15 Rudyard Kipling
Dr. Anshul Chandra
MODULE STRUCTURE
14.0 Learning outcome
14.1 Rudyard Kipling – A general introduction
14.2 Theme of his poetry
14.3 Kipling‟s IF
14.4 Kipling’s Recessional
14.5 Kipling’s The White Man’s Burden
14.6 Kipling’s The Ballad of East and West
14.7 Self assessment/MCQ
14.8 Suggested readings
14:0 Learning outcome
By the end of the lesson, students should be ableto understand
- Themes of his poems
- Rudyard Kipling’s contribution in 19th century poetry
- Summary and critical analysis of his major poems
14:01 Rudyard Kipling: A General Introduction
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English author, journalist and poet in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1907for literature and become the first English writer and the youngest recipient to have received the award till the day.
Kipling was born in Bombay on 30 December, 1865. His father Lockwood Kipling was principal of the Jeejeebyhoy school of Art. His five fabulous years in India, Kipling was sent to England at the age of 6 where he lived with a couple Mr. and Mrs. Holloway with his sister. Kipling’s childhood can be described as an unhappy one. Those years of humiliation, torture and oblique were recalled through his autobiography. In 1878, Kipling went on to attend United Service College at Westward. Since his parents could not afford to send him to study at Oxford, he abandoned his dream and took up a job as an assistant editor of the Civil and Military Gazette at Lahore.
During those years, Kipling wrote over thirty stories for the Gazette. In 1888, his first prose collection “Plain Tales from the Hills” was published. Now Kipling moved south to join a much renowned newspaper The Pioneer, Allahabad and kept on writing. He published six volumes of short stories including in “Black and White”, “The Phantom Rickshaw and Other Tales”, “The story of the Gadsbys and other child stories”. He left India to return to England in 1889, to make his entry in the literal world.
There his literary life brought him to the attention of many people there he wrote his first novel “The Light That Failed” in 1891. He comes in contact with Wolcott Balestier, who was an American author and publishing agent with whom he collaborated on a novel, The Naulahka. In 1891, on the advice of his doctors and his deteriorating health, Kipling went on another sea voyage visiting South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and once again India. Meanwhile he wrote a collection of short stories which was published in 1891. His friend Balestier died on December 1891 and Kipling married to his sister Caroline in 1892.
He started working on the “Mowgli Stories”. In the short span of four year he produced “The Junglebooks”, a collection of short stories (The Day’s work), a novel (Captains courageous) and a profusion of poetry, including the volume “The Seven Seas”. The collection of “Barrack-Room Ballads” was issued in March1892, contains his poems “Mandalay and “Gunga Din” He especially enjoyed writing the Jungle books in which he described life in all different forms. It is a Master piece of imaginative writing.
In 1896, after a fierce quarrel with Beatty Balistier, Kipling‟s privacy was destroyed. He and his wife returned to England. There he published another novel drawing on his knowledge of New England life; “Captains Courageous.”
In England he began to write more actively and published his two poems “Recessional” (1897) and “The White Man’s Burden” (1890) which gave rise to huge controversies.
After death of his eldest daughter, Kipling published his novel “Kim”, the story of an orphan Irish boy, which was his finest work. In 1902 he completed is collection of stories called “Just So Stories” which would become one of his most acclaimed works. In the first decade of the20th century Kipling was at the height of his popularity. He wrote two science fiction “With the Night Mail” (1905) and “As Easy as A.B.C.” (1912), both set in the 21st century. After this came two great poetry and story collection “Puck of Pook’shill” (1906) and “Rewards and Fairies”(1910). Kipling wrote many other works and children’s classics. He was actively involved in the Boer War in South Africa and in 1917 he was assigned the post of “Honorary literary Advisor” to the Imperial war Graves Commission. After his son’s death, he wrote a poem “My Boy Jack” in which he deeply mourns for his son cursing and blaming himself.
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s but at a slower pace. He died of a hemorrhage on 18 Jan 1936 and was cremated at golden green crematorium.
14:02Themes of his poetry
T.S. Eliot Said, ―An immense gift for using words, an amazing curiosity and power of observation with his mind and with all his senses, the mask of the entertainer, and beyond that a queer gift of second sight, of transmitting messages from elsewhere, a gift so disconcerting when we are made aware of it that thenceforth we are never sure when it is not present: all this makes Kipling a writer impossible wholly to understand and quite impossible to belittle.”
