Analysis

Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
Mid- La Union Campus

College of Arts and Sciences
“Pursuing Diversified Excellences”
Poem Analysis
“IF”
by Lewis Carroll
Submitted By:
Emperador, Densil
ELSC 108 – STYLISTICS
BAEL 3A
I.POEM
IF
by: Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so, hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
II. ANALYSIS
a. Aspects of Form
 STRUCTURE
Rudyard Kipling separates his poem into four stanzas of equal length, all of
which contain eight lines. The poem is composed in iambic pentameter,
with five feet of unstressed and stressed syllables. The speaker of the
poem, maintains an optimistic and happy tone throughout the piece,
instructing the reader on what he or she must do to be a successful person
in life.
 RHYME SCHEME
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
STANZA I
But make allowance for their doubting too;
A-A-A-A-B-C-B-C
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
STANZA II
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
C-D-C-D-E-F-E-F
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
STANZA III
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
G-H-G-H-I-J-A-J
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so, hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
STANZA IV
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
A-K-A-K-L-J-L-J
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
 FIGURES OF SPEECH
 Metaphor - Metaphors are implied comparison between two different things

where there is a point of similarity.
‘If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same’
- In these lines, the comparison is made between "triumph and disaster" and
impostors. Both success and failure have the ability to deceive us, as they
can lead us to happiness or sadness, causing us to lose sight of our
responsibilities. Additionally, both triumph and disaster are temporary in
nature. They do not typically endure for long periods of time. Happiness
often follows sorrow and vice versa. However, we are often misled into
believing that these states are permanent.
 Personification - Personification is attributing human characteristics to non-

human objects.
‘If you can dream — and not make dreams your master’
- The poet advises us to resist letting our dreams take control of us. By
personifying dreams as a master, the poet highlights the influence they can
have on our lives.
‘Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!” ‘
- ‘Will‘ or human resolution is personified as it can encourage us not to give
up.
‘If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;’
- 'Triumph' and 'disaster' are given human qualities in this context referred to
as 'impostors or tricksters who have the ability to deceive us.
 Assonance - The repetition of the same vowel sounds in words close to each
other.
Example: And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.
 Hyperbole - Exaggeration of facts.

Example: ‘yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it’
b. Aspects of Content
 Theme
The central focus of Rudyard Kipling’s poem 'If—' revolves around the
concept of stoicism during the era. This theme permeates the work. Is
accompanied by significant ideas such, as humanity, achievement, adversity,
existence, resilience and personal discipline.
 Message
Rudyard Kipling’s poem "If—" presents a reflection, on navigating life
upholding principles and finding happiness amidst the inevitable trials we
encounter. The poem underscores the importance of self-reliance
maintaining composure and resilience in times embracing honesty and
surrounding oneself with individuals and wholeheartedly dedicating oneself
to hard work without seeking attention or validation.
c. Conclusion/Comment
- For me, the whole poem is an eye-opener for all of the readers. Many people
are too serious about being successful in life that they forget how to enjoy it.
We should have the courage to do whatever we want regardless of the
consequences later on.

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Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

Mid- La Union Campus

If you can keep your head when all about you

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

 Metaphor - Metaphors are implied comparison between two different things

‘If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

 Personification - Personification is attributing human characteristics to non-

 Hyperbole - Exaggeration of facts.

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