If by Rudyard Kipling

Group 2
X-DEL MUNDO

If by Rudyard Kipling

1. Rhythm

- It consists of five feet with two syllable units. The syllable units consist of the first being unstressed and the second being stressed. The repetition on some part adds to the rhythm itself of the poem. As you read it aloud, the rhythm comes through pretty clearly.

1. Meter
   - It is written in iambic pentameter which is the language of Shakespeare.
2. Rhyme/Rhyme Scheme
   - The general rhyme scheme found in each stanza of Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" is ABABCDCD. For the first stanza the rhyme scheme was AAAABCBC, followed by DEDEFGFG at the second stanza. HIHIAJAI for the third, and AKAKLMLM for the last stanza.
3. Theme
   - The first theme would be growing up and becoming a man. Another theme in this poem is righteousness rather than being self-righteous. The next theme is having a good work ethic. The last theme of this poem is detachment.
4. Symbolism
   - In this poem, some examples of symbolism can be noticed below. Knaves represent scoundrels, liars or conman. Crowds symbolize the common folk/people. Kings represent the important people in society. Common touch represents humility.
5. Imagery
   - In the poem ‘If’, the imagery appears in line “If you can wait and not be tired by waiting.” (first stanza). The reader feels as if s/he were being tired of waiting and that is perhaps what the writer of it wanted the readers to feel about. The next imagery can be seen in “And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools.” (second stanza). Those express the physical feeling which makes the readers feel like stooping and building something. The readers play a role just like a building constructor needing for much energy to build something.

1. Tone/Mood
   - The tone of the poem centers on love, sincerity, and restraint.  There are no overly affectionate words, yet the message of the poet comes from the emotional tie to a child’s welfare. The speaker wants his child to do well in life.  By using the second person point of view, the reader feels that the poet is speaking directly to him; thus, he is drawn into the midst of the poem’s alluring meaning. What more can the father give his son than to provide the path for him to achieve his every dream! As an example of the mood of the poem, think  of the mother bird who pushes her baby out of the nest--she more than just hopes that he flies. She has prepared him for his flight by modeling, coaxing, and instructing. The father in the poem sets the same tone for his son.
2. Diction
   - In the first stanza the poet begins listing important qualities, these qualities include: patience, confidence, trustworthiness and integrity while in the second stanza Kipling continues to mask his qualities of a Man into situational moments like: "If you can dream---and not make dreams your master", "If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim." For the third stanza, the poet now introduces the qualities of taking chances and keeping promises as a trait a good man must have. In the last stanza, Kipling now introduces the virtues of being humble as a trait to becoming a true man in the father’s eyes. This was introduced in the following line: "Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch".