Different Perspectives: The American Revolution

Different Perspectives: The American Revolution

By Colleen Harrak

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Kipling’s Point of View

Before:

’Twas not while England’s sword unsheathed

Put half a world to fl ight,

Nor while their new-built cities breathed

Secure behind her might;

Not while she poured from Pole to Line

Treasure and ships and men—

These worshippers at Freedoms shrine

They did not quit her then!

Not till their foes were driven forth

By England o’er the main—

Not till the Frenchman from the North

Had gone with shattered Spain;

Not till the clean-swept oceans showed

No hostile fl ag unrolled,

Did they remember that they owed

To Freedom—and were bold!

British poet and author Rudyard Kipling published “The American Rebellion” in 1911.

Below is the first part of the poem.

Open Ended

What is Kipling’s point of view about the American Revolution in this part of the poem?

Cite text examples to support your analysis.

Answer

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Actual answers will vary. Correct answers will refer to Kipling’s point of

view as critical towards the American colonies. He makes the case that the

colonies rebelled only after England had made the New World safe and

secure. Citations may include the reference to England protecting the

colonies from Spain and France, (“Not till the Frenchman from the North /

Had gone with shattered Spain”); England’s success at eliminating piracy,

(“Not till the clean-swept oceans showed /No hostile fl

ag unrolled,”); or how

England kept the new country safe, (“Nor while their new-built cities

breathed/ Secure behind her might”).​

Some text here about the topic of discussion