Among all of the writers of Britain’s Victorian Era, Kipling remains as one of the most well-known ad cherished. Kipling’s writings are a reflection of daily newspaper events that shows the rise of nationalisms and the industrial resolution. The themes of his poetry directly relate of the value of Victorian Era.
Imperialism
Imperialism is the main theme of his works along with other important topics. All aspects of Kipling life connected to British imperialistic ideals. In his poems, both the east and west lifestyles served as important part. His dedication to the British Empire was vital to his success. His poem “The White Man’s Burden” is a fine example of imperialism. The poem in particular warns about the problems faced by those who devoted themselves to the colonial cause, they might face scorn. Throughout his poetry the British Empire “assumeda complex mythical or legendary function which in return became passed on to his readers. Since he lived both in England and India, it gave him personal experience with imperialism from both points of view. His had different views of imperialism. According to him; “it was predicated on deeply held political, racial, moral and religious beliefs which sustain feeling of innate British superiority.”
Religion
The second most important theme of Kipling’s poem is religion. Kipling had strong religious influence during his childhood. In his poems Kipling always describes the importance of religion on one’s life. Some poems are full of religious vocabulary which could be determined just through the musical hymn like nature of the poem. Through his poems Kipling warns not to forget about god during the time of prosperity of Empire. All worldly possessions will fade into dust. It was through god’s divine help that people were able to achieve all they want. Through his poems Kipling worked as a driving force to bring religion back into the society.
India
One of the important aspects of Kipling’s writing is his observance of India. He gave a voice to the Indian people during his time. Description of India in the poem of Kipling is quite natural. Many older editions of his books have a swastika printed on their covers associated with a picture of an elephant carrying a lotus flower, reflecting the influence of Indian culture on him. His attachment with India, his birth country is not amazing. He compares Indian culture with British and found India more appealing. He compares the climate, the animals, and the ease of life in India with cold, rainy and coarse world of London. He believed in Indian culture as it is an exotic thing which provides men an exciting counterpart to their dreary London existence. Here people are always enigmatic and shows their true personality.
Masculinity
Kipling’s poems deal with sentiments and behaviours of male. Kipling’s believed in the true characteristic of males‟ i.e. honesty, courage, humanity, stoicism. In his poems, male are willing to struggle against terrible odds. They are strong but silent, having feeling and emotions. His men do not believe in violence, pride or anger. They also rule over their inferiors but with a kind heart. His men face odd situation but they possess great courage even though they are helpless. They have faith in themselves with nobility of spirit.
Soldiers
Kipling believes that it is an honor to serve in the country’s army. Through he was unable to serve due to his weak eyesight he encouraged them through his poems. In his poem he describes the poor treatment of soldiers by the government. He gives voice to these poor soldiers and tries to improve their condition. He has a very deep sympathy with them.
14:03 Kipling’s IF
TEXT
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
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;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ―Hold on!‖
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son.
Introduction
“If”, written by Rudyard Kipling is an inspirational poem, first appeared in his collection “Rewards and Fairies” in 1909.Kipling wrote this poem with Dr. Leander Starr Jameson in mind, who led about five hundred of his countrymen in a failed said against the Boers, in southern Africa. The poem is written in the form of paternal advice to the poet’s son. It is about moral lessons and conduct. He says if he can hold on to his values he will be a man and have a rewarding life, his all wishes will fulfill. According to Khushwant Singh, the well-known Indian writer, Kipling‟s “If” is, “the essence of the message of the Gita in English”. Popularity of “If” can notice that a copy of the poem is affixed to the wall in the cabins of the officer cadets at the National Defence Academy at Pune.
The poem has various musical adaptations. It was adapted as a song by Joni Mitchell on her album Shine in 2007. Roger Whittaker also performed this poem under the title “A Song for Erik.” Watch:http://jonimitchall.com/music/song.cfm?id=311
Summary
Rudyard Kipling‟s “If” is a didactic poem by which the poet wants to give instructions in several specific traits of a good leader. It is about becoming mature and becoming an adult. Almost every line in each stanza begins with “if”. The speaker says that if you can keep your head when all people around you blaming it on you and losing their temper. The poem advises to be self confident and ignore all doubt. In first stanza, poet tells about patience, honest and fortitude of character. Kipling gives suggestion in the maintenance of righteous behaviour, a person must avoid proud and act in an ideal way during times of crisis. It also teaches a person the importance of waiting and advices him to not let lies, “If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don’t deal in lies.” It the end of the stanza, the speaker warns against the arrogance.
