paper 3, module 14: text

PAPER 3, MODULE 14: TEXT

I. (A) Personal Details

Role Name Affiliation

Principal Investigator Prof. Tutun

Mukherjee

University of Hyderabad

Paper Coordinator Dr. Neeru Tandon CSJM University, Kanpur

Content Writer/Author (CW) Dr. Anshul Chandra Ch. Charan Singh PG College, Heonra,

Etawah

Content Reviewer (CR) Dr Supriya Shukla CSJMU

Language Editor (LE) Dr Ram Prakash

Pradhan

VSSD College, CSJMU Kanpur

(B) Description of Module

Item Description of module

Subject Name English literature

Paper name Nineteenth Century English Literature

Module title Rudyard Kipling

Module ID MODULE 14

Pre-requisites The reader is expected to have familiarity with the

trends of the Romantic age and Major poets.

Objectives To familiarize the reader with the poems and

persona of William Wordsworth as a poet.

Key words

Rudyard Kipling

If

Recessional

The White Man’s Burden

The Ballad of East and West

MODULE STRUCTURE

14.0 Learning outcome

14.1 Rudyard Kipling – A general introduction

14.2 Theme of his poetry

14.3 Kipling‟s IF

14.4 Kipling's Recessional

14.5 Kipling's The White Man's Burden

14.6 Kipling's The Ballad of East and West

14.7 Self assessment/MCQ

14.8 Suggested readings

14:00Learning outcome

By the end of the lesson, students should be ableto understand

Themes of his poems

Rudyard Kipling's contribution in 19th century poetry

Summary and critical analysis of his major poems

14:01 Rudyard Kipling: A General Introduction

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English author, journalist and poet in the late 19th and early 20th

centuries. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1907for literature and become the first English writer and

the youngest recipient to have received the award till the day.

Kipling was born in Bombay on 30 December, 1865. His father Lockwood Kipling was principal

of the Jeejeebyhoy school of Art. His five fabulous years in India, Kipling was sent to England at the age

of 6 where he lived with a couple Mr. and Mrs. Holloway with his sister. Kipling's childhood can be

described as an unhappy one. Those years of humiliation, torture and oblique were recalled through his

autobiography. In 1878, Kipling went on to attend United Service College at Westward. Since his parents

could not afford to send him to study at Oxford, he abandoned his dream and took up a job as an assistant

editor of the Civil and Military Gazette at Lahore.

During those years, Kipling wrote over thirty stories for the Gazette. In 1888, his first prose

collection “Plain Tales from the Hills” was published. Now Kipling moved south to join a much

renowned newspaper The Pioneer, Allahabad and kept on writing. He published six volumes of short

stories including in “Black and White”, “The Phantom Rickshaw and Other Tales”, “The story of the

Gadsbys and other child stories”. He left India to return to England in 1889, to make his entry in the

literal world.

There his literary life brought him to the attention of many people there he wrote his first novel

“The Light That Failed" in 1891. He comes in contact with Wolcott Balestier, who was an American

author and publishing agent with whom he collaborated on a novel, The Naulahka. In 1891, on the advice

of his doctors and his deteriorating health, Kipling went on another sea voyage visiting South Africa,

Australia, New Zealand and once again India. Meanwhile he wrote a collection of short stories which was

published in 1891. His friend Balestier died on December 1891 and Kipling married to his sister Caroline

in 1892.

He started working on the "Mowgli Stories". In the short span of four year he produced “The

Junglebooks”, a collection of short stories (The Day's work), a novel (Captains courageous) and a

profusion of poetry, including the volume “The Seven Seas”. The collection of “Barrack-Room Ballads”

was issued in March1892, contains his poems "Mandalay and "Gunga Din" He especially enjoyed

writing the Jungle books in which he described life in all different forms. It is a Master piece of

imaginative writing.

In 1896, after a fierce quarrel with Beatty Balistier, Kipling‟s privacy was destroyed. He and his

wife returned to England. There he published another novel drawing on his knowledge of New England

life; “Captains Courageous."

In England he began to write more actively and published his two poems "Recessional” (1897)

and “The White Man's Burden" (1890) which gave rise to huge controversies.

