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A Paradox is a statement that seems contradictory at first but proves meaningful later on.
Can you locate at least one example of a Paradox and explain it?
"If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim' is an example of a Paradox.
The line means that a person should be able to reason but should not procrastinate all day.
Comment on the tone of the poem. Who do you think it is addressed to?
Ans. The tone of the poem is didactic. I think it is addressed to his son.
Explain what the speaker means by-
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs.
If a person is able to think clearly in a difficult situation when no one else is able to understand anything, the person will be able to provide solutions and lead everyone out of trouble.
What, according to the poem, are the two impostors of life?
According to the poem the two impostors of life are Triumph and Disaster.
What does the poet say about patience?
Successful people exercise patience. Without patience, nothing can be got. In English they say, “Slow and steady wins the race’ and ‘Haste makes waste’.
What do knaves represent?
Knaves represent dishonest people.
What is the message conveyed in the last stanza of the poem?
You should be beyond getting hurt by your enemies or friends. All kinds of people should be able to count upon you for help. You should forgive and never rush to punish the offender. If you can do all these things you can enjoy on this earth as if you are its master.
What should a man reconstruct in himself after everything is lost? Why is it important to do so?
A man should reconstruct his will. It is important to do so because all his other senses will be devastated by the loss. Only his will can compel him to begin again from a scratch.
Who is the speaker and who is he speaking to?
The father is the speaker here and he is speaking to his son.
Lines 5-7 speak about the need for righteous behavior in the face of unrighteousness. How far do you agree?
I fully agree with the view that in the face of unrighteous behavior, we should face it with righteous behavior. If somebody is bad, we don’t have to become bad and follow his ways. We should learn to conquer hatred with love.
What is the poet’s approach to dreams and longings?
It is good to dream but we should not let dreams become our master. We can have longings, but we should never take crooked paths achieve them. We can think — but thinking is not our aim. Our aim is to act and achieve.
What, according to the poet, should be one’s attitude to unexpected loss?
According to the poet one’s attitude to unexpected loss should be one of indifference. Triumphs and Tragedies are part of life. Don’t be overjoyed at the successes and don’t be dejected at the failures. If you happen to have a loss, don’t tell anyone. Accept it with fortitude.
‘Never breathe a word about your loss. ’ What impression do you get about the poet when you read this?
I feel that the poet is a strong-willed person. He can keep his secrets. He does not want people’s sympathies. He has fortitude and courage to suffer his adversities without sharing them with others
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
One must be prepared to exert oneself to the extreme in spite of overwhelming
exhaustion or the urge to give up in order to achieve goals.
Explain the poet’s views on honesty and fortitude of character.
The poet says that even if people tell lies to you, never follow their examples and start telling lies. A liar is not respected in the society. A liar may succeed temporarily but in the long run he is bound to fail and will be put to shame.
The poet believes that success comes from self control and a true sense of the value of things. Express your views on this.
I fully agree with the poet’s views on these aspects. Success comes from self-control and a true sense of the value of things. We should know that all that glitters is not gold. Without self-control we will go astray. Unless we know the true value of things, we may spend our time and energy trying to get things that have no true value. Appearances can be deceptive.
What is conveyed by the speaker in this poem?
In this poem, the poet conveys his ideas about integrity and leadership to inspire readers to deal properly with hardships in life.
The first stanza of ‘If’ speaks about the need for self-confidence. Do you agree? Why?
Yes, I agree. Without self-confidence, nothing worthwhile can be achieved.
A minute here acts like an unforgiving master. Explain the meaning it conveys.
In times of adversity, each minute seems to torture one with the knowledge of what one has lost and the awareness that each passing minute contributes to the achievement that one is about to make. A minute thus is not insignificant but is loaded with the possibility of the sixty seconds that makes it up.
What, according to the speaker, are the qualities of a true leader?
A true leader leads by example. The list of qualities desired in Kipling’s poem ‘If’ is rather a long one. According to the poet the following qualities can ‘make a man’ — A man should keep his calm in difficult situations. Self-belief in one’s own ability and integrity is important. Being truthful in any circumstance is a virtue. One should not by showy or arrogant for possessing all these good qualities.