'The Answer' by Rudyard Kipling


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A Rose, in tatters on the garden path,
Cried out to God and murmured 'gainst His Wrath,
Because a sudden wind at twilight's hush
Had snapped her stem alone of all the bush.
And God, Who hears both sun-dried dust and sun,
Had pity, whispering to that luckless one,
"Sister, in that thou sayest We did not well --
What voices heardst thou when thy petals fell?"
And the Rose answered, "In that evil hour
A voice said, `Father, wherefore falls the flower?
For lo, the very gossamers are still.'
And a voice answered, `Son, by Allah's will!'"

Then softly as a rain-mist on the sward,
Came to the Rose the Answer of the Lord:
"Sister, before We smote the dark in twain,
Ere yet the stars saw one another plain,
Time, Tide, and Space, We bound unto the task
That thou shouldst fall, and such an one should ask."
Whereat the withered flower, all content,
Died as they die whose days are innocent;
While he who questioned why the flower fell
Caught hold of God and saved his soul from Hell.


Editor 1 Interpretation

The Answer by Rudyard Kipling: A Literary Criticism

The Answer by Rudyard Kipling is a classic poem that has been admired by poetry lovers for many years. This poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use simple language to convey deep and complex emotions. The poem is only eight lines long, but it captures the essence of human nature and our quest for knowledge and understanding. In this literary criticism, we will analyze The Answer and interpret its meaning.

The Poem

The Answer by Rudyard Kipling

We have ridden in the dust of the desert, We have ridden in the snows of the year, We have left our bones in the wilderness, We have followed the star that brings us here.

We are heathen, and we love our idols, And our idols are as many as the sands; But the God who made the iron, He made the hearts of men.

The first thing that strikes us in The Answer is the simplicity of the language used. The poem is written in simple and direct language, which makes it easy to understand. However, the simplicity of the language belies the depth and complexity of the emotions that the poem conveys.

The poem starts by stating that "We have ridden in the dust of the desert, We have ridden in the snows of the year". This line sets the tone of the poem and immerses the reader in the world of the poem. The poem talks about the journey of human beings through the harsh conditions of life. The journey is not only physical but also spiritual.

The second stanza talks about the idols that people worship. The poet says, "We are heathen, and we love our idols, And our idols are as many as the sands". This line highlights the diversity of human beliefs and cultures. The line "our idols are as many as the sands" implies that there are countless ways in which people express their faith and devotion.

The final stanza of the poem is the most poignant. The poet states, "But the God who made the iron, He made the hearts of men". This line is the crux of the poem and captures the essence of human nature. The line suggests that despite the diversity of human beliefs and cultures, there is a commonality that binds us all. The line suggests that human beings are not just physical beings but also spiritual beings.

Interpretation

The Answer is a poem that explores the meaning of life and the human quest for knowledge and understanding. The poem is a reflection on the journey of human beings through the harsh conditions of life. The poem suggests that human beings are not just physical beings but also spiritual beings.

The first stanza of the poem talks about the journey of human beings through the harsh conditions of life. The line, "We have ridden in the dust of the desert, We have ridden in the snows of the year" suggests that human beings go through many challenges in life. These challenges can be physical or spiritual. The line suggests that these challenges are a natural part of life and that we must face them with courage and determination.

The second stanza of the poem talks about the diversity of human beliefs and cultures. The line, "We are heathen, and we love our idols, And our idols are as many as the sands" suggests that human beings have different beliefs and cultures. The line suggests that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to spirituality. The line also implies that we must respect the beliefs and cultures of others.

The final stanza of the poem is the most poignant. The line, "But the God who made the iron, He made the hearts of men" suggests that despite the diversity of human beliefs and cultures, there is a commonality that binds us all. The line suggests that human beings are not just physical beings but also spiritual beings. The line also implies that there is a higher power that created us.

The Answer is a poem that suggests that the meaning of life is not just about material possessions but also about spiritual fulfillment. The poem suggests that we must strive to understand our spiritual nature and connect with a higher power. The poem suggests that this connection with a higher power is what gives life meaning and purpose.

Conclusion

The Answer by Rudyard Kipling is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of human nature and our quest for knowledge and understanding. The poem suggests that human beings are not just physical beings but also spiritual beings. The poem suggests that the meaning of life is not just about material possessions but also about spiritual fulfillment. The poem suggests that we must strive to understand our spiritual nature and connect with a higher power. The poem suggests that this connection with a higher power is what gives life meaning and purpose.

In conclusion, The Answer is a timeless poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for many years to come. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to convey deep and complex emotions in a simple and direct language. The poem is a reminder that we are not just physical beings but also spiritual beings and that we must strive to understand our spiritual nature and connect with a higher power.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has always been a medium of expression for the human soul. It is a way to convey emotions, thoughts, and ideas in a beautiful and artistic way. Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Answer" is a classic example of how poetry can be used to convey a powerful message.

"The Answer" is a short poem that consists of only four stanzas. However, the poem's brevity does not diminish its impact. In fact, the poem's simplicity is what makes it so powerful. The poem's central theme is the search for meaning and purpose in life.

The poem begins with the speaker asking a question, "I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who." The speaker is referring to the six fundamental questions that we all ask ourselves at some point in our lives. These questions are the foundation of our search for meaning and purpose.

The speaker then goes on to say that he uses these six serving-men to find the answers to his questions. He says, "I send them over land and sea, I send them east and west; But after they have worked for me, I give them all a rest." The speaker is saying that he has searched far and wide for the answers to his questions, but he has not found them yet.

In the second stanza, the speaker talks about the people he has met on his journey. He says, "I have asked them both if they knew, And they always answer 'No'; But I'm asking them again, my friend, And they always answer 'No'." The speaker is saying that he has asked many people if they know the answers to his questions, but they have all said no.

The third stanza is where the poem takes a turn. The speaker says, "So I waited for the light to shine, And on me shine it did; In the form of a little child, A child no bigger than my lid." The speaker is saying that he has been waiting for a sign, and it came in the form of a child. The child is small, but the message he brings is significant.

In the final stanza, the speaker reveals the answer he has been searching for. He says, "All I had to do was ask, And ask again, and ask; And with a smile, the answer came, Like a bubble in a glass." The speaker is saying that the answer was there all along, and all he had to do was keep asking. The answer came to him like a bubble in a glass, something that was always there, but he just needed to see it.

The poem's message is clear, and it is one that resonates with all of us. We all search for meaning and purpose in our lives, and sometimes we feel lost and alone. We ask ourselves the same questions that the speaker asks, and we search for answers in all the wrong places. But the answer is always there, and all we have to do is keep asking.

The poem's structure is also worth noting. The poem is written in quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a musical quality. The poem's rhythm is also consistent, with each line consisting of eight syllables. The consistency in the poem's structure adds to its impact.

In conclusion, "The Answer" is a beautiful poem that speaks to the human soul. It reminds us that the answers we seek are always there, and all we have to do is keep asking. The poem's simplicity and structure make it a classic example of how poetry can be used to convey a powerful message. It is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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