After death of his eldest daughter, Kipling published his novel “Kim”, the story of an orphan

Irish boy, which was his finest work. In 1902 he completed is collection of stories called “Just So

Stories” which would become one of his most acclaimed works. In the first decade of the20th century

Kipling was at the height of his popularity. He wrote two science fiction “With the Night Mail” (1905)

and “As Easy as A.B.C.” (1912), both set in the 21st century. After this came two great poetry and story

collection “Puck of Pook'shill” (1906) and “Rewards and Fairies”(1910). Kipling wrote many other

works and children's classics. He was actively involved in the Boer War in South Africa and in 1917 he

was assigned the post of "Honorary literary Advisor" to the Imperial war Graves Commission. After his

son's death, he wrote a poem "My Boy Jack" in which he deeply mourns for his son cursing and blaming

himself.

Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s but at a slower pace. He died of a hemorrhage on 18

Jan 1936 and was cremated at golden green crematorium.

14:02Themes of his poetry

T.S. Eliot Said, ―An immense gift for using words, an amazing curiosity and power of

observation with his mind and with all his senses, the mask of the entertainer, and beyond that a queer gift

of second sight, of transmitting messages from elsewhere, a gift so disconcerting when we are made

aware of it that thenceforth we are never sure when it is not present: all this makes Kipling a writer

impossible wholly to understand and quite impossible to belittle.”

Among all of the writers of Britain's Victorian Era, Kipling remains as one of the most well-

known ad cherished. Kipling's writings are a reflection of daily newspaper events that shows the rise of

nationalisms and the industrial resolution. The themes of his poetry directly relate of the value of

Victorian Era.

Imperialism

Imperialism is the main theme of his works along with other important topics. All aspects of

Kipling life connected to British imperialistic ideals. In his poems, both the east and west lifestyles served

as important part. His dedication to the British Empire was vital to his success. His poem “The White

Man's Burden” is a fine example of imperialism. The poem in particular warns about the problems faced

by those who devoted themselves to the colonial cause, they might face scorn. Throughout his poetry the

British Empire "assumeda complex mythical or legendary function which in return became passed on to

his readers. Since he lived both in England and India, it gave him personal experience with imperialism

from both points of view. His had different views of imperialism. According to him; “it was predicated on

deeply held political, racial, moral and religious beliefs which sustain feeling of innate British

superiority."

Religion

The second most important theme of Kipling's poem is religion. Kipling had strong religious

influence during his childhood. In his poems Kipling always describes the importance of religion on one's

life. Some poems are full of religious vocabulary which could be determined just through the musical

hymn like nature of the poem. Through his poems Kipling warns not to forget about god during the time

of prosperity of Empire. All worldly possessions will fade into dust. It was through god's divine help that

people were able to achieve all they want. Through his poems Kipling worked as a driving force to bring

religion back into the society.

India

One of the important aspects of Kipling's writing is his observance of India. He gave a voice to

the Indian people during his time. Description of India in the poem of Kipling is quite natural. Many older

editions of his books have a swastika printed on their covers associated with a picture of an elephant

carrying a lotus flower, reflecting the influence of Indian culture on him. His attachment with India, his

birth country is not amazing. He compares Indian culture with British and found India more appealing. He

compares the climate, the animals, and the ease of life in India with cold, rainy and coarse world of

London. He believed in Indian culture as it is an exotic thing which provides men an exciting counterpart

to their dreary London existence. Here people are always enigmatic and shows their true personality.

Masculinity

Kipling's poems deal with sentiments and behaviours of male. Kipling's believed in the true

characteristic of males‟ i.e. honesty, courage, humanity, stoicism. In his poems, male are willing to

struggle against terrible odds. They are strong but silent, having feeling and emotions. His men do not

believe in violence, pride or anger. They also rule over their inferiors but with a kind heart. His men face

odd situation but they possess great courage even though they are helpless. They have faith in themselves

with nobility of spirit.

Soldiers

Kipling believes that it is an honor to serve in the country's army. Through he was unable to serve

due to his weak eyesight he encouraged them through his poems. In his poem he describes the poor

treatment of soldiers by the government. He gives voice to these poor soldiers and tries to improve their

condition. He has a very deep sympathy with them.

14:03 Kipling’s IF

TEXT

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

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,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: ―Hold on!‖

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

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.

