IF - Summary
"IF" is a didactic poem by Rudyard Kipling that outlines the qualities and virtues needed to become an ideal person. Written as advice from a father to his son, the poem presents a series of conditions that, if fulfilled, will lead to true manhood and success in life.
The poem begins by emphasizing the importance of staying calm and composed when everyone around you is panicking. It stresses having self-confidence even when others doubt you, while remaining humble enough to understand their doubts. The poet advises patience without becoming tired, honesty even when surrounded by lies, and the ability to avoid hatred even when being hated.
Kipling warns against being controlled by dreams or thoughts, suggesting balance in everything. He teaches that both triumph and disaster should be treated equally, as both are temporary and deceptive. The poem encourages resilience when your words are twisted by dishonest people or when your life's work crumbles, advising you to rebuild with determination.
The poet speaks about taking risks without fear of loss, and the courage to start over without complaining. He emphasizes perseverance when your body and mind are exhausted, holding on through sheer willpower alone. The poem advises maintaining your integrity whether talking to common people or walking with kings, staying humble yet confident, and not being hurt by enemies or friends.
Finally, Kipling urges making every minute count by using time productively. If you can achieve all these qualities, he promises, the entire world will be yours, and more importantly, you will achieve true manhood. The poem is essentially a guide to building strong character, emotional balance, and moral strength.
സംഗ്രഹം മലയാളത്തിൽ (Summary in Malayalam)
റുഡ്യാർഡ് കിപ്ലിംഗിന്റെ "ഇഫ്" എന്ന ഉപദേശാത്മക കവിത ഒരു ആദർശ വ്യക്തിയാകാൻ ആവശ്യമായ ഗുണങ്ങളും സദ്ഗുണങ്ങളും വിവരിക്കുന്നു. ഒരു പിതാവ് തന്റെ മകനു നൽകുന്ന ഉപദേശമായി എഴുതിയ ഈ കവിത, പൂർത്തീകരിച്ചാൽ യഥാർത്ഥ പുരുഷത്വത്തിലേക്കും ജീവിതവിജയത്തിലേക്കും നയിക്കുന്ന അവസ്ഥകളുടെ ഒരു പരമ്പര അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
എല്ലാവരും പരിഭ്രാന്തരാകുമ്പോൾ ശാന്തനും സംയതനും ആയിരിക്കേണ്ടതിന്റെ പ്രാധാന്യം ഊന്നിപ്പറഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ടാണ് കവിത ആരംഭിക്കുന്നത്. മറ്റുള്ളവർ നിങ്ങളെ സംശയിക്കുമ്പോഴും ആത്മവിശ്വാസം പുലർത്തണം, എന്നാൽ അവരുടെ സംശയങ്ങൾ മനസ്സിലാക്കാനുള്ള വിനയവും ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കണം. ക്ഷീണിക്കാതെ ക്ഷമയോടെ കാത്തിരിക്കാനും, നുണകളാൽ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ടാലും സത്യസന്ധത പാലിക്കാനും, വെറുക്കപ്പെടുമ്പോഴും വെറുപ്പ് ഒഴിവാക്കാനും കവി ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു.
