Grade - VIII
English Lit Revision WS
Name _________________
IF
-Rudyard Kipling.
‘IF’ is a didactic poem – a poem meant to give the reader some instruction or moral. This
poem serves is an instruction in several specific traits of a good leader. The central idea or theme
of the poem is that ‘success comes with self-control and perseverance’. One must be balanced for in extremes lies dangers. In case of failure one must not lose heart, and in winning one must not
get too happy. Winning or losing is not final. If one walks on this mid ground, he will realise that
he is not only a be a good man, but also will be worthy of being called a great man.
In the first stanza, the poet says one must be confident. He says we must face
discouragement with courage. At the same time he warns us not to be over confident, for this, will
not allow us to consider others ideas and opinions. The poet creates a paradox, wherein he puts
forward two seemingly contradictory (opposite) statements which make a point in their
contradiction. This paradoxical tone is seen throughout the poem. In the next four line, the poet
advises the reader to be patient and have the strength to face hatred but not give into hating. In the
last lines of the paragraph, the poet advises us to not to be proud of the righteous life we lead.
In the second stanza, the Kipling asks the reader to dream. However, he warns us not be blinded
by these dreams and goals we set for ourselves. Winning and losing is a part of life. The poet,
personifies Triumph and Disaster as two imposts. The poet tells us to be weary of these two
cheats. When faced by them, we must treat them the same. The poet says, victory and calamity
must have the same effect on a person. Furthermore, the poet feels we must have the courage to
stand by our word, even when the truth we stand for has been distorted by dishonest men
(knaves). The poet feels when all that you have worked for has come crushing down and life seems
completely wrecked, one must have the strength to start over again.
In the next stanza, the poet feels that a perfect man must remain stoic in the face of
adversity. He must have the courage to risk all his achievements in one go. If he fails, he must have
the strength to start all over again and not talk about his losses`. Further, while it seems that you
have reached your perceived limit, and every part of you say that you cannot go on, your Will must
continue to push you till (Hold on) you have achieved your goal.
In the last stanza, the poet tells us that, while we associate the rich and the famous (kings), we must
not be too proud nor should we forget our humble beginnings. One must not be corrupted by his
status. While with commoners, we must not forget our virtues and act with utmost humility.
Both friends and enemies can hurt you, and therefore the poet says one must treat friendship and
enmity with equal favour and not be hurt by either.
Finally the poet tells the reader the importance of time. Time is unforgiving as time lost or
wasted can never be gotten back. Kipling advises us to use time wisely and fill every minute with
meaningful and noble acts. Finally, he tells us that, if we do not waste our time, we will not only
achieve everything we aspire for but also be worthy of being called a Man.
IF – Figures of Speech
I.
II.
Metaphor: Metaphor is a figure of speech which makes a hidden comparison bteween two
things or objects. For example
1.
Unforgiving minutes refer to time that waits for no man, it is like a race where every
second is important.
2.
Worn out tools refer to the feeling of total exhaustion that can force someone to give
up.
3.
Walk with Kings means to socialize with important people.
4.
Talk with crowds refers to mixing with all kinds of people.
Personification : A figure of speech where human qualities are given to inanimate objects.
For example
1.
Dreams: masters who can control our lives. In this case, dreams assume a human
role/quality, that of being a master.
2.
Triumph and disaster are imposters who can lead us astray. Success is personified as
“Triumph” and can make us complacent. Failure is personified as “Disaster”. It can
influence us to believe that failure is permanent.
3.
Will is personified as a person who encourages us not to give up.
4.
Unforgiving minute, time once wasted will not come back.
THE BALLAD OF FATHER GILLIGAN
W.B.Yeats’ poem "The Ballad of Father Gilligan" is a literary ballad based on an Irish folk tale. A
ballad is usually a short narrative poem telling a story. Yeats’ poem "The Ballad of Father Gilligan"
tells the story of how God took pity on the weary Father Gilligan to absolve him of his guilt for
not having performed the last communion to a dying man. The theme of the poem is that God
understand and is always there to help a man in distress. A man who is bound to duty is always
taken care of, by God. Man must understand that, he should not take all the worries of the world
on his shoulders alone, God is always there to help him. The poem is set in rural Ireland, and it
illustrates the simplicity and extreme religiosity of the rural Irish people.
The poet starts the poem by introducing Father Gilligan as a dedicated priest who is
extremely tired because his congregation is either sick or dead. Here ‘green sods’ is a metaphor for
a grave and it symbolizes death. The word ‘flock’ is a metaphor that comes from the Bible. Jesus is
described as Shepard who leads all men. In the same way, the ‘flock’ is the people the Father leads
in his congregation. One evening, while Father Gilligan was resting on a chair, yet another sick
man asks him to come and say the prayer before he died. At this, the priest, in despair complains
that he does not have rest nor does he have joy in what he is doing nor does he have any peace as
his people keep dying.
The instant he utters these word, guilt grips him and he repents, saying that his tired body
had complained and not his soul. Kneeling down to pray in repentance, the good priest falls asleep
by the chair. Soon it is twilight and the moths begin to fly. Stars begin to peep and soon the world
was covered in darkness. God seems to tell mankind to rest under His comforting blanket of night.
Night gives way to day, at dawn the moths came once again and the sparrow begin to chirp. Father
Gilligan gets up with a start realising that he slept through the night while the sick man may have
died without the Father saying the last prayer for him. A mistake, he would never be able to forgive
himself for, as the man would not go to heaven now.
Distressed, he jumps on his horse and rides with little care to the sick man’s house. The sick
man’s wife opens the door, and asks in surprised why the Father had come again. She further
explains, on asking, that her husband had died happy as a bird after Father Gilligan had said the
last prayer for him. At this the Father kneels down in prayer, for he then realises the greatness of
God. God had sent his angle in guise of Father Gilligan to say the prayer for the dying man, this,
He did to save the priest from feeling guilty for falling asleep that night.
The poet now tells us the greatness of God in the voice of Father Gilligan. He says that, God who
takes of the entire universe will also take care of an insignificant human being who trusts Him.
Here, the poet tells us that God is ‘ wrapped in purple robes’. Purple symbolises royalty, therefore
God is the king of kings or in other words He is the king of all humanity.