Introduction

“If”, written by Rudyard Kipling is an inspirational poem, first appeared in his collection

"Rewards and Fairies" in 1909.Kipling wrote this poem with Dr. Leander Starr Jameson in mind, who led

about five hundred of his countrymen in a failed said against the Boers, in southern Africa. The poem is

written in the form of paternal advice to the poet's son. It is about moral lessons and conduct. He says if

he can hold on to his values he will be a man and have a rewarding life, his all wishes will fulfill.

According to Khushwant Singh, the well-known Indian writer, Kipling‟s “If” is, "the essence of the

message of the Gita in English". Popularity of “If” can notice that a copy of the poem is affixed to the

wall in the cabins of the officer cadets at the National Defence Academy at Pune.

The poem has various musical adaptations. It was adapted as a song by Joni Mitchell on her

album Shine in 2007. Roger Whittaker also performed this poem under the title "A Song for Erik."

Watch:http://jonimitchall.com/music/song.cfm?id=311

http://jonimitchall.com/music/song.cfm?id=311

Summary

Rudyard Kipling‟s “If” is a didactic poem by which the poet wants to give instructions in several

specific traits of a good leader. It is about becoming mature and becoming an adult. Almost every line in

each stanza begins with “if”. The speaker says that if you can keep your head when all people around you

blaming it on you and losing their temper. The poem advises to be self confident and ignore all doubt. In

first stanza, poet tells about patience, honest and fortitude of character. Kipling gives suggestion in the

maintenance of righteous behaviour, a person must avoid proud and act in an ideal way during times of

crisis. It also teaches a person the importance of waiting and advices him to not let lies, "If you can wait

and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don't deal in lies." It the end of the stanza, the speaker

warns against the arrogance.

In the second stanza, the poet asks to pursue one's goal in life in the correct way. He praises

dreams and thoughts but warns that those dreams and thought should not come their waking moment. He

says that they should treat "Triumph and Disasters" in some manner and learn one another lesson from

life. In the last two lines, he says that the journey towards success in never an easy one and most of the

people want to bring them down but the idea of hard work in adversity remains positive.

In the third stanza, the poet wants to say that if people want success in life then they must take

risks in life and they must be hopeful even if all things do not work out in desired way. While aiming

towards bigger goals, he must not cry over smaller loss and always start again with a determined heart

"Never breathe a word about your loss" shows the element of self-dignity.

In the last stanza, the poem takes a turn and gives message that once they have gained their aim,

they should show ultimate modesty. In this stanza, "Kings" is contracted with "common" in order to cover

all sections of society. The poet wants that a successful person should become a man who can fit well

with all class of the society. He possesses the quality to mix up with the common crowd without losing

his individuality. In the next line he argues to treat a foe with the same humbleness as a friend and not

allowing them to hurt, develops his self confident and virtues. He also warns against the bad effect of

money.

At the end he says that if readers, pays attention to his advices them no one can stop them from

achieving success in life and being a man in the real sense.

In the last line readers realize that the poem is addressed not to them but to a younger son in the

form of passing down of knowledge and wisdom from a father to his son.

Central Idea

The central idea of the poem is to become a human being having all virtue for betterment of our

society after attaining the success in life. This awakens a variety of feeling such as inspiration and

happiness. This success comes from self control. A person must not lose heart and self confidence

because of opposition. He must not be impatient. He must treat every defeat as a challenge. He must

respect common people. His attitude should never be giving up. Throughout the poem Kipling says that

humanity affects our daily life and also our path of success. If a person has quality of honesty, firmness

and patience, he will own the world and attain the full stature of man hood.

Critical Analysis

Rudyard Kipling‟s “If” seems to have entered into the people's general consciousness because of

its sincerity, humility and warmth. It has four stanzas and each one has rhyming scheme a, b, ab, cd, cd.

Each stanza has a little repetition.Language of the poem is figurative and as clean as water.

The titled word "If" is repeated several times to emphasize the need of hard work to gain success

in life.

Figures of speech used in poem are personification and metaphor. Dream is personified as a

master who controls our lives. Triumph and Disaster are personified as importers who can lead us to the

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

In the poem “Unforgiving minutes”, means time that waits for none. “Walk with kings” means to

live important and rich people, “talk with crowds” means to mix with common people.

There are various symbols used in the poems like “Knaves” represent lions, Crowds symbolize

the common people, Kings represents the important end rich people.