സ്വപ്നങ്ങളോ ചിന്തകളോ നിങ്ങളെ നിയന്ത്രിക്കാൻ അനുവദിക്കരുതെന്നും എല്ലാത്തിലും സന്തുലിതാവസ്ഥ പാലിക്കണമെന്നും കിപ്ലിംഗ് മുന്നറിയിപ്പ് നൽകുന്നു. വിജയവും പരാജയവും തുല്യമായി കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യണമെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നു, കാരണം രണ്ടും താൽക്കാലികവും വഞ്ചനാപരവുമാണ്. നിങ്ങളുടെ വാക്കുകൾ സത്യസന്ധതയില്ലാത്തവർ വളച്ചൊടിക്കുമ്പോഴോ നിങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതപ്രവർത്തനം തകരുമ്പോഴോ ദൃഢനിശ്ചയത്തോടെ പുനർനിർമ്മിക്കാൻ കവിത പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
നഷ്ടത്തെ ഭയപ്പെടാതെ റിസ്ക് എടുക്കുന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ചും പരാതിപ്പെടാതെ വീണ്ടും ആരംഭിക്കാനുള്ള ധൈര്യത്തെക്കുറിച്ചും കവി സംസാരിക്കുന്നു. ശരീരവും മനസ്സും തളർന്നിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ഇച്ഛാശക്തി കൊണ്ട് മാത്രം മുന്നോട്ടുപോകുന്ന സ്ഥിരോത്സാഹത്തിന് അദ്ദേഹം ഊന്നൽ നൽകുന്നു. സാധാരണക്കാരോട് സംസാരിക്കുമ്പോഴോ രാജാക്കന്മാരോടൊപ്പം നടക്കുമ്പോഴോ നിങ്ങളുടെ സത്യസന്ധത നിലനിർത്താനും വിനയവും ആത്മവിശ്വാസവും നിലനിർത്താനും ശത്രുക്കളോ സുഹൃത്തുക്കളോ നിങ്ങളെ വേദനിപ്പിക്കാതിരിക്കാനും കവിത ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു.
അവസാനം, സമയം ഉൽപാദനക്ഷമമായി ഉപയോഗിച്ച് ഓരോ മിനിറ്റും പ്രയോജനപ്പെടുത്താൻ കിപ്ലിംഗ് പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. നിങ്ങൾക്ക് ഈ ഗുണങ്ങളെല്ലാം നേടാൻ കഴിയുമെങ്കിൽ, ലോകം മുഴുവൻ നിങ്ങളുടേതായിരിക്കുമെന്നും, അതിലും പ്രധാനമായി നിങ്ങൾ യഥാർത്ഥ പുരുഷത്വം നേടുമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം വാഗ്ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു. കവിത അടിസ്ഥാനപരമായി ശക്തമായ സ്വഭാവം, വൈകാരിക സന്തുലിതാവസ്ഥ, ധാർമ്മിക ശക്തി എന്നിവ കെട്ടിപ്പടുക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള ഒരു വഴികാട്ടിയാണ്.
About Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was an English short-story writer, poet, and novelist. He is chiefly remembered for his tales and poems of British soldiers in India and his tales for children. Born in Bombay, India, Kipling spent his early childhood there before being sent to England for education. His experiences in India deeply influenced his writing.
Kipling won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, making him the first English-language writer to receive this honor and the youngest recipient at that time. His famous works include "The Jungle Book," "Kim," and numerous poems and short stories. "IF," perhaps his most famous poem, was written around 1895 and attracted immediate nationwide attention. It soon became a popular anthem and has been voted Britain's favorite poem multiple times. The poem was inspired by Dr. Leander Starr Jameson and reflects Victorian-era ideals of stoicism and self-discipline.
Activity I: Read and Respond
Q1: The first stanza of 'IF' speaks about the need for self-confidence. Do you agree? Why?
Yes, I completely agree. The first stanza strongly emphasizes self-confidence as a fundamental quality. The poet says, "If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you," which directly speaks about having faith in yourself even when the entire world questions you. However, Kipling balances this by adding "But make allowance for their doubting too," showing that true self-confidence is not arrogance but includes understanding others' perspectives. The stanza also mentions keeping your head when everyone around you is losing theirs, which requires immense self-belief and inner strength. Self-confidence is essential because it helps you stay calm during chaos, maintain your integrity when blamed, and trust your judgment despite external pressure.
Q2: What does the poet say about patience?
The poet places great value on patience as a virtue. He says, "If you can wait and not be tired by waiting," emphasizing that true patience means waiting without exhaustion or frustration. Patience is not just about waiting, but maintaining your composure and determination throughout the waiting period. This quality is essential for achieving long-term goals and dealing with life's uncertainties. The poet suggests that patience should be tireless and unwavering, showing that endurance and perseverance are marks of a strong character. A truly great person does not lose hope or energy while waiting for the right moment or outcome.