In the second stanza, the poet asks to pursue one’s goal in life in the correct way. He praises dreams and thoughts but warns that those dreams and thought should not come their waking moment. He says that they should treat “Triumph and Disasters” in some manner and learn one another lesson from life. In the last two lines, he says that the journey towards success in never an easy one and most of the people want to bring them down but the idea of hard work in adversity remains positive.
In the third stanza, the poet wants to say that if people want success in life then they must take risks in life and they must be hopeful even if all things do not work out in desired way. While aiming towards bigger goals, he must not cry over smaller loss and always start again with a determined heart “Never breathe a word about your loss” shows the element of self-dignity.
In the last stanza, the poem takes a turn and gives message that once they have gained their aim, they should show ultimate modesty. In this stanza, “Kings” is contracted with “common” in order to cover all sections of society. The poet wants that a successful person should become a man who can fit well with all class of the society. He possesses the quality to mix up with the common crowd without losing his individuality. In the next line he argues to treat a foe with the same humbleness as a friend and not allowing them to hurt, develops his self confident and virtues. He also warns against the bad effect of money.
At the end he says that if readers, pays attention to his advices them no one can stop them from achieving success in life and being a man in the real sense.
In the last line readers realize that the poem is addressed not to them but to a younger son in the form of passing down of knowledge and wisdom from a father to his son.
Central Idea
The central idea of the poem is to become a human being having all virtue for betterment of our society after attaining the success in life. This awakens a variety of feeling such as inspiration and happiness. This success comes from self control. A person must not lose heart and self confidence because of opposition. He must not be impatient. He must treat every defeat as a challenge. He must respect common people. His attitude should never be giving up. Throughout the poem Kipling says that humanity affects our daily life and also our path of success. If a person has quality of honesty, firmness and patience, he will own the world and attain the full stature of man hood.
Critical Analysis
Rudyard Kipling‟s “If” seems to have entered into the people’s general consciousness because of its sincerity, humility and warmth. It has four stanzas and each one has rhyming scheme a, b, ab, cd, cd. Each stanza has a little repetition.Language of the poem is figurative and as clean as water.
The titled word “If” is repeated several times to emphasize the need of hard work to gain success in life.
Figures of speech used in poem are personification and metaphor. Dream is personified as a master who controls our lives. Triumph and Disaster are personified as importers who can lead us to the wrong path. Will is personified as a person who encourages us not to give up.
In the poem “Unforgiving minutes”, means time that waits for none. “Walk with kings” means to live important and rich people, “talk with crowds” means to mix with common people.
There are various symbols used in the poems like “Knaves” represent lions, Crowds symbolize the common people, Kings represents the important end rich people.
14:04 Kipling’s Recessional
TEXT
God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold,
Dominion over palm and pine,
Lord God of Hosts be with us yet,
Lest we forget – lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget – lest we forget!
Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget – lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget – lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!
Introduction
Rudyard Kipling‟s poem “Recessional” published in 1897 on the occasion of Queen Victoria‟s diamond Jubilee. Kipling used his poem as a Christian prayer for mercy. Webster defines “Recessional” as “a hymn sung while the clergy and choir process out of church at the end of service. It describe that the most powerful person must befall. He begged God to spare England from misfortune “lest we forget” the sacrifice of Christ. He throughout the poem, the poet wrote about the majesty of god. He said that god is the still the centre of the universe. He is almighty. The growing industries of Victorian era could not overpower god.
For the occasion, Kipling previously composed “The White Man’s Burden”, but replaced it with “Recessional”. The poem went against the celebratory mood. He was dissatisfied with his first draft and had thrown it in the dustbin but his wife and American friend Caroline Norton encouraged him to complete the poem. This poem is a kind of warning that British might in common with all human power, was transient and could not stand above the god. All “pomp of yesterday” fades away and all achievement is meaningless in the face of time and god. So men should avoid boasting and strive instead for “a humble and contrite heart”.
“Recessional” adopted as a hymn by the Canada. In Australia and New Zealand this poem is sung on Anzac Day. When the English hymnal was drawn up in 1906,“Recessional” was included at number 558.