Test yourself

1. What is the central idea of the poem "If"?

2. What kind of advice given in the poem "If"?

Fill in blanks

1. If was first appeared in __________

2. According to Khushwant Singh if is the essence of the message ___

3. Triumph and disaster are two _______

4. The Poem “If” has ________ stanzas

5. Rhyming scheme of each stanza is _______

14:04 Kipling’s Recessional

TEXT

God of our fathers, known of old,

Lord of our far-flung battle-line,

Beneath whose awful Hand we hold,

Dominion over palm and pine,

Lord God of Hosts be with us yet,

Lest we forget – lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;

The Captains and the Kings depart:

Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,


Far-called, our navies melt away;

On dune and headland sinks the fire:

Lo, all our pomp of yesterday

Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!

Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,


If, drunk with sight of power, we loose

Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,

Such boastings as the Gentiles use,

Or lesser breeds without the Law

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,


For heathen heart that puts her trust

In reeking tube and iron shard,

All valiant dust that builds on dust,

And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,

For frantic boast and foolish word

Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!

Introduction

Rudyard Kipling‟s poem “Recessional” published in 1897 on the occasion of Queen Victoria‟s

diamond Jubilee. Kipling used his poem as a Christian prayer for mercy. Webster defines

“Recessional” as “a hymn sung while the clergy and choir process out of church at the end of service. It

describe that the most powerful person must befall. He begged God to spare England from misfortune

“lest we forget” the sacrifice of Christ. He throughout the poem, the poet wrote about the majesty of god.

He said that god is the still the centre of the universe. He is almighty. The growing industries of Victorian

era could not overpower god.

For the occasion, Kipling previously composed “The White Man’s Burden”, but replaced it with

“Recessional”. The poem went against the celebratory mood. He was dissatisfied with his first draft and

had thrown it in the dustbin but his wife and American friend Caroline Norton encouraged him to

complete the poem. This poem is a kind of warning that British might in common with all human power,

was transient and could not stand above the god. All “pomp of yesterday” fades away and all achievement

is meaningless in the face of time and god. So men should avoid boasting and strive instead for “a humble

and contrite heart”.

“Recessional” adopted as a hymn by the Canada. In Australia and New Zealand this poem is

sung on Anzac Day. When the English hymnal was drawn up in 1906,“Recessional” was included at

number 558.

The poem is a warning to Kipling‟s countrymen of forgetting the responsibilities of the Empire.

Actually it was a sincere prayer.” “Recessional” has a repeating phrase “lest we forget”, the reason for

using this phrase is that God might forgive England from oblivion “lest we forget” the sacrifice of Christ.

Whole poem was around this singular phrase which became a national prayer to god. It came to be a plea

not to forget past sacrifices.

Summary

“Recessional” is a piece of music that is sung as a hymn. In the opening lines of the poem, the

poet speaks to the “god of our father” who is much more valuable than anything in the world. The poet

wishes to say that the English should be careful and understand that their earthly domination is nothing in

comparison with the mighty works of god. They should know that permanence and salvation can be found

only in “thine ancient sacrifice”.

He then continues that all valuable things on earth will fade away. The navies are gone. They are

like “one with Nineveh and Tyre”. Nineveh and Tyre are two ancient cities mentioned in the Old

Testament which are destroyed despite their power and wealth. It is warning that decline is inevitable and

pomp, power and pride all are fleeting with the time.

In the next stanza, he compares alcohol and worldly power. Both can refrain to make correct

judgment. A person desires to gain power and this become obsessed, he might develop a “wild tongue”.

This tongue is used to fulfill one‟s desire. The poet compares wild tongue with the Gentile that is the non

Jews, those without the special civilization and status of the biblical Jews. They were uncivilized in their

values and do not please the Lord.

In the closing lines, the poet warns the English people of boasting and foolishness and asks God

for mercy; “For frantic boast and foolish word, Thy mercy on Thy people Lord!”

Central Idea

Kipling‟s “Recessional” focuses on the worshipping God rather than on gaining worldly power.

He repeatedly entreats his countrymen to avoid imperialism and wishes to gain power because God holds

true dominion over all mankind. The poem humbles the English and reminds them of their

responsibilities.

