'The Gods Of The Copybook Headings' by Rudyard Kipling
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As I pass through my incarnations in every age and race,
I make my proper protestations to the Gods of the Market-Place.
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall.
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all.
We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn.
That water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:
But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision, and Breadth of Mind,
So we left them to teach the Gorilas while we followed the March of Mankind.
We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,
Being neither clud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market-Place;
But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come
That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome.
With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch.
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch.
They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings.
So we worshiped the Gods of the Market Who promiced these beautiful things.
When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promiced perpetual peace.
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: 'Stick to the Devil you know.'
On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promiced the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbor and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: 'The Wages of Sin is Death/'
In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selective Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: 'If you don't work you die.'
The the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tounged wizards withdrew,
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to belive it was true
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four---
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more
As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man---
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began:---
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;
And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Resilience of Traditional Wisdom in "The Gods of the Copybook Headings"
Rudyard Kipling's "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" is a poem that speaks to the enduring value of traditional wisdom in the face of modernity's promise of progress. First published in 1919, in the aftermath of World War I and the Russian Revolution, the poem warns against the seductive illusions of utopianism and reminds us of the hard-won lessons of the past that should guide us in the present.
The Copybook Headings: A Symbol of Traditional Wisdom
The title of the poem refers to the copybook headings, which were a common feature of 19th-century schoolbooks. These headings were moral and practical aphorisms, such as "Honesty is the best policy" or "A stitch in time saves nine," that students were required to copy repeatedly as a form of penmanship exercise. The copybook headings were meant to instill in young minds the virtues of hard work, thrift, honesty, and other timeless principles of success and self-improvement.
Kipling uses the copybook headings as a symbol of traditional wisdom that is often neglected or forgotten in the rush of modern life. The gods of the copybook headings, the poem suggests, are the guardians of this wisdom, and their retribution is swift and merciless when their commandments are violated.
The Illusions of Utopianism
The poem begins by describing the "Saxon" and the "Goth" who built empires based on the copybook headings, such as "The Wages of Sin is Death" and "If you don't work you die." These empires were built on hard work, discipline, and self-reliance, and they endured for centuries.
But then, the poem tells us, a new god appeared, "the god of things as they ought to be," and with him came the promise of a new era of peace, prosperity, and equality. This god represented the utopianism of the early 20th century, the belief that human progress was inevitable and that all social problems could be solved through science, technology, and social engineering.
Kipling is deeply skeptical of this utopianism, which he sees as a dangerous illusion that leads to complacency, decadence, and ultimately, collapse. The god of things as they ought to be lures people away from the hard truths of reality and into a dream world of wishful thinking.
The Lessons of History
The poem then describes the consequences of neglecting the copybook headings and following the utopian god. The "Huns and the Tatars" are unleashed, representing the barbarism and violence that result from the breakdown of social order. The "Brave New World" of the utopians turns out to be a "cesspool of envy and hate," where the weak are oppressed and the strong are corrupted.
But the gods of the copybook headings are not defeated. They return with a vengeance, reminding us of the eternal truths that we have forgotten. The poem ends with a call to heed these truths, to "keep the Dog Watch keen" and to be ready for the storms that may come.
The Relevance of Kipling's Message Today
"The Gods of the Copybook Headings" is a powerful and timely message for our own age. We live in an era of unprecedented technological progress and social change, but we also face unprecedented challenges and uncertainties. The illusion of utopianism is still with us, in the form of ideological movements that promise to create a perfect world through political or religious means.
Kipling's poem is a reminder that the hard-won lessons of the past are still relevant and necessary. The copybook headings may seem old-fashioned and out of date, but their message is timeless: that success and happiness come from hard work, discipline, and self-reliance; that there are no shortcuts or easy solutions to complex problems; and that the pursuit of perfection can lead to tyranny and oppression.
In an age where fake news and alternative facts are rampant, Kipling's message is more important than ever. The gods of the copybook headings remind us that there is such a thing as objective truth, that facts matter, and that we ignore them at our peril.
Conclusion: The Value of Traditional Wisdom in the Modern World
"The Gods of the Copybook Headings" is a masterpiece of poetry that speaks to the enduring value of traditional wisdom in the face of the seductive illusions of utopianism. Kipling's message is both timeless and timely, reminding us that the hard-won lessons of the past are still relevant and necessary in the present.
The copybook headings may be old-fashioned, but their message is still powerful: that success and happiness come from hard work, discipline, and self-reliance; that there are no shortcuts or easy solutions to complex problems; and that the pursuit of perfection can lead to tyranny and oppression.
In a world where change is constant and uncertainty is the norm, the gods of the copybook headings are a source of stability and guidance. They remind us of the eternal truths that we have forgotten and warn us against the illusions that lead to destruction.
