If- revision

Question 1

Who:​

What:​

When:​

Where:​

Why:

Answer 1

Who:​ Father towards son

What:​ A dramatic monologue between parent and child about being a better person

When:​ Written 1895 published 1910

Where:​ England

Why: Demonstrate what resilience and perseverance looks like

Question 2

Major Themes + Top *3 Quotations​

1. ___________ - _______/________/_____​
2. ___________ - _______/________/_____​
3. ___________ - _______/_________/____​

​

Answer 2

Major Themes + Top *3 Quotations​

1. Stoicism - “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you”

“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’

2. Balance - “If you can dream — and not make dreams your master”

“If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim”

“If all men count with you, but none too much”

3. Masculinity - “Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, and—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!”

“If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,”

“Hold on when there is nothing in you except the Will which says to them: ‘hold on!’”

Question 3

Form + Structure​

1. F:___________ - S:________________​
2. ​

3.​

Answer 3

Form + Structure​

1. F: Iambic Pentameter- S: regular rhyme scheme of ABABCDCD
2. ​F: Didactic- S: Dramatic monologue

3.​ F: Repetition/anaphora- S: repeated conditional statement

Question 4

Top 3 Contextual Factors:​

1.​

2.​

3.​

Answer 4

Top 3 Contextual Factors:​

1.​ The poem reflects Edwardian values of stoicism, self-discipline and resilience, which were how society defined manliness.

2.​ Kipling was the “poet of Empire.” His works often encouraged qualities that were thought necessary to uphold and govern the British Empire.

3.If—, inspired by the actions of Leander Starr Jameson. The poem gives advice on how to face failure and success with equal composure.