If
By Rudyard Kipling
- Literal
This poem is literally about a man being able to step up to the plate and actually be a man. It explains that if you are able to do a certain and/or certain things, then you will officially be considered a man.
Situation
The poem does not tell a story. It doesn't necessarily express an emotion, nor does it express a mood. It really only gives a lecture and gives advice. The speaker in the poem is the author. He is speaking to every male who wants to know if he is a man and wants to know how to become one. The speaker can be trusted. He is very wise.
Structure
The poem gets told through a traditional form. It is a didactic poem. Its primarily intended to teach a lesson. I think the poem chose this form in order to make the concept more meaningful. The images and ideas in the poem are developed chronologically. The poem circles back to where it started. Although there were many punctuations, the entire poem was on one huge sentence. The verbs are in the usual "noun, verb" order, most likely to keep things traditional. The title means the main idea of the poem. It relates to the poem itself because almost every line starts with "if".
Language
The language of the poem is formal and simple. There aren't any allusions to things outside of the poem. There are lots of personification and analogies in the poem. These images add to the meaning of the poem because they make each line more thoughtful and complex. It gives everything more meaning.
Musical Devices
The rhyme scheme occurs mostly in a regular pattern, but sometimes in an irregular pattern. The effect is formal and satisfying. The poem has a very obvious rhythmic effect. There are many stressed words. The tonal effect gives a soothing rhythm. The repetition tonal effect gives the poem most of its significance. The poem has caused me to look at things differently more. The technical elements makes things complex, but easier to relate to and understand.