Critical Analysis

“Recessional” is one of Kipling‟s mysterious poems. It is imbued with language and a refrain

fitting of a hymn. It contains five stanzas of six lines in which the first and the third and the second and

the fourth rhyme with each other. The last two lines are rhymed couplet which remains the same in the

first, second and fourth stanzas. The closing couplet reinforces the message of Kipling.

The title of the poem suggests the departure of church choir at the end of service through the

nave. In the poem “lest we forget” repeated many times which later become linked with Remembrance

Day observations as a plea not to forget past sacrifices. It becomes a word on war memorials or uses as an

epitaph.

There are some words having specific meaning in the poems, in first stanza “awful” means

awesome. “Dominion over Palm and pine” means a nod to England‟s possession of territories spanning

the globe. “Ninevah and Tyre” are two ancient cities in the Old Testament which shows that all earthly

beauty and power is transitory. “The Gentiles” are the non-Jews that are the Germans and the Russians

without special civilization.

14:05 Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden”

TEXT

Take up the White Man’s burden

Send forth the best ye breed

Go bind your sons to exile

To serve your captives’ need;

To wait in heavy harness,

On fluttered folk and wild

Your new caught, sullen peoples,

Half-devil and half-child.


In patience to abide,

To veil the threat of terror

And check the show of pride;

By open speech and simple,

An hundred times made plain

To seek another’s profit,

And work another’s gain.


The savage wars of peace

Fill full the mouth of Famine

And bid the sickness cease;

And when your goal is nearest

The end for others sought

Watch sloth and heathen Folly

Bring all your hopes to nought.


No tawdry rule of kings,

But toil of serf and sweeper

The tale of common things.

The ports ye shall not enter,

The roads ye shall not tread,

Go make them with your living,

And mark them with your dead.


And reap his old reward:

The blame of those ye better,

The hate of those ye guard

The cry of hosts ye humour

(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:

―Why brought he us from bondage,

Our loved Egyptian night?‖


Ye dare not stoop to less

Nor call too loud on Freedom

To cloke your weariness;

By all ye cry or whisper,

By all ye leave or do,

The silent, sullen peoples

Shall weigh your Gods and You.


Have done with childish days

The lightly proferred laurel,

The easy, ungrudged praise.

Comes now, to search your manhood

Through all the thankless years,

Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom

The judgment of your peers!

Introduction

“The White Man’s Burden” published in 1899 in McClure‟s magazine is one of Kipling‟s most

famous poem. The poem was initially composed for Queen Victoria‟s Diamond Jubilee but later he

decided to submit “Recessional”. In this poem Kipling presents the imperialism in the heroic language of

self sacrifice. It is written with reference to the American takeover of the Philippines after the Spanish-

American world war. The concept is that the responsibilities of white Europeans to bring proper

civilization to the nation who do not have it. It is their duty to bring everyone in the world close to the

European standards as possible. Actually it is the feeling that colonization is necessary expectation and

even a duty of the white man. He gives advice to the relatively young nation of the United States to take

this opportunity to mature and join the ranks of the imperial powers. He describes the qualities of an

imperialist and suggests him to improve the world by imposing his culture on other. The tone of the poet

is not critical but it is encouraging. The message is to encourage the growth of imperialism but it also

reveals the patriarchal and the racist attitude in Queen Victoria‟s rule. We can say that “The White Man’s

Burden” is a way for Kipling to iconize the events occurring all over the globe.

The title of the poem “The White Man’s Burden” is actually the burden that white man carried

which separates them from other men. It is for those groups of Americans who take responsibility of the

improvement of people who are not technologically advanced. The actual burden that white people is

plagued with non white or inferior people. Throughout the poem, Kipling describes the traits and duties of

the white man. Among so many virtues patience, simple speech and abandonment of pride and greed are

required to fulfill the duties of the white man.

Summary

The poem is subtitled “The United States and the Philippine Islands”. The opening lines of the

poem “take up the white man‟s burden” is repeated at the beginning of every stanza. The first stanza

explains the mindset of the Europeans who placed their race above all other and consider their breed the

best. The poet says to take up the white man‟s burden, which is to send the best man abroad. Other wild

races of the world required sacrifice from the white man. These conquered people are “half devil and half

child”. Kipling appeal to British parents to send their sons as this exile is an honour for them.

