If - Joseph Rudyard Kipling

If

Joseph Rudyard Kipling

(December 30, 1865-January 18, 1936)

Understanding Expressions. 

Choose the meaning of the underlined expression

Multiple Choice

If you can keep your head when all about you; Are losing theirs

• accommodate, consider

• If you waste time, it never forgives you.

• Keep your good qualities intact

• Keep a calm and composed state of mind

• Becoming so rigid about one’s opinions and thoughts that you cannot take suggestions

Multiple Choice

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; (stanza 1, line 4)

• accommodate, consider

• If you waste time, it never forgives you.

• Keep your good qualities intact

• Keep a calm and composed state of mind

• Becoming so rigid about one’s opinions and thoughts that you cannot take suggestions

Multiple Choice

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;(stanza 2, line 2)

• accommodate, consider

• If you waste time, it never forgives you.

• Keep your good qualities intact

• Keep a calm and composed state of mind

• Becoming so rigid about one’s opinions and thoughts that you cannot take suggestions

Multiple Choice

If you can make one heap of all your winnings; And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, (stanza 3, line 2)

• Becoming so rigid about one’s opinions and thoughts that you cannot take suggestions

• Men give you respect and regard

• Game based on luck in which you have equal chances of winning or losing

• Modesty and a down to earth attitude

Multiple Choice

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, (stanza 4, line 1)

• Keep your good qualities intact

• Keep a calm and composed state of mind

• Becoming so rigid about one’s opinions and thoughts that you cannot take suggestions

• Men give you respect and regard

Multiple Choice

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; (stanza 4, line 2)

• Becoming so rigid about one’s opinions and thoughts that you cannot take suggestions

• Men give you respect and regard

• Game based on luck in which you have equal chances of winning or losing

• Modesty and a down to earth attitude

Multiple Choice

If all men count with you, but none too much; (stanza 4, line 4)

• Becoming so rigid about one’s opinions and thoughts that you cannot take suggestions

• Men give you respect and regard

• Game based on luck in which you have equal chances of winning or losing

• Modesty and a down to earth attitude

Multiple Choice

If you can fill the unforgiving minute; With sixty seconds' worth of distance run- (stanza 4, line 5)

• accommodate, consider

• If you waste time, it never forgives you.

• Keep your good qualities intact

• Keep a calm and composed state of mind

Short History

Rudyard Kipling was an English journalist, short-story writer, poet and novelist. He was born in Bombay, India which inspired much of his work. 

Kipling loved living in India but at the age of 5, he moved to England where he attended school and lived with a foster family, the Holloways and was quite unhappy there which is noticeable in his writing. 

In 1882, Kipling returned to India and began working as a journalist for an Indian newspaper. At this time, Kipling’s writing career began. Along with that is the time when he met Caroline, his wife whom he had three children (Josephine, Elsie and John). 

Familiar with MOWGLI?

Rudyard Kipling is one of Britain’s most famous and celebrated authors. He has written some of children’s best loved stories including The Jungle Book and the Just So Stories.

Kipling’s life took a sad turn when his eldest daughter, Josephine, died at the age of 6. Kipling was devastated. However, his sadness was increased when his son, John was reported missing whilst fighting in France in the First World War. John’s body was never found.

Kipling and Caroline lived the rest of their lives in Bateman’s house, in East Sussex. Bateman’s is now a museum dedicated to the life and works of Rudyard Kipling.

If - Rudyard Kipling

1 If you can keep your head when all about you

2 Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

3 If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

4 But make allowance for their doubting too;

5 If you can wait and not be tired by waiting;

6 Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

7 Or, being hated, don't give way to hating;

8 And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

Stanza 2

9 If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

10 If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

11 If you can meet with triumph and disaster

12 And treat those two imposters just the same; 13 If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

14 Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

15 Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

16 And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

Stanza 3

17 If you can make one heap of all your winnings

18 And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

19 And lose, and start again at your beginnings

20 And never breathe a word about your loss;

21 If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

22 To serve your turn long after they are gone,

23 And so hold on when there is nothing in you

24 Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

Stanza 4

25 If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

26 Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

27 If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

28 If all men count with you, but none too much;

29 If you can fill the unforgiving minute

30 With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

31 Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

32 And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Comprehension Check

Choose the correct answer.

Multiple Choice

Who do you think the poet is addressing?

• friends

• neighbors

• relatives

• everyone

Multiple Choice

What might the word ‘knaves’ mean in stanza 2, line 14?

• dishonest person

• enemies

• misfortune

• strength

Multiple Choice

What does the speaker say is necessary to be self-confident?

• Accept some failures and losses

• Face uncertainty and disagreement

• Patience and time

• Bravery and some recklessness

Multiple Choice

If people hate you, what does the author think you should do?

• Hate them too.

• Pretend you don't hear them.

• Not hate them back.

• Ignore them.

Multiple Choice

We should have a strong determination in order to ___.

• Steer the darkness to light.

• Think of some great idea.

• Steer the light to darkness.

• Make a correct decision.

Multiple Choice

The world is ours only when ___.

• We can improve politically.

• Enrich with positive qualities

• We can progress properly.

• Enrich us with money.

Multiple Choice

To succeed in life, as advised by Kipling, we should cultivate the qualities of ___.

• spirit

• religion

• morality

• intellect

Multiple Choice

The phrase “don't look too good, nor talk too wise” is about the virtue of ___.

• honesty

• mediocrity

• humility

• vanity

Multiple Choice

The lines, “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too” suggest that it’s important to ___.

• Believe in yourself, but recognize that no one is perfect.

• Trust yourself, but doubt others.

• Trust yourself, but doubt others

• Spend time with children because they will doubt you less.

Multiple Choice

What does the line “If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same” suggest?

• Triumph and disaster are how you interpret the situation.

• Treat every win like it’s loss.

• Stay emotionless.

• Winning isn’t that great.

Multiple Choice

The line “If you can dream--and not make dreams your master” suggest that you should ____.

• Spend your life trying to make your dreams come true.

• Get lots of sleep so you will have a good dream.

• Enslave your dreams.

• Dream, but don’t let dreams distract you from what’s important.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best sums up what makes someone a “Man”, or mature person, according to the speaker?

• Being able to talk to many different kinds of people.

• Being willing to take big risks.

• Being able to make a lot of money and having many friends.

• Acting in moderation and being in control of oneself.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences below best describes the theme of the poem?

• Becoming a grownup takes confidence, determination, and virtue.

• Most people handle failure better than they handle success.

• Talking about your problems is the first step toward solving them.

• People should spend more time in crowds and less time around royalty.

Symbolism

What do the following words from the poem represent or symbolize? 

Multiple Choice

• humility

• gambling/taking risk

• liars

• important people in society

Multiple Choice

• important people in society

• common folk/people

• gambling/taking a risk

• liars

Multiple Choice

• liars

• common folks

• important people

Multiple Choice

• common folks

• liars

• important people

• humility

Multiple Choice

• liars

• common folks

• important people

• taking risks