Perseverance and If both seem to share the theme of being strong at every moment of one´s life, being the master of one´s actions and believing that no matter what happens, either good or bad, once you understand what is happening , you will be able to continue your path and learn even more.
In If the theme is developed by giving a message as a piece of advice .The persona of the poem is talking to someone who is young and still has a lot to live and assimilate ; he is talking to a son.."Yours is the Earth and everything that´s in it..."you´ll be a Man, my son"..
In Perseverance the persona describes moments of failure, moments when all around you seems not to be going in the right direction.Nevertheless this person , who is a strong believer in God, finds strength and is able to go on..."When shadows seem to hover round, Lord, I may persevere.."
The similarity between the poems lies in the fact that they are very positive recommendations .Perseverance presents examples of complicated situations whereas If gives examples of both; favorable and unfaborable events. Even though neither of the poems uses the expression do not give up, it it is what they connote.