IF by Rudyard Kipling [Success & Celebration] - NEB English Class 10 Summary & Exercise

Summary of the Poem ‘IF’ by Rudyard Kipling

The poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling is a motivational and inspiring poem that encourages the reader to hold on to their values, persevere through challenges, and maintain their integrity in the face of adversity. The poem is structured in a series of conditional statements, each one presenting a challenge that the reader must overcome to become a person of character.

The opening lines set the tone for the poem and establish the theme of the importance of maintaining one's composure and keeping a level head in difficult situations. The speaker challenges the reader to be able to remain calm and collected in the midst of chaos and confusion, even when others are blaming them for the problem.

The second stanza encourages the reader to trust themselves even when others doubt them, while also acknowledging the importance of considering others' opinions. The third stanza emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance in the face of obstacles and adversity, and the need to resist the temptation to resort to dishonesty or hatred.

The fourth stanza stresses the importance of having dreams and aspirations but not becoming a slave to them. The speaker encourages the reader to have a balanced perspective and not let their thoughts and ambitions consume them. The fifth stanza deals with the need to be able to handle success and failure with equal grace and not be swayed by either.

The sixth stanza stresses the importance of being able to handle criticism and setbacks and to be able to bounce back from failures. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of being able to continue pushing oneself even when faced with physical or emotional exhaustion.

The seventh stanza deals with the importance of maintaining one's values and integrity, regardless of the situation. The speaker encourages the reader to be able to interact with people from all walks of life and to remain grounded in reality, regardless of their status.

The final stanza sums up the poem's message by emphasizing the importance of making the most of every minute and every opportunity, and by reminding the reader that if they can accomplish all of the challenges presented in the poem, they will be a true success in life.

Overall, the poem is an inspiring and timeless piece of literature that encourages readers to strive for excellence and maintain their values, no matter what challenges they may face.

The Vocabulary of the Poem

Composure - calmness and self-control

Adversity - difficult circumstances or misfortune

Integrity - the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

Aspirations - a strong desire to achieve something

Slave - a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them

Grace - elegance or refinement of movement or gesture

Criticism - the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes

Setbacks - a reversal or check in progress

Exhaustion - a state of extreme physical or mental fatigue

Values - principles or standards of behavior

Confronted - face up to and deal with a problem or difficult situation

Overcome - succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty

Doubt - a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction

Wait - stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until something else happens

Lied - past tense of lie, to speak falsely or deliberately deceive someone

Hating - feeling intense or passionate dislike for someone

Dream - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep

Impostors - a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others

Triumph - a great victory or achievement

Disaster - a sudden event causing great damage or loss

Bear - endure an ordeal or difficulty

Twisted - distort or change the meaning or context of something

Knaves - a dishonest or unscrupulous man

Trap - a device or stratagem for catching someone in a trap

Fools - a person who lacks good sense or judgment

Watch - observe or pay attention to someone or something

Stooping - bend one's head or body forward and downward

Build - construct something by putting parts or material together

Heap - a large and disordered pile of things

Winnings - money or another valuable object won or obtained

Risk - a situation involving exposure to danger

Pitch-and-toss - a gambling game in which a coin is thrown and the player who correctly calls which side will come up wins the coin

Nerve - a person's steadiness, courage, and sense of purpose

Sinew - a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament.

Serve - perform duties or services for (another person or an organization)

Virtue - behavior showing high moral standards

Kings - a male ruler of a country who is not an emperor

Unforgiving - not willing to forgive or excuse faults or errors

Minute - a period of time equal to sixty seconds

Earth - the planet on which we live, the third planet from the sun in the solar system

Here are 20 more challenging words from the poem along with their meanings:

Cleave - /kliːv/

Suborn - /səˈbɔːrn/

Impudence - /ˈɪmpjʊdəns/

Prudence - /ˈpruːdəns/

Renown - /rɪˈnaʊn/

Arduous - /ˈɑːdʒuəs/

Pallor - /ˈpælər/

Requite - /rɪˈkwaɪt/

Slander - /ˈslændər/

Chastise - /tʃæsˈtaɪz/

Dissemble - /dɪˈsɛmbəl/

Ignominy - /ˈɪɡnəmɪni/

Obstinate - /ˈɒbstɪnət/

Dilapidated - /dɪˈlæpɪdeɪtɪd/

Gird - /ɡɜːrd/

Sordid - /ˈsɔːdɪd/

Unscrupulous - /ʌnˈskruːpjʊləs/

Endeavor - /ɪnˈdɛvə/

Condone - /kənˈdəʊn/

Cogitate - to think deeply and carefully about something

Cleave - to split or sever something with a sharp instrument

Suborn - to induce someone to commit an unlawful act, especially bribery or perjury

Impudence - disrespectful behavior or speech

Prudence - the quality of being careful and cautious in making decisions

Renown - the state of being known and celebrated by many people for one's achievements or qualities

Arduous - involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring

Pallor - an unhealthy pale appearance

Requite - to make appropriate return for (a favor, service, etc.)