Q3: Explain the poet's views on honesty and fortitude of character.
Kipling strongly advocates for honesty and strength of character throughout the poem. He states, "Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies," emphasizing that even when others lie about you, you must maintain your integrity and not resort to dishonesty. Similarly, "Or being hated don't give way to hating" shows fortitude of character - the strength to not respond to negativity with more negativity. The poet also says, "And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise," warning against self-righteousness and false superiority. True fortitude means staying honest and virtuous without being preachy or pretentious. The poet believes that maintaining honesty in the face of lies and keeping your character strong despite provocation are signs of true greatness.
Q4: Lines 5-7 speak about the need for righteous behaviour in the face of unrighteousness. How far do you agree?
I strongly agree with the poet's message about maintaining righteous behavior despite unrighteousness around you. The lines "Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, / Or being hated don't give way to hating" teach us not to compromise our values even when others do wrong to us. This is extremely relevant in today's world where people often justify wrong actions by saying "everyone else does it" or seek revenge when wronged. Responding to lies with truth and hatred with composure shows true strength of character. It is easy to maintain good behavior when surrounded by good people, but the real test of character is staying righteous when faced with unrighteousness. This approach breaks the cycle of negativity and maintains human dignity.
Q5: What is the poet's approach to dreams and longings?
The poet takes a balanced and practical approach to dreams and longings. He says, "If you can dream and not make dreams your master; / If you can think and not make thoughts your aim." This means that while dreams and aspirations are important, they should not control or consume you completely. Dreams should inspire action, not replace it. Similarly, thinking and planning are valuable, but they shouldn't become the only goal - execution matters too. The poet warns against becoming so lost in dreams that you forget to work toward them, or so absorbed in thoughts that you fail to act. His message is to maintain a healthy balance between imagination and reality, between planning and doing, between aspiration and action.
Q6: The poet believes that success comes from self-control and a true sense of the value of things. Express your views on this.
I completely agree with the poet's belief. The line "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster / And treat those two impostors just the same" beautifully expresses this philosophy. By calling both triumph and disaster "impostors," Kipling suggests that neither is permanent or as significant as it appears. Self-control means not getting carried away by success or destroyed by failure. A true sense of value means understanding that both are temporary phases in life's journey. People with self-control don't become arrogant in success or depressed in failure. They maintain emotional balance and perspective. This wisdom helps in making better decisions, staying grounded during good times, and remaining hopeful during bad times. Success built on such a foundation is more sustainable and meaningful.
Q7: 'Never breathe a word about your loss.' What impression do you get about the poet when you read this?
This line reveals that Kipling values dignity, resilience, and grace under pressure. The complete lines are: "And lose, and start again at your beginnings, / And never breathe a word about your loss." The poet impresses me as someone who believes in silent strength and perseverance without seeking sympathy. He advocates facing losses with courage and rebuilding without complaints or excuses. This doesn't mean suppressing emotions unhealthily, but rather maintaining composure and not dwelling on failures or seeking pity. The poet appears to value stoic resilience and the ability to move forward after setbacks without burdening others with complaints. This Victorian-era ideal emphasizes personal responsibility and mental toughness, suggesting that complaining about losses wastes energy that could be used for recovery.
Q8: What is the message conveyed in the last stanza of the poem?
The last stanza conveys powerful messages about humility, balance, and making the most of time. "If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, / Or walk with Kings nor lose the common touch" emphasizes maintaining your integrity and humility regardless of who you're with - whether common people or powerful leaders. The poet stresses that neither enemies nor friends should be able to hurt you, and while everyone should matter to you, no one should matter too much - maintaining emotional balance. The crucial line "If you can fill the unforgiving minute / With sixty seconds' worth of distance run" urges us to use every moment productively, as time is unforgiving and doesn't wait. The reward for achieving all these virtues is ultimate: "Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, / And which is more you'll be a Man, my son!" Success and true manhood will be yours.