The poem is a warning to Kipling‟s countrymen of forgetting the responsibilities of the Empire. Actually it was a sincere prayer.” “Recessional” has a repeating phrase “lest we forget”, the reason for using this phrase is that God might forgive England from oblivion “lest we forget” the sacrifice of Christ. Whole poem was around this singular phrase which became a national prayer to god. It came to be a plea not to forget past sacrifices.
Summary
“Recessional” is a piece of music that is sung as a hymn. In the opening lines of the poem, the poet speaks to the “god of our father” who is much more valuable than anything in the world. The poet wishes to say that the English should be careful and understand that their earthly domination is nothing in comparison with the mighty works of god. They should know that permanence and salvation can be found only in “thine ancient sacrifice”.
He then continues that all valuable things on earth will fade away. The navies are gone. They are like “one with Nineveh and Tyre”. Nineveh and Tyre are two ancient cities mentioned in the Old Testament which are destroyed despite their power and wealth. It is warning that decline is inevitable and pomp, power and pride all are fleeting with the time.
In the next stanza, he compares alcohol and worldly power. Both can refrain to make correct judgment. A person desires to gain power and this become obsessed, he might develop a “wild tongue”. This tongue is used to fulfill one‟s desire. The poet compares wild tongue with the Gentile that is the non Jews, those without the special civilization and status of the biblical Jews. They were uncivilized in their values and do not please the Lord.
In the closing lines, the poet warns the English people of boasting and foolishness and asks God for mercy; “For frantic boast and foolish word, Thy mercy on Thy people Lord
Central Idea
Kipling‟s “Recessional” focuses on the worshipping God rather than on gaining worldly power. He repeatedly entreats his countrymen to avoid imperialism and wishes to gain power because God holds true dominion over all mankind. The poem humbles the English and reminds them of their responsibilities.
Critical Analysis
“Recessional” is one of Kipling‟s mysterious poems. It is imbued with language and a refrain fitting of a hymn. It contains five stanzas of six lines in which the first and the third and the second and the fourth rhyme with each other. The last two lines are rhymed couplet which remains the same in the first, second and fourth stanzas. The closing couplet reinforces the message of Kipling.
The title of the poem suggests the departure of church choir at the end of service through the nave. In the poem “lest we forget” repeated many times which later become linked with Remembrance Day observations as a plea not to forget past sacrifices. It becomes a word on war memorials or uses as an epitaph.
There are some words having specific meaning in the poems, in first stanza “awful” means awesome. “Dominion over Palm and pine” means a nod to England‟s possession of territories spanning the globe. “Ninevah and Tyre” are two ancient cities in the Old Testament which shows that all earthly beauty and power is transitory. “The Gentiles” are the non-Jews that are the Germans and the Russians without special civilization.
14:05 Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden”
TEXT
Take up the White Man’s burden
Send forth the best ye breed
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives’ need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild
Your new caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.
Take up the White Man’s burden
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain
To seek another’s profit,
And work another’s gain.
Take up the White Man’s burden
The savage wars of peace
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought
Watch sloth and heathen Folly
Bring all your hopes to nought.
Take up the White Man’s burden
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go make them with your living,
And mark them with your dead.
Take up the White Man’s burden
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:
―Why brought he us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?‖
Take up the White Man’s burden
Ye dare not stoop to less
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloke your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your Gods and You.
Take up the White Man’s burden
Have done with childish days
The lightly proferred laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom
The judgment of your peers!
Introduction
“The White Man’s Burden” published in 1899 in McClure‟s magazine is one of Kipling‟s most famous poem. The poem was initially composed for Queen Victoria‟s Diamond Jubilee but later he decided to submit “Recessional”. In this poem Kipling presents the imperialism in the heroic language of self sacrifice. It is written with reference to the American takeover of the Philippines after the Spanish-American world war. The concept is that the responsibilities of white Europeans to bring proper civilization to the nation who do not have it. It is their duty to bring everyone in the world close to the European standards as possible. Actually it is the feeling that colonization is necessary expectation and even a duty of the white man. He gives advice to the relatively young nation of the United States to take this opportunity to mature and join the ranks of the imperial powers. He describes the qualities of an imperialist and suggests him to improve the world by imposing his culture on other. The tone of the poet is not critical but it is encouraging. The message is to encourage the growth of imperialism but it also reveals the patriarchal and the racist attitude in Queen Victoria‟s rule. We can say that “The White Man’s Burden” is a way for Kipling to iconize the events occurring all over the globe.