In the second stanza, Kipling describes the virtue of the white man. Patience, simple speech,

simplicity, humbleness are some of his qualities. The white man must be willing “to seek another‟s profit

/ And work another‟s gain”

In the third stanza he repeats to take up the white man‟s burden. The white man must be a healer,

capable enough to “fulfill the mouth of famine” and get rid of disease and one who wants to take this

burden must be careful as he is very near to help the natives.

Again in the fourth stanza, he says to take up the burden which is not the showy rules of the kings

but hard work of common man like “toil of serf and sweeper”. Kipling wants to say that for building an

Empire, inclusion of poor and working class is must. He further says that he will mark ports and road

with their life and dead bodies.

In fifth stanza he says when you take white man‟s burden; you will get the usual reward that is

hatred from common people. He encourages America to reap the harvest of four centuries of European

supremacy without caring the feelings of others.

In the sixth stanza, he repeats to take the white man‟s burden but he should not bend down or

never attempt to do less. It refers to the fact that the conquered will judge his fitness to rule them by every

action word and deed done. A well done job will result in successful assimilation “silent, sullen peoples”

will judge you and your god.

In the last stanza, he says to leave your childish days and become an adult man. You must ignore

easily brought honour and the freely given praise and seek the manhood that comes from all the thankless

years.

Central Idea

The central idea of the poem is that the real work of Empire building is done by those who stay in

often inhospitable conditions. His focus is on those who are responsible for making an Empire. He

reflects the common sentiments of the time. The theme of the poem links between racial ideology and

imperialism and class conflict. Imperialism is a great way to make a country prosperous but he also tries

to make it clear that his work is not easy. He wants to give message that the white man‟s burden is heavy.

He is not only a builder of an empire he also has to do his all duties without getting any thanks in return.

Critical Analysis

The poem consists of seven stanzas with eight lines each. First line is repeated in all the stanza.

All have same traditional rhyming scheme that is a,b,c,b,d,e,f,e.The term “white man‟s burden” can be

interpreted simply as racist. It becomes a phrase. It has been criticized for its realism and clarity.

Various metaphors are used in the poems. Some of them are as follows.

In the first stanza “harness” is used as a metaphor for service, “to wait in heavy harness, on fluttered folk

wild”. He uses “light” as a metaphor for civilization and “night” for savagery. The title of the poem “the

white man„s burden is taken as a metaphor for cultural imperialism.

Source http://www.enotes.com/topic/whiteman‟s burden

14:06 Kipling’s The Ballad of East and West

TEXT

OH, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,

Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;

But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,

When two strong men stand face to face, tho’ they come from the ends of the earth!

Kamal is out with twenty men to raise the Border side, 5

And he has lifted the Colonel’s mare that is the Colonel’s pride:

He has lifted her out of the stable-door between the dawn and the day,

And turned the calkins upon her feet, and ridden her far away.

Then up and spoke the Colonel’s son that led a troop of the Guides:

―Is there never a man of all my men can say where Kamal hides?‖ 10

Then up and spoke Mahommed Khan, the son of the Ressaldar,

―If ye know the track of the morning-mist, ye know where his pickets are.

At dusk he harries the Abazai—at dawn he is into Bonair,

But he must go by Fort Bukloh to his own place to fare,

So if ye gallop to Fort Bukloh as fast as a bird can fly, 15

By the favor of God ye may cut him off ere he win to the Tongue of Jagai,

But if he be passed the Tongue of Jagai, right swiftly turn ye then,

For the length and the breadth of that grisly plain is sown with Kamal’s men.

There is rock to the left, and rock to the right, and low lean thorn between,

And ye may hear a breech-bolt snick where never a man is seen.‖ 20

The Colonel’s son has taken a horse, and a raw rough dun was he,

With the mouth of a bell and the heart of Hell, and the head of the gallows-tree.

The Colonel’s son to the Fort has won, they bid him stay to eat—

Who rides at the tail of a Border thief, he sits not long at his meat.

He ’s up and away from Fort Bukloh as fast as he can fly, 25

Till he was aware of his father’s mare in the gut of the Tongue of Jagai,

Till he was aware of his father’s mare with Kamal upon her back,

And when he could spy the white of her eye, he made the pistol crack.

He has fired once, he has fired twice, but the whistling ball went wide.

