The White Man's Burden Questions and Answers
The White Man's Burden
What does the phrase "Watch sloth and heathen folly bring all your hopes to nought" mean in the third stanza of "The...
The phrase "Watch sloth and heathen folly bring all your hopes to nought" in the third stanza of "The White Man's Burden" means that the Americans' efforts to help their new subjects will be futile....
The White Man's Burden
What is happening in the political cartoon, and how does it relate to Kipling's "white man's burden"? How might a...
The political cartoon depicts Uncle Sam and John Bull carrying baskets of Africans, Asians, and Middle Easterners over mountains labeled with words like "Oppression" and "Ignorance," heading toward...
The White Man's Burden
Who does "the best ye breed" refer to in "The White Man's Burden"?
In the poem "The White Man's Burden," the poet invites the readers to "send forth the best ye breed." By this, he means that the readers should send the best men in their families and countries to...
The White Man's Burden
Analysis of "The White Man's Burden" in the context of imperialism and its portrayal of imperialized people
"The White Man's Burden" portrays imperialism as a noble endeavor, suggesting that it is the duty of Western powers to civilize and uplift non-Western societies. However, it also depicts the...
The White Man's Burden
The significance of "exile" in Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden."
In Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden," "exile" signifies the self-imposed separation of Western colonizers from their homeland to fulfill their perceived duty of civilizing non-Western...
The White Man's Burden
Analysis of "The White Man's Burden" and Its Metaphors
Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden" presents imperialism as a moral obligation of predominantly white nations to civilize non-white populations. Written during the late 19th century, it...
The White Man's Burden
Who is referred to as "half devil and half child" in Kipling's "The White Man's Burden"?
Kipling is referring to the Filipinos newly annexed by the United States in the first stanza. The poem, titled in full "The White Man's Burden: The United States and the Philippine Islands," is...
The White Man's Burden
What does the text at the bottom of the "White Man's Burden" Pear's Soap advertisement imply?
The writing on the bottom of the "white man's burden" Pear's soap advertisement means that the product is a part of bringing the benefits of Western civilization to supposedly inferior peoples. The...
The White Man's Burden
Kipling's portrayal of non-whites and colonial relationships in "The White Man's Burden."
In "The White Man's Burden," Rudyard Kipling portrays colonial subjects as inferior, lazy, and ungrateful, depicting them as "half-devil and half-child," emphasizing their perceived cultural and...
The White Man's Burden
What does Kipling mean by "Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom" in "The White Man's Burden"?
In "The White Man's Burden," Kipling uses "Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom" to describe the dispassionate, logical approach to colonialism gained through years of hard, practical experience. This...
The White Man's Burden
What "rewards" does Kipling describe in "The White Man's Burden"?
Kipling describes the "rewards" of taking up the white man's burden as blame and hate from the colonized people, who are ungrateful for the colonizers' efforts to civilize and protect them. He...
The White Man's Burden
What are Kipling's positive and negative arguments for Western imperialism in "The White Man's Burden"?
Kipling's positive argument for Western imperialism in "The White Man's Burden" is that it benefits indigenous peoples, who are portrayed as needing guidance from their racial and cultural superiors....
The White Man's Burden
What are some difficulties Kipling encounters in "The White Man's Burden"?
Some examples of the specific difficulties Kipling's speaker say the imperialists will face in taking up "the white man's burden" include hard work helping childlike and hostile natives who won't...
The White Man's Burden
Who is Kipling referring to in "fill the mouth of famine/half devil and half child"?
Kipling refers to the native people of the Philippines as "half devil and half child" in his poem, addressing Americans. This reflects the colonial mindset of the time, portraying indigenous peoples...
The White Man's Burden
Who is the intended audience of "The White Man's Burden"?
The intended audience of "The White Man's Burden" is primarily the imperialist powers, particularly the United States, as it was becoming an imperial power by annexing the Philippines. Rudyard...
The White Man's Burden
As a citizen of an imperializing nation, how might you react to "The White Man's Burden"?
As a citizen of an imperializing nation, reactions to "The White Man's Burden" could vary. Some might feel inspired to help "developing" nations, possibly through colonial work or religious missions,...
The White Man's Burden
European Representation in "The White Man's Burden"
Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden" portrays Europeans as superior, self-sacrificing figures tasked with civilizing non-white peoples, whom he describes derogatorily as "half-devil and...
The White Man's Burden
Understanding the themes and instructions in "The White Man's Burden."