The title of the poem “The White Man’s Burden” is actually the burden that white man carried which separates them from other men. It is for those groups of Americans who take responsibility of the improvement of people who are not technologically advanced. The actual burden that white people is plagued with non white or inferior people. Throughout the poem, Kipling describes the traits and duties of the white man. Among so many virtues patience, simple speech and abandonment of pride and greed are required to fulfill the duties of the white man.
Summary
The poem is subtitled “The United States and the Philippine Islands”. The opening lines of the poem “take up the white man‟s burden” is repeated at the beginning of every stanza. The first stanza explains the mindset of the Europeans who placed their race above all other and consider their breed the best. The poet says to take up the white man‟s burden, which is to send the best man abroad. Other wild races of the world required sacrifice from the white man. These conquered people are “half devil and half child”. Kipling appeal to British parents to send their sons as this exile is an honour for them.
In the second stanza, Kipling describes the virtue of the white man. Patience, simple speech, simplicity, humbleness are some of his qualities. The white man must be willing “to seek another‟s profit / And work another‟s gain”
In the third stanza he repeats to take up the white man‟s burden. The white man must be a healer, capable enough to “fulfill the mouth of famine” and get rid of disease and one who wants to take this burden must be careful as he is very near to help the natives.
Again in the fourth stanza, he says to take up the burden which is not the showy rules of the kings but hard work of common man like “toil of serf and sweeper”. Kipling wants to say that for building an Empire, inclusion of poor and working class is must. He further says that he will mark ports and road with their life and dead bodies.
In fifth stanza he says when you take white man‟s burden; you will get the usual reward that is hatred from common people. He encourages America to reap the harvest of four centuries of European supremacy without caring the feelings of others.
In the sixth stanza, he repeats to take the white man‟s burden but he should not bend down or never attempt to do less. It refers to the fact that the conquered will judge his fitness to rule them by every action word and deed done. A well done job will result in successful assimilation “silent, sullen peoples” will judge you and your god.
In the last stanza, he says to leave your childish days and become an adult man. You must ignore easily brought honour and the freely given praise and seek the manhood that comes from all the thankless years.
Central Idea
The central idea of the poem is that the real work of Empire building is done by those who stay in often inhospitable conditions. His focus is on those who are responsible for making an Empire. He reflects the common sentiments of the time. The theme of the poem links between racial ideology and imperialism and class conflict. Imperialism is a great way to make a country prosperous but he also tries to make it clear that his work is not easy. He wants to give message that the white man‟s burden is heavy. He is not only a builder of an empire he also has to do his all duties without getting any thanks in return.
Critical Analysis
The poem consists of seven stanzas with eight lines each. First line is repeated in all the stanza. All have same traditional rhyming scheme that is a,b,c,b,d,e,f,e.The term “white man‟s burden” can be interpreted simply as racist. It becomes a phrase. It has been criticized for its realism and clarity.
Various metaphors are used in the poems. Some of them are as follows.
In the first stanza “harness” is used as a metaphor for service, “to wait in heavy harness, on fluttered folk wild”. He uses “light” as a metaphor for civilization and “night” for savagery. The title of the poem “the white man„s burden is taken as a metaphor for cultural imperialism.
Source http://www.enotes.com/topic/whiteman‟s burden
14:06 Kipling’s The Ballad of East and West
TEXT
Introduction
Rudyard Kipling‟s “The Ballad of East and West” was first published in the pioneer in 1889.It is a collection of Barrack Room Ballads and Other Verses. It was first called “Kamal. It demonstrates that all men have in common being mortal and that in the men‟s difference they can still each be great men.
The old ballads of England and Scotland were composed songs to be sung and they told stories of common people and their experiences. But in nineteenth century it had only narrative content which is common with the old ballads. Kipling‟s ballads have quality that he takes the ballads back to its roots and older folk tradition. It shows his technical skill. As Charles Carrington says; “The strength of the Ballad lies in its galloping rhythm which suggested to Saintsbury that Kipling had a ‘soul for the anapaest’. Its rapid and varying pace, exactly suited to the development of the theme, showed an extraordinary ease and mastery of words. Even Swinburne could not show such vigour and flexibility.”
