Analysis of If - Rudyard Kipling

The poem ‘If’ written by Rudyard Kipling is an important one in your ICSE English Syllabus.

Here are some answers to probable questions from ‘If’ that could be set in your ICSE English paper. Please read the answer in its totality so that you can answer short questions.

Q. 1 List the qualities which according to the poet, transforms a boy into a man.

Using minimum of words, the poet has said quite a lot in this not too long a poem. He has given a list of things as to what to do and not to do to the growing boys irrespective of their caste, creed or colour.

If the boys follow these ‘dos’ and ‘don’t-s’, they will surely imbibe the qualities necessary to make a complete man. This is not to say that the goals set by the poet are easily attainable but they are surely worth trying.

These qualities are as under:-

(a) One should keep his cool when others are getting excited or perturbed.

(b) The boy should keep a clear head even when others around him tend to get unreasonable.

(c) The ‘son’ should have self confidence in spite of others’ doubting his capacity to do things.

(d) Having worked hard, the adolescent should have enough patience to wait for the result of his diligence to materialise in their own time.

(e) If others hate him, the boy should not feel vindictive because love is the right response to hate.

(f) Even while doing all possible good things in the face of opposition and may be provocation, the boy should remain humble. He should not feel vain about being good or wise.

(g) One should dare to dream big dreams but he should go all out to translate them into realities instead of just being immersed in them doing nothing.

(h) One should be able to think and do so precisely and reasonably but thoughts b themselves are nothing. These thoughts must lead him to palpable (clear) actions.

(i) The boy i.e. the man of tomorrow should keep peace of his mind in a situation of victory or defeat alike, otherwise the victory would lead him to vanity and the defeat would make him to despair. Both are bad for his real well being.

(j) It may so happen that the son’s words may be misquoted or distorted by knaves but he should retain the calm of his mind lest he should fall into traps set by these wicked men.

(k) If the boy sees his work of many years go in vain, through a stroke of ill-luck or by someone’s malice, he should have the courage and strength to mend or rebuild it.

(l) One should fill every little moment with solid and meaningful work not letting a single fraction of time slip from his hand because time never obeys the bidding of anyone if even he is a king.

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