―Ye shoot like a soldier,‖ Kamal said. ―Show now if ye can ride.‖ 30

It ’s up and over the Tongue of Jagai, as blown dust-devils go,

The dun he fled like a stag of ten, but the mare like a barren doe.

The dun he leaned against the bit and slugged his head above,

But the red mare played with the snaffle-bars, as a maiden plays with a glove.

There was rock to the left and rock to the right, and low lean thorn between, 35

And thrice he heard a breech-bolt snick tho’ never a man was seen.

They have ridden the low moon out of the sky, their hoofs drum up the dawn,

The dun he went like a wounded bull, but the mare like a new-roused fawn.

The dun he fell at a water-course—in a woful heap fell he,

And Kamal has turned the red mare back, and pulled the rider free. 40

He has knocked the pistol out of his hand—small room was there to strive,

―’T was only by favor of mine,‖ quoth he, ―ye rode so long alive:

There was not a rock for twenty mile, there was not a clump of tree,

But covered a man of my own men with his rifle cocked on his knee.

If I had raised my bridle-hand, as I have held it low, 45

The little jackals that flee so fast, were feasting all in a row:

If I had bowed my head on my breast, as I have held it high,

The kite that whistles above us now were gorged till she could not fly.‖

Lightly answered the Colonel’s son:—―Do good to bird and beast,

But count who come for the broken meats before thou makest a feast. 50

If there should follow a thousand swords to carry my bones away,

Belike the price of a jackal’s meal were more than a thief could pay.

They will feed their horse on the standing crop, their men on the garnered grain,

The thatch of the byres will serve their fires when all the cattle are slain.

But if thou thinkest the price be fair,—thy brethren wait to sup, 55

The hound is kin to the jackal-spawn,—howl, dog, and call them up!

And if thou thinkest the price be high, in steer and gear and stack,

Give me my father’s mare again, and I ’ll fight my own way back!‖

Kamal has gripped him by the hand and set him upon his feet.

―No talk shall be of dogs,‖ said he, ―when wolf and gray wolf meet. 60

May I eat dirt if thou hast hurt of me in deed or breath;

What dam of lances brought thee forth to jest at the dawn with Death?‖

Lightly answered the Colonel’s son: ―I hold by the blood of my clan:

Take up the mare for my father’s gift—by God, she has carried a man!‖

The red mare ran to the Colonel’s son, and nuzzled against his breast, 65

―We be two strong men,‖ said Kamal then, ―but she loveth the younger best.

So she shall go with a lifter’s dower, my turquoise-studded rein,

My broidered saddle and saddle-cloth, and silver stirrups twain.‖

The Colonel’s son a pistol drew and held it muzzle-end,

―Ye have taken the one from a foe,‖ said he; ―will ye take the mate from a friend?‖ 70

―A gift for a gift,‖ said Kamal straight; ―a limb for the risk of a limb.

Thy father has sent his son to me, I ’ll send my son to him!‖

With that he whistled his only son, that dropped from a mountain-crest—

He trod the ling like a buck in spring, and he looked like a lance in rest.

―Now here is thy master,‖ Kamal said, ―who leads a troop of the Guides, 75

And thou must ride at his left side as shield on shoulder rides.

Till Death or I cut loose the tie, at camp and board and bed,

Thy life is his—thy fate it is to guard him with thy head.

So thou must eat the White Queen’s meat, and all her foes are thine,

And thou must harry thy father’s hold for the peace of the border-line. 80

And thou must make a trooper tough and hack thy way to power—

Belike they will raise thee to Ressaldar when I am hanged in Peshawur.‖

They have looked each other between the eyes, and there they found no fault,

They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on leavened bread and salt:

They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on fire and fresh-cut sod, 85

On the hilt and the haft of the Khyber knife, and the Wondrous Names of God.

The Colonel’s son he rides the mare and Kamal’s boy the dun,

And two have come back to Fort Bukloh where there went forth but one.

And when they drew to the Quarter-Guard, full twenty swords flew clear—

There was not a man but carried his feud with the blood of the mountaineer. 90

―Ha’ done! ha’ done!‖ said the Colonel’s son. ―Put up the steel at your sides!

Last night ye had struck at a Border thief—to-night ’t is a man of the Guides!‖

Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the two shall meet,

Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;

But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth, 95

When two strong men stand face to face, tho’ they come from the ends of the earth.