Summary
The story of the poem is simple, to do with theft, honour and strength. It is a tale of Kamal, an Afghan worrier and raider. In course of his raid he steals “the colonel‟s mare”. The geographical location is the North-West Frontier of the Indian Empire, on the border with Afghanistan. The time is the mid-nineteenth century. Kamal rides off with horse and the colonel‟s son who is the leader of “a troop of the guides” asks his men if they know where Kamal hides the mare. One of them Mohammad Khan replies if one knows the track of morning mist, he can find Kamal. He says that he might be near Fort Bukloh because he has to cross it to reach his native land. He advises the colonel‟s son to ride as fast as possible and try to cut him off before he gets to the Tongue of Jagai, otherwise Kamal will be on his home land surrounded by his followers.
Immediately the colonels‟ son mounts his dun horse and goes to find Kamal. He arrives at fort Bukloh and stays there for a short time. He rides until he finds Kamal at the Tongue of Jagai, riding the stolen mare of his father. The colonel‟s son fires twice but both go wide.
The two men ride and ride and finally the colonel‟s son‟s horse falls at a water course. Kamal pulls him free. He says it is he who allows him to run so far. The colonel‟s son challenges Kamal to shoot him but also warns him of the consequences,” ‘But if thou thinkest the price be fair, thy brethren
wait to sup, The hound is kin to the jackal-spawn, howl, dog, and call them up!
And if thou thinkest the price be high, in steer and gear and stack, Give me my father’s mare again, and I’ll fight my own way back!’
But Kamal helps him to his feet. Colonel‟s son is impressed by his courage, offers him his father‟s mare. The mare comes over to the colonel‟s son ad Kamal decides to return the horse, he also offers his turquoise-studded rein, ‘broidered saddle and saddle-cloth, and silver stirrups twain”. The Colonel’s son also offers his pistol as a gift and again Kamal offers “a gift for a gift”. He says, “Thy father has sent his son to me, I’ll send my son to him!”
The two young men look at each other and they have taken oath of brotherhood, and together return to Fort Bukloh. The Colonel’s son rides the mare and Kamal’s son on the dun. As they approach the Fort, the twenty swords flash in warning from the Quarter-Guard and colonel‟s son says to lower their sword because;, “Last night ye had struck at a Border thief-to-night it‟s a man of the Guides!”
Central Idea
The opening lines of the poem “Oh, East is East, and West is West”, becomes a phrase. In the poem, Kipling seems to be saying that all of us are to be some extent unable to adapt to the ways of other but if we can put aside our differences of nationality, race, background and religion we can make a difference. We can understand one another in the fundamental test of courage. The poem describes that east and west shall never meet till God‟s great Judgment day but here two strong men with different background are brought face to face and they discover that they are alike and not as different as others believe.
Critical Analysis
The poem is written in the style of border ballad, an Anglo-Scottish poetic form which has motifs but lacked a chorus. The vocabulary, phrases and rhythms are parts of the old ballads and the culture is different. It begins and ends with the quatrain. It is printed as rhyming heptameters.
The first line is the actual story, the second line contains a term for stolen and the fourth “calkin” means a trick of horse-mounted brigades. The second quatrain has the house stock phrase. There is a couplet that is repeated with slight variations several times; “There is rock to the left, and rock to the right, and low lean thorn between, And ye may hear a breech-bolt snick where never a man is seen.”
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Reference
Websites
- http://www.kipling.org.uk/rg_wouldbeking_notes.htm
- The Ballad of East and West About.com
- http://en.m.wikipedia.org
- www.biography.com
- www.kiplingsociety.co.uk
- www.britannica.com
Articles
- Cody, David. “Kipling’s Imperialism.” The Victorian Web: An Overview. 1988. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/kipling/rkimperialism.html>.
- Embar, Ravi. “Poetry Analysis: If, by Rudyard Kipling.” Helium. Web. 5 Oct. 2009. <http://www.helium.com/items/987621-poetry-analysis-if-by-rudyard-kipling>.
- Gilbert, Elliot. Kipling and the Critics. New York, 1965. Print.
- Kipling, Rudyard. The Ballad of East and West. Read Print. Web. 7 Oct. 2009. <http://www.readprint.com/work-962/The-Ballad-Of-East-And-West-Rudyard-Kipling>.
- Rudyard (1865–1936)’ (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Kipling, Rudyard. 1899. The White Man’s Burden. Published simultaneously in The Times, London, and McClure’s Magazine (U.S.) 12 February 1899
- Snodgrass, Chris. 2002. A Companion to Victorian Poetry. Blackwell, Oxford
- Kipling, Rudyard. 1897. Recessional. Published in The Times, London, July 1897