them. The poet urges the reader to accept failure, rebuild from loss, and persevere with whatever strength remains.
Lines: lf you can make one heap .......... says to them: 'Hold on!' (17 — 24)
Reference: These lines are taken from the poem "If" written by Rudyard Kipling.
Explanation: Here, Kipling describes the strength to risk everything for a dream and to start over without complaint. Even when physically and mentally exhausted, one must continue with sheer willpower.
Lines: If you can talk with crowds .......... be a Man, my Son! (25 — 32)
Reference: These lines are taken from the poem "If" written by Rudyard Kipling.
Explanation: The final lines summarize the ideal person. If someone can balance humility with greatness, stay unshaken by praise or insult, and make the most of time then they truly become a complete and noble human being.
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