Slander - the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation

Chastise - to rebuke or reprimand severely

Dissemble - to conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs

Ignominy - public shame or disgrace

Obstinate - stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action

Dilapidated - in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect

Gird - to prepare oneself for something difficult or challenging

Sordid - involving immoral or unethical behavior

Unscrupulous - having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair

Endeavor - an attempt to achieve a goal

Condone - to allow or overlook something considered wrong or objectionable

Some Important Question and Answer about the Poem

What is the poem "If" about?

The poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling is a moral instruction on how to live a virtuous life. It describes the qualities that an individual should possess, such as self-control, perseverance, honesty, and humility, in order to navigate life's challenges and become a successful person.

What is the theme of the poem "If"?

The main theme of the poem "If" is the importance of character development and the virtues that an individual should strive to possess in order to become successful in life. The poem emphasizes the importance of self-control, patience, determination, honesty, and humility in achieving one's goals.

What is the tone of the poem "If"?

The tone of the poem "If" is didactic, meaning that it is intended to teach a moral lesson. The poem is written in a calm and measured tone, conveying a sense of wisdom and authority.

What is the structure of the poem "If"?

The poem "If" is a rhyming quatrain, meaning that each stanza has four lines and follows an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which describes a different quality or virtue that an individual should possess.

What is the significance of the last line of the poem "If"?

The last line of the poem "If" is "Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, / And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!" This line emphasizes the idea that if an individual possesses the virtues described in the poem, they will be successful in life and will have the world at their feet. The reference to "being a Man" suggests that these virtues are particularly important for men to possess, but the lesson is equally applicable to both men and women.

Some literary devices used in the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling along with examples:

Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Example: "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster / And treat those two impostors just the same" Here, Triumph and Disaster are metaphorically referred to as impostors to convey the idea that success and failure are temporary and should be treated with equanimity.

Personification: A figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to non-human things.

Example: "If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew / To serve your turn long after they are gone" Here, the heart, nerve, and sinew are personified as if they were people, to emphasize the importance of perseverance and determination.

Repetition: The repeating of a word, phrase or idea to emphasize its significance or importance.

Example: "If you can keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs and blaming it on you" The repetition of "if" at the beginning of each stanza emphasizes the importance of each condition, while the repetition of "you" emphasizes the individual responsibility to possess the described virtues.

Alliteration: The repetition of the initial consonant sound in a series of words.

Example: "If you can fill the unforgiving minute / With sixty seconds' worth of distance run" The repetition of the "f" sound in "fill" and "forgiving" and the "s" sound in "sixty seconds" and "distance run" create a musical effect, drawing attention to the idea of making the most of every moment.

Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds in a series of words.

Example: "If you can dream - and not make dreams your master" The repetition of the "e" sound in "dream" and "make" creates a musical effect, while drawing attention to the importance of maintaining a balance between ambition and reality.

Hyperbole: Exaggeration used to emphasize a point or create an effect.

Example: "And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss" The idea of risking everything on a single toss of a coin is an exaggerated example of taking risks to achieve one's goals.

These are just a few examples of the many literary devices used in the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling.

Exercise of the Poem IF NEB Class -10

A. Match the following words/phrases with their correct meanings.

a. unforgiving- vii. not giving a second chance: not happening again

b. virtue- iii. behaviour showing high moral standards

c. sinew- vi. a strong band of tissues in the body

d. pitch-and-toss- v. a game of skill and chance

e. worn-out- ii. badly damaged and no longer useful

f. stoop- ix. to bend the body forwards and downwards

g. knave- viii. a person who cheats by pretending to be somebody else

h. triumph- iv. a great success, achievement or victory

i. impostor- vi. a dishonest person

B. Complete the summary of the poem using the given words/ phrases.

[will importance, success, failure value, inspirational, truthfulness, virtue]

In 'If', Rudyard Kipling provides inspirational insights into life. In the first stanza, the poet suggests us to keep calm, have self- trust and bear failure. According to the poet, it is important to be thoughtful about an action before undertaking it. Similarly, balancing between success and failure is another important quality of a successful person. In the third stanza, the poet suggests us to value our winnings. We must devote our intellect, heart, and muscle in the work we do, and we should always have a strong virtue to achieve success. In the final stanza, the poet suggests us to maintain our truthfulness no matter who we are with. Most importantly, we must realize the importance of time.

C. Answer the following questions.

a. What does the poet suggest about dealing with lies?

➡The poet suggests that one should never lies in their life, and maintain truthfulness and rise above negativity.

b. What do you mean by 'not be tired by waiting'?

➡ 'Not be tired by waiting' means having patience and endurance without becoming weary or frustrated while waiting for something. It suggests the importance of perseverance and not losing hope.

c. Why should we not aim only to dream in life?

➡ The poet suggests that merely dreaming in life is not enough. One should not make dreams the sole focus or master, implying that action and practicality are also essential for achieving success.

d. How do you think we can achieve our dream?

