Write a critical appreciation of the poem if
Answers
Answer:
The poem ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling is classical poem packed with rare optimism, motivation, and practical wisdom meant for his son. The poet advises his son to have complete trust in themselves. He advises the readers not to indulge in any self-doubt, lies, hating, and stay humble and moderate.
Continuing his advice he asks his son not to depend so much on dreams, thoughts; and stay composed and stable in victory and loss; and have the courage to speak the truth and face the consequences for having spoken the truth; and be prepared to rebuild the dreams from scratch after they are broken and shattered.
The poet advises his son to risk all life’s winnings for one more winning without the slightest fear of loss, and be ready to start again after incurring the loss without complaining or blaming. The poet advises the son to hold on against the most agonizing ordeals.
The poet explains his son the qualities of a man of true character in the last stanza. He says if he can keep his virtues intact in the company of kings and ordinary people; if he has learnt to stay unhurt from friends and foes; if men and women have trust in him; if he can live truly for even a minute holding on to the virtues mentioned above, he will be remembered for eternity and will be a true Man
The poem is a dramatic monologue intended to encourage readers. The narrator, a father, is teaching his kid numerous personality traits.
Explanation:
In a fatherly but pleasant manner, the father counsels his son. The tone is compassionate but not dramatic. The poem has four octaves, each of which offers advice and counsel.
The poem then proceeds with the father's advice and guidance. Even when things are difficult, he instils in his kid the importance of being pleasant and calm.
Even when others discourage him, he encourages him to be self-assured. The father wants his son to believe in himself and his decisions.
His father assures him that if he can embrace all of these characteristics, he will be a better person and a more successful man in the future.
Kipling has developed an extraordinary work of literature by employing several poetic methods to generate this long list of advice.
The poet states every problem with "if" and "then" conditional clauses, making apparent what will happen if the reader adopts a positive quality.
The poem motivates the reader to do good and avoid doing wrong.