Activity II: Read and Reflect
Q1: What is the central theme of the poem?
The central theme of "IF" is the development of ideal character and the path to true manhood. The poem is essentially a guide to building moral strength, emotional balance, and mental resilience. It emphasizes that greatness comes not from external achievements alone but from internal virtues like self-control, patience, honesty, humility, courage, and perseverance. The poem presents a philosophy of balanced living - neither being too emotional nor too detached, neither too proud in success nor too broken in failure. The overarching message is that if one can cultivate these virtues and maintain balance in all circumstances, they will achieve not just worldly success but also moral and spiritual completeness - true manhood. The poem is didactic, meaning it aims to teach and guide rather than just entertain.
Q2: What, according to the poem, are the two impostors in life?
According to the poem, the two impostors in life are Triumph (success) and Disaster (failure). The poet explicitly states: "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster / And treat those two impostors just the same." By calling them "impostors," Kipling suggests that both success and failure are deceptive and temporary. They pretend to be permanent and significant, but they are not. Success can create false confidence and make us arrogant, while failure can create false despair and break our spirit. Both are illusions that hide the true nature of life's journey. The poet teaches that we should not be overly affected by either - not too elated by success nor too depressed by failure. Both are temporary phases, and treating them equally with equanimity and balance is the mark of wisdom and maturity.
Q3: 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 resilience, courage, and determination without complaint. He states: "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." This means that even if you lose everything you've worked for, you should have the courage to start over from scratch without complaining or seeking sympathy. The poet also says: "Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, / And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools," emphasizing that when your life's work crumbles, you should rebuild it patiently, even with limited resources. The attitude should be one of silent strength, perseverance, and unwavering determination. Loss should be accepted gracefully, learned from, and overcome through renewed effort.
Q4: What is the poem about? (Consider the speaker, theme, symbols, comparisons, contrasts and conflicts)
The poem is a father's advice to his son about becoming a complete man. The speaker is an older, wiser figure (traditionally interpreted as a father) sharing wisdom with a younger person addressed as "my son."
The theme revolves around ideal character development, moral strength, and balanced living. The poem teaches that true greatness comes from internal virtues rather than external success.
Important symbols include "Triumph and Disaster" representing life's highs and lows, "worn-out tools" symbolizing limited resources and adversity, "pitch-and-toss" representing life's gambles and risks, and "the unforgiving minute" representing time's precious and finite nature.
The poem uses comparisons like treating triumph and disaster the same way, talking with crowds and walking with kings, and contrasts between dreaming and being controlled by dreams, thinking and making thoughts your aim, success and failure, virtue and common touch.
The conflicts presented are internal struggles between emotion and reason, pride and humility, despair and hope, action and contemplation. The poem addresses the universal human conflict of maintaining balance and integrity in a challenging world.
Q5: Identify the poetic forms, figurative language and poetic structure.
Poetic Form: "IF" is a didactic poem (teaching/instructive) written in the form of conditional advice. It consists of four stanzas of eight lines each, following a specific pattern of conditional statements.
Poetic Structure: The poem has 32 lines divided into four equal stanzas. Each stanza follows a regular rhyme scheme of AAAABCBC, creating a rhythmic flow. The meter is primarily iambic pentameter with some variations, giving the poem a measured, thoughtful pace.
Figurative Language:
Personification: "Triumph and Disaster" are personified as impostors who can deceive people. Time is personified as "unforgiving."
Metaphor: "If you can make one heap of all your winnings" uses gambling as a metaphor for life's risks. "Worn-out tools" metaphorically represents limited resources or difficult circumstances. "The Earth and everything that's in it" metaphorically represents complete success and fulfillment.