Kipling's poem is a call to heed the wisdom of the past and to be ready for the storms that may come. It is a reminder that the resilience of traditional wisdom is the key to success and survival in the modern world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Gods of the Copybook Headings: A Timeless Poem by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling, the renowned British author, poet, and journalist, is known for his exceptional literary works that have stood the test of time. Among his many works, "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" is a timeless poem that has continued to resonate with readers across generations. The poem, which was first published in 1919, is a commentary on the human condition and the consequences of ignoring the lessons of history.
The poem is structured in a unique way, with each stanza consisting of two lines that rhyme. The first line of each stanza is a "copybook heading," which refers to a moral or lesson that was commonly taught in schools during Kipling's time. The second line of each stanza is a commentary on the copybook heading, which highlights the consequences of ignoring the lesson. The poem is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the consequences of ignoring the lessons of history, and the second part focusing on the consequences of ignoring the lessons of nature.
The first part of the poem begins with the copybook heading, "As I pass through my incarnations in every age and race, I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place." This line refers to the worship of money and material possessions, which has been a constant throughout history. The second line of the stanza, "Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall, And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all," highlights the consequences of this worship. Kipling suggests that while the pursuit of wealth and material possessions may bring temporary success, it ultimately leads to downfall. The "Gods of the Copybook Headings" refer to the moral lessons that were taught in schools, which Kipling suggests are timeless and will always be relevant.
The second stanza continues this theme, with the copybook heading, "We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn, That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn." This line refers to the lessons of experience, which are often learned through trial and error. The second line of the stanza, "But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind, So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind," highlights the consequences of ignoring these lessons. Kipling suggests that when humans ignore the lessons of experience, they become arrogant and believe that they are above the laws of nature. This arrogance ultimately leads to their downfall.
The third stanza focuses on the copybook heading, "In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all, By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul." This line refers to the promises of socialism, which Kipling suggests are ultimately unsustainable. The second line of the stanza, "But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy, And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: 'If you don't work you die,'" highlights the consequences of this promise. Kipling suggests that when people rely on the government to provide for them, they become lazy and complacent. This ultimately leads to a lack of productivity and a decline in society.
The fourth stanza continues this theme, with the copybook heading, "When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace." This line refers to the promises of pacifism, which Kipling suggests are unrealistic. The second line of the stanza, "They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease," highlights the consequences of this promise. Kipling suggests that when people disarm themselves, they become vulnerable to attack. This ultimately leads to conflict and war.
The fifth stanza focuses on the copybook heading, "In the first 'Neolithic' Age, They promised the Paradise, They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease," This line refers to the promises of utopia, which Kipling suggests are impossible to achieve. The second line of the stanza, "They swore by the Circle and the Stone, We would love each other and love alone," highlights the consequences of this promise. Kipling suggests that when people strive for an unattainable ideal, they become disillusioned and unhappy. This ultimately leads to a decline in society.
The second part of the poem focuses on the consequences of ignoring the lessons of nature. The first stanza of this part begins with the copybook heading, "Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew, And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true." This line refers to the collapse of the economy, which Kipling suggests is a consequence of ignoring the laws of nature. The second line of the stanza, "That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four," highlights the importance of understanding the basic principles of nature. Kipling suggests that when people ignore these principles, they become vulnerable to deception and manipulation.
The seventh stanza continues this theme, with the copybook heading, "With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch, They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch." This line refers to the denial of reality, which Kipling suggests is a consequence of ignoring the laws of nature. The second line of the stanza, "They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings," highlights the consequences of this denial. Kipling suggests that when people deny reality, they become delusional and unable to make rational decisions.
The eighth stanza focuses on the copybook heading, "They laughed at Plato and Christ, at Moses and Mahomet," This line refers to the rejection of wisdom and spirituality, which Kipling suggests is a consequence of ignoring the laws of nature. The second line of the stanza, "They worshipped the God of the Market, who promised them endless bread," highlights the consequences of this rejection. Kipling suggests that when people worship material possessions, they become spiritually bankrupt and unable to find meaning in life.
The ninth stanza continues this theme, with the copybook heading, "When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace." This line is repeated from the fourth stanza, highlighting the cyclical nature of history. The second line of the stanza, "They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease," is also repeated, highlighting the consequences of ignoring the lessons of nature.
The final stanza of the poem begins with the copybook heading, "In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all," which is repeated from the third stanza. The second line of the stanza, "But famine overtook us and locusts came to dwell," highlights the consequences of ignoring the laws of nature. Kipling suggests that when people ignore the principles of nature, they become vulnerable to natural disasters and famine.
In conclusion, "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" is a timeless poem that highlights the consequences of ignoring the lessons of history and nature. Kipling suggests that when people ignore these lessons, they become vulnerable to deception, manipulation, and ultimately, downfall. The poem is a powerful commentary on the human condition and serves as a reminder that the pursuit of material possessions and the rejection of wisdom and spirituality ultimately lead to a decline in society.
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