What metaphors are used in Rudyard Kipling's If?

Answer 1

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The three most common poetic devices that are presented in this poem are repetition, personification, and alliteration. Repetition is the repeated use of a word or phrase for a certain effect. In this poem, Kipling uses repetition with the word "you" throughout the entire poem to emphasize how important "you" is.

Personification is when a non human thing is given human qualities; there are three examples of personification here. The first is in Stanza 2, when he states,

"…make dreams your master…" (line 9)

The second example of personification also occurs in Stanza 2 when Kipling says,

"If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same." (lines 11 - 12)

The final example of personification is in Stanza 3, when Kipling states,

"If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone" (lines 21 - 22)

Finally, alliteration is the repetition of the consonant sound at the beginning of consecutive words. There are at least two examples of this. The first occurs in stanza 2:

"with wornout tools" (line 16)

And the second example is from stanza 4 and says:

"sixty seconds" (line 30)

"If" is written in iambic pentameter, a form readers of Shakespeare will be familiar with, as the bard most often wrote in this style. Iambic pentameter consists of lines of five "feet" (two-syllable units) formed from an initial unstressed syllable and a second stressed syllable, as in the word "because." The eleven-syllable lines each end with an extra, unstressed syllable.

The poem is also written in four stanzas of eight rhyming lines, according to the pattern abab cdcd. "If" takes its name from the repetition of the word "if" at the start of the "a" and "c" lines, each of which comprise eleven syllables. The "b" and "d" lines each contain ten syllables.

Answer 2

The phrase "if you can make one heap of all your winnings and risk them on one turn of pitch-and-toss" suggests that the narrator is advising his son to risk his savings on gambling on a sporting game ("pitch and toss"). Given the nature of the rest of the poem, however, it's likely that this is a metaphor and in fact the "pitch and toss" should be understood to refer to any chancy but admirable enterprise, such as starting up a business. He's saying that all the most worthwhile financial moves are likely to be involve risk, that you should be bold with your choices and, if necessary, expect to have to start again.

Kipling used personification when he says "if you can meet with Triumph and disaster". He personifies both triumph and disaster.

Answer 3

The poem is straightforward and written in simple language. The key word "If" is repeated to emphasize that we need to work hard to reap the rewards of life.

A) Personification

-Dreams: masters who can control our lives. In this case, dreams assume a human role/quality, that of being a master.

-Triumph and disaster are imposters who can lead us astray. Success is personified as "Triumph" and can make us complacent. Failure is personified as "Disaster". It can influence us to believe that failure is permanent.

-Will is personified as a person who encourages us not to give up.

B) Metaphor

-Unforgiving minutes refer to time that waits for no man, it is like a race where every second is important.

-Worn out tools refer to the feeling of total exhaustion that can force someone to give up.

-Make one heap of all your winnings is compared to a pile of money won at the gambling table.

-Walk with Kings means to socialize with important people.

-Talk with crowdsrefers to mixing with all kinds of people.

C) Symbol

A symbol represents an idea

-Knaves represent scoundrels, liars or conman.

-Crowds symbolize the common folk/people.

-Kings represent the important people in society.

-Common touch represents humility.

Answer 4

Some of the metaphors used in Rudyard Kipling's "If" include treating triumph and disaster as impostors, making dreams one's master, and meeting with Triumph and Disaster and treating those two impostors just the same. These metaphors serve to impart wisdom on how to navigate life's challenges with fortitude and resilience.

Answer 5

He uses anaphoras by starting each stanza with If. He also presents a paradox with Triumph and Disaster

Answer 6

rhyme

Answer 7

secret