Analysis of The Beginnings

Rudyard Kipling 1865 (Mumbai) – 1936 (London)



It was not part of their blood,
    It came to them very late
  With long arrears to make good,
    When the English began to hate.

They were not easily moved,
     They were icy-willing to wait
  Till every count should be proved,
    Ere the English began to hate.

Their voices were even and low,
    Their eyes were level and straight.
  There was neither sign nor show,
    When the English began to hate.

It was not preached to the crowd,
    It was not taught by the State.
  No man spoke it aloud,   
    When the English began to hate.

It  was not suddenly bred,
    It  will not swiftly abate,
  Through the chill years ahead,
    When Time shall count from the date
    That the English began to hate.


Scheme xaxA baba cacA dadA eaeaa
Poetic Form
Metre 1111111 1111101 1101111 10100111 1011001 10101011 11001111 10100111 11001001 1101001 1110111 10100111 1111101 1111101 111101 10100111 1111001 1111001 101101 1111101 10100111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 709
Words 126
Sentences 8
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 5
Lines Amount 21
Letters per line (avg) 24
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 102
Words per stanza (avg) 25
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 04, 2023

37 sec read
2,658

Rudyard Kipling

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English short-story writer, poet, and novelist chiefly remembered for his tales and poems of British soldiers in India and his tales for children. more…

All Rudyard Kipling poems | Rudyard Kipling Books

33 fans

Discuss this Rudyard Kipling poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Beginnings" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 1 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/33372/the-beginnings>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    30
    days
    19
    hours
    28
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Who wrote the 1916 poem "Out, Out—"?
    A Robert Browning
    B Emily Dickinson
    C Robert Frost
    D Elinor Frost