➡ I think when we emphasize qualities such as perseverance, self-belief, truthfulness, resilience, and the ability to handle both triumph and disaster, and when applied these qualities in life, we can potentially help ourselves achieve our dream.

e. What Can knaves do to us?

➡ The poem suggests that knaves can twist the truth spoken by others to trap fools. It implies that deceitful individuals can manipulate or distort the words and actions of honest people to their advantage.

f. Why should we forget our failures in life?

➡ The poem encourages forgetting failures in life because dwelling on past failures can hinder progress and growth. To move forward and succeed, it is important to learn from failures, let go of the past, and focus on present and future opportunities.

g. What should we do if we lose the 'pitch-and-toss'?

➡ If one loses in the game of "pitch-and-toss," the poem suggests starting again at the beginning without dwelling on the loss or revealing it to others. It implies the importance of resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks without losing hope or being discouraged.

D. What suggestions do your parents and teachers give you to be successful in life?

Some common suggestions that parents and teachers often give us to be successful in life: - Setting clear and achievable goals to provide direction and purpose in life - Hard work, dedication, and maintaining discipline in daily routines and tasks - Maintaining a positive attitude, believing in oneself, and having confidence in one's abilities - Acquiring new knowledge, developing new skills, and staying updated in the respective fields - Being willing to take calculated risks to grow and learn from - Building positive relationships, fostering effective communication, and collaborating with others to achieve mutual success

Grammar II

Complete the sentences below with the correct prepositional phrases from the box.

[in cash, at playing, interested in, with each other, out of their hand, in a hurry, out of reach, on a diet, at large, on board of the situation]

a. The accident took place as the bus and the lorry collided.....each other.....

b. Amin is brilliant .....at playing...... the violin.

c. Mr. Sharma is not ......interested in...... politics.

d. The criminal who took the lives of five is still .....at large.....

e. I cannot contact him. His phone is ......out of reach......

f. The concert went ....out of hand...... They had to call the police to take control

g. Sanskriti is ...on a diet....these days for fear that she will put on weight.

h. I cannot talk to you now. I am ......in a hurry.....

i. Even though the plane had to take an emergency landing, all the passengers ...on board..... were safe and sound.

j. Would you like to make the payment ......in cash......?

Writing Il

Speech on Failure as Pillar of Success

Many people opine that we should not be discouraged by our failures in life. We should rather take our failures as an opportunity to correct our mistakes and achieve success next time. Draft a speech on ‘Failure as Pillar of Success’. Include relevant examples from renowned and successful personalities in the world.

Answer: 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, I stand before you to shed light on a concept that is often misunderstood and feared: failure. Society tends to view failure as a stumbling block, a reason for discouragement and despair. But I firmly believe that failure, when embraced with the right mindset, can become the solid foundation upon which we build our success. Failure, my friends, can be the pillar of success.

Throughout history, countless renowned personalities have exemplified the power of failure in their own journeys. Take Thomas Edison, the brilliant inventor who gave us the incandescent light bulb. Edison famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Despite experiencing repeated setbacks and failures, he saw each one as an opportunity to learn and grow. It was through his perseverance and ability to view failure as a stepping stone that he ultimately succeeded.

Another shining example is the visionary entrepreneur, Steve Jobs. He faced numerous obstacles and setbacks in his career, including being ousted from the company he co-founded. However, instead of succumbing to defeat, he used failure as a catalyst for growth. Jobs once said, "I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me." This setback led him to create another successful company, Pixar Animation Studios, and ultimately paved the way for his triumphant return to Apple, where he revolutionized the technology industry.

These inspiring individuals understood that failure is not a reflection of our abilities or worth but an opportunity to learn, adapt, and refine our strategies. Failure teaches us valuable lessons that success alone cannot provide. It strengthens our resilience, enhances our problem-solving skills, and fosters innovation.

Imagine a world without failure. A world where every endeavor succeeded on the first attempt. It would be a stagnant world devoid of progress and growth. Failure propels us forward, forcing us to reevaluate our methods, think outside the box, and push beyond our limits. It ignites our determination and fuels our hunger for success.

Moreover, failure breeds empathy and humility. It reminds us that success is not always guaranteed and that setbacks can humble even the brightest minds. It is in these humbling moments that we discover our true character and the depth of our passion. We learn to empathize with others who have experienced failure and extend a helping hand to lift them up.

So, my friends, let us not fear failure, but embrace it as an integral part of our journey towards success. Let us reframe our perception of failure from something to be avoided to something to be welcomed. Let us learn from the mistakes of others and ourselves, and let those mistakes become the catalyst for our growth.

Remember that failure does not define us. Our response to failure defines us. The greatest inventors, entrepreneurs, and leaders in history have stumbled and fallen along their paths, but they rose above their failures, stronger and more determined than ever.

As we navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life, let us remember the words of J.K. Rowling, the celebrated author of the Harry Potter series, who once said, "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default."

Embrace failure, my friends. Embrace it with open arms, for it is through failure that we discover our true potential and forge our path to success. Let it be the pillar that supports our dreams, and let our failures be the stepping stones towards a brighter future.

Thank you.