"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!"- If by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling's works are characterized allusions to exotic culture and ancient legends and characters. Yet it is his commentary on the nature of the certain unchanging, universal, traits of humans that he is praised for. His brilliant insight on man is best seen in his poems If and the Thousandth Man.

If, a poem that has inspired many essentially defines what it is to be a man. It illustrates all of the responsibilities and qualities that come along with manhood. Discussing the hardships one must overcome and all of the good times that one must overcome as well is one of this poems most striking qualities. What is meant by that statement is that when in good company you must also stay grounded. Rudyard Kipling talks about this when he says "If you can walk with kings and keep the common touch..."

Through examination of this poem some observations were recorded, and they are as follows. The poem is divided by stanzas in sets of eight lines. The rhyme scheme of

In analyzing this poem it was noted that the rhyme scheme is continued throughout. It follows a strict ABABABAB rhyme scheme per stanza, and there are eight lines in each stanza. Narration is just a person expressing their view on having a best friend. The poem does not tell a story nor is it about a feeling of an experience. Kipling does not make use of alliteration or onomatopoeia. However, what he does use is approximate rhyme which is very effective in this poem. Sometimes the imperfections in rhyme can lead to the perfect poem as a collective piece. The poem also contains figures of speech. These are best seen when the author says "with the whole round world against you" and "he also says "sink or swim". I'm not too fond of the figures of speech because a really good poet finds ways to express himself that aren't used everyday by everyone. What I really appreciate about his poem is that it, just like the other one surveyed focuses on moral. I appreciate that and the way he stresses that there are very few people will really stand by you, and not to take these people for granted.

Both of these poems are worthy of great praise and they do receive what they are worthy of. As great pieces of literature with profound meanings, they are some of the most mem

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Approximate Word count = 860
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)