Professional Documents
Culture Documents
f Poem Summary
In short, this is an inspirational poem that gives advice on how one should live one’s life. The poem takes
the reader through various ways in which the reader can rise above difficulties that will almost certainly
be thrown one’s way at some point in one’s lives. Throughout the poem, the speaker gives the reader
multiple scenarios, both positive and negative, along with a glimpse into how one should conduct
oneself. The poem has an almost mathematical proof about it with its if-then scenario. Kipling leaves the
“then” until the final two lines, revealing to the reader that if he or she is able to do all that was just
mentioned, he or she will not only have the world at his or her fingertips, but he or she will also be a
“Man.”
Kipling separates his poem into four stanzas of equal length; each stanza contains eight lines. Each
stanza has a set rhyme scheme of ababcdcd, with the exception of the first stanza, which has the
following rhyme scheme: aaaabcbc.
Stanza 1:
You might be able to stay sane when everybody else is going crazy and thinking you're the problem. You
might be able to put faith in yourself even when nobody else does. You might be able to be patient for a
long time. Even if people are saying untrue things about you, you can still be truthful yourself. Likewise,
even if people are hateful toward you, don't hate them back. Don't get all self-righteous, though.
Stanza 2:
Think about the future and your goals, but don't get overly caught up in them. Be thoughtful, but don't
stop there—actually put your thoughts into action. Understand that victories and failures are both not
as big of a deal as you might think. Accept that people will take your own words and warp them to trick
other people. When things go really poorly, you have to deal with it and start over as best you can with
what you've got.
Stanza 3:
You should understand that winning and losing aren't that big of a deal, and you should just keep
striving toward your goals instead of moaning about your failures. Keep working, even if you feel like
you physically can't. Use your own drive to persist no matter what.
Stanza 4:
Hang out with big groups, but stay true to yourself. Hang out with famous, influential people, but don't
lose touch with reality. Don't give anyone the power to hurt you. Appreciate everybody, but don't
worship anyone. Take the time you have and use it well. Do all this stuff, kid, and you'll have everything
you want in life, plus you'll be a true adult.