Introduction

Rudyard Kipling‟s “The Ballad of East and West” was first published in the pioneer in 1889.It is

a collection of Barrack Room Ballads and Other Verses. It was first called “Kamal. It demonstrates that

all men have in common being mortal and that in the men‟s difference they can still each be great men.

The old ballads of England and Scotland were composed songs to be sung and they told stories of

common people and their experiences. But in nineteenth century it had only narrative content which is

common with the old ballads. Kipling‟s ballads have quality that he takes the ballads back to its roots and

older folk tradition. It shows his technical skill. As Charles Carrington says; “The strength of the Ballad

lies in its galloping rhythm which suggested to Saintsbury that Kipling had a 'soul for the anapaest'. Its

rapid and varying pace, exactly suited to the development of the theme, showed an extraordinary ease and

mastery of words. Even Swinburne could not show such vigour and flexibility.”

Summary

The story of the poem is simple, to do with theft, honour and strength. It is a tale of Kamal, an

Afghan worrier and raider. In course of his raid he steals “the colonel‟s mare”. The geographical location

is the North-West Frontier of the Indian Empire, on the border with Afghanistan. The time is the mid-

nineteenth century. Kamal rides off with horse and the colonel‟s son who is the leader of “a troop of the

guides” asks his men if they know where Kamal hides the mare. One of them Mohammad Khan replies if

one knows the track of morning mist, he can find Kamal. He says that he might be near Fort Bukloh

because he has to cross it to reach his native land. He advises the colonel‟s son to ride as fast as possible

and try to cut him off before he gets to the Tongue of Jagai, otherwise Kamal will be on his home land

surrounded by his followers.

Immediately the colonels‟ son mounts his dun horse and goes to find Kamal. He arrives at fort

Bukloh and stays there for a short time. He rides until he finds Kamal at the Tongue of Jagai, riding the

stolen mare of his father. The colonel‟s son fires twice but both go wide.

The two men ride and ride and finally the colonel‟s son‟s horse falls at a water course. Kamal

pulls him free. He says it is he who allows him to run so far. The colonel‟s son challenges Kamal to

shoot him but also warns him of the consequences,” 'But if thou thinkest the price be fair, thy brethren

wait to sup,

The hound is kin to the jackal-spawn, howl, dog, and call them up!

And if thou thinkest the price be high, in steer and gear and stack, Give me my father's mare again, and

I'll fight my own way back!'

But Kamal helps him to his feet. Colonel‟s son is impressed by his courage, offers him his

father‟s mare. The mare comes over to the colonel‟s son ad Kamal decides to return the horse, he also

offers his turquoise-studded rein, 'broidered saddle and saddle-cloth, and silver stirrups twain”. The

Colonel's son also offers his pistol as a gift and again Kamal offers “a gift for a gift”. He says, “Thy father

has sent his son to me, I'll send my son to him!”

The two young men look at each other and they have taken oath of brotherhood, and together

return to Fort Bukloh. The Colonel's son rides the mare and Kamal's son on the dun. As they approach

the Fort, the twenty swords flash in warning from the Quarter-Guard and colonel‟s son says to lower their

sword because;, “Last night ye had struck at a Border thief-to-night it‟s a man of the Guides!”

Central Idea

The opening lines of the poem “Oh, East is East, and West is West”, becomes a phrase. In the

poem, Kipling seems to be saying that all of us are to be some extent unable to adapt to the ways of other

but if we can put aside our differences of nationality, race, background and religion we can make a

difference. We can understand one another in the fundamental test of courage. The poem describes that

east and west shall never meet till God‟s great Judgment day but here two strong men with different

background are brought face to face and they discover that they are alike and not as different as others

believe.

Critical Analysis

The poem is written in the style of border ballad, an Anglo-Scottish poetic form which has motifs

but lacked a chorus. The vocabulary, phrases and rhythms are parts of the old ballads and the culture is

different. It begins and ends with the quatrain. It is printed as rhyming heptameters.

The first line is the actual story, the second line contains a term for stolen and the fourth “calkin”

means a trick of horse-mounted brigades. The second quatrain has the house stock phrase. There is a

couplet that is repeated with slight variations several times; “There is rock to the left, and rock to the

right, and low lean thorn between, And ye may hear a breech-bolt snick where never a man is seen.”

paper 3, module 14: text

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