Symbolism: "Minute" symbolizes time and opportunity. "Kings" and "crowds" symbolize people of different social statuses. "Pitch-and-toss" symbolizes chance and risk-taking.
Contrast: The poem uses contrasting ideas throughout - success vs. failure, speaking vs. silence, dreaming vs. acting, loving friends vs. foes.
Repetition: The repeated use of "If you can" at the beginning of conditions creates anaphora, emphasizing the conditional nature of achieving greatness and creating a rhythmic pattern that builds momentum toward the final reward.
Stanza-wise Explanation
Stanza 1: This stanza focuses on composure, self-confidence, patience, and integrity. It teaches staying calm when others panic, trusting yourself despite doubt, being patient without tiring, remaining honest despite lies, avoiding hatred despite being hated, and staying humble without being self-righteous.
Stanza 2: This stanza addresses balance, resilience, and perseverance. It warns against being controlled by dreams or thoughts, treating success and failure equally, accepting when your words are twisted or your work destroyed, and having the courage to rebuild despite difficulties.
Stanza 3: This stanza emphasizes courage, risk-taking, and silent strength. It speaks about taking big risks without fear, accepting losses gracefully, starting over without complaints, and persevering through exhaustion by sheer willpower alone.
Stanza 4: The final stanza discusses humility, balance in relationships, and time management. It advises maintaining virtue with common people and humility with powerful ones, not being hurt by enemies or friends, valuing everyone appropriately, and using every moment productively. The reward is success and true manhood.
Important Lines and Their Meanings
"If you can keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs" - Stay calm and composed during chaos when everyone else is panicking.
"Triumph and Disaster... those two impostors" - Both success and failure are temporary and deceptive; neither defines your true worth.
"If you can dream and not make dreams your master" - Have aspirations but don't let them control you; balance dreams with action.
"And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools" - Rebuild patiently after failure, even with limited resources.
"And never breathe a word about your loss" - Face setbacks with dignity without complaining or seeking sympathy.
"The Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'" - Persevere through sheer determination when everything else fails.
"Walk with Kings nor lose the common touch" - Associate with powerful people but remain humble and connected to ordinary people.
"Fill the unforgiving minute / With sixty seconds' worth of distance run" - Use every moment productively; time is precious and unforgiving.
"Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it" - If you achieve these virtues, you will attain complete success.
"And which is more you'll be a Man, my son" - More important than worldly success is achieving true manhood and moral completeness.
Values and Life Lessons
The poem teaches essential life values: Self-confidence balanced with humility, patience and perseverance, honesty and integrity, emotional balance, resilience and courage, self-control and discipline, humility regardless of status, time management, grace under pressure, and the importance of character over achievement.
It reminds us that true greatness comes from who we are, not what we achieve. The poem emphasizes that developing strong character is more valuable than accumulating wealth or fame. It teaches that how we respond to life's challenges defines us more than the challenges themselves.
Relevance Today
Though written in the Victorian era, "IF" remains highly relevant in modern times. In today's fast-paced, social-media-driven world, the poem's lessons about emotional balance, not being affected by others' opinions, maintaining integrity, and treating success and failure equally are more important than ever. The emphasis on self-control, patience, and perseverance applies to academic challenges, career pressures, and personal relationships. The message about maintaining humility and staying grounded despite success is crucial in a world that often celebrates arrogance and instant gratification.
Key Words and Phrases
Impostors - Persons or things that pretend to be something they are not; here referring to triumph and disaster
Knaves - Dishonest, untrustworthy people
Sinew - Physical strength and energy; something that gives power or support
Pitch-and-toss - A gambling game; here representing taking big risks in life
Make allowance for - To understand and accept; to be tolerant of
Virtue - Moral excellence; good behavior and character
Common touch - The ability to relate to and communicate with ordinary people despite one's status
Unforgiving minute - Time that passes without mercy and cannot be recovered
Worn-out tools - Old, damaged instruments, representing limited resources or difficult circumstances
Hold on - To persevere; to continue despite difficulties