Question

Consider the poem written by Rudyard Kipling in 1919.

• To what 2 groups might Kipling be referring?
• Who is the "we"? Who is the "they"?
• Does the fact that the poem is told through the voice of a child impact the message?

Answer 1

The poem in question is likely addressing colonial powers and their colonies with a critical perspective. The use of a child's voice can transform the poem's message, adding layers of innocence or critique, and indicating the potential of poetry to manipulate and involve the reader.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to a poem written by Rudyard Kipling in 1919. The two groups Kipling might be referring to are colonial powers and their colonies, with "we" representing the colonial rulers and "they" representing the colonized subjects.

The voice of the child may serve to evoke a sense of innocence or critique the paternalistic view colonial powers had of their colonies.

This impacts the message by complicating the reader's interpretation and emotional response to the text. When engaging with poetry, it is essential to consider who is the speaker or narrative voice of the poem, the tone it conveys, and the rhetorical figures the poet uses to get their message across.

Poetry, including that of the Romantic period, often seeks to invite readers to connect emotionally with the content, and engage with the writing on a personal and embodied level. Words like "manifesto" and "Romantic period" address the larger literary and historical context in which this poem belongs.