In "The White Man's Burden," Rudyard Kipling addresses themes of imperialism and colonialism, suggesting it is the duty of Western powers to civilize non-Western societies. The poem portrays this...
The White Man's Burden
Why is "The White Man's Burden" poem highly criticized?
The poem "The White Man's Burden" is highly criticized for its overt racial prejudice and promotion of imperialism. Written by Rudyard Kipling in 1899, it encourages American colonization of the...
The White Man's Burden
What benefits does Kipling suggest Westerners bring to non-Europeans in "The White Man's Burden"?
Kipling suggests that Westerners bring civilization benefits to non-Europeans, such as improved health, food security, and infrastructure like ports and roads. He portrays these efforts as a moral...
The White Man's Burden
What is the "White Man’s Burden" according to the text?
In Rudyard Kipling's poem, the "White Man's Burden" of the title is the responsibility that the white man supposedly has to colonize, educate, and police the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands, as...
The White Man's Burden
How and why does the author suggest that imperialist nations aid imperialized ones?
The author suggests that imperialist nations aid the imperialized by addressing their physical and spiritual needs. Kipling argues that imperialists serve the needs of their captives by improving...
The White Man's Burden
How do colonial subjects repay their masters in "The White Man's Burden?"
In "The White Man's Burden," colonial subjects repay their imperial masters through resentment and destruction. Kipling suggests that despite efforts to "civilize" them, the subjects will ruin the...
The White Man's Burden
What action does "The White Man's Burden" recommend to its audience?
"The White Man's Burden" explicitly recommends that the United States take on the role of imperialist, asserting a duty to conquer and aid "inferior" peoples. Implicitly, Kipling advises that...
The White Man's Burden
What is the meaning of the third verse of Kipling's "The White Man's Burden"?
The third verse of Kipling's "The White Man's Burden" warns of the challenges faced by colonizers, portraying colonialism as a benevolent mission to civilize and improve the lives of colonized...
The White Man's Burden
What reasons for imperialism does “The White Man’s Burden” emphasize?
“The White Man’s Burden” emphasizes the supposed moral obligation of white people to educate and spread their culture to the people they colonize as the primary reason for imperialism.
The White Man's Burden
List five direct references to imperialism in "The White Man's Burden."
"The White Man's Burden" directly references imperialism through its call for the U.S. to "civilize" the Philippines, urging readers to "send your sons to exile/to serve your captives' need." Kipling...
The White Man's Burden
Why does colonial discourse, including Kipling's in "The White Man's Burden," construct indigenous people as wild and...
Colonial discourse, as seen in Kipling's "The White Man's Burden," portrays indigenous peoples as "wild" and "half-devil, half-child" to justify colonization. This depiction supports the imperialist...
The White Man's Burden
Is the idea of "The White Man’s Burden" genuinely aimed at assisting people in impoverished regions?
The idea of "The White Man's Burden" was not really meant to help people in impoverished areas of the world. We know this because it is well documented that native peoples were subjected to poverty,...
The White Man's Burden
What is the impact of imperialism on European colonies according to "The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling?
Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden" suggests that imperialism imposes a "burden" on colonizers, as they bring "civilization" to supposedly inferior peoples. Kipling uses condescending and...
The White Man's Burden
In "The White Man's Burden," who suffers more: the empire or the colony?
In Kipling's "The White Man's Burden," the empire suffers more than the colony it is invading.
The White Man's Burden
What does the title "The White Man's Burden" signify in Rudyard Kipling's poem and in English history?
The title "The White Man's Burden" signifies the perceived duty of Western powers, particularly the British, to govern and impart their culture to non-Western societies. This concept reflects both...
The White Man's Burden
What warnings does "The White Man's Burden" convey?
Modern readers sometimes interpret the poem as racist, though other interpretations are possible. The term "burden" may refer to the following: In addition to these interpretations, some historians...
The White Man's Burden
In "The White Man's Burden," does Kipling promote the imperialist or indigenous perspective?
In "The White Man's Burden," Rudyard Kipling promotes the imperialist perspective, reflecting the belief in the moral righteousness of Western imperialism. The poem is often interpreted as advocating...
The White Man's Burden
What are the costs and benefits of colonization according to Kipling's "White Man's Burden"?
In "The White Man's Burden," Kipling highlights the high costs and minimal benefits of colonization for the colonizers. He describes colonization as hard, thankless work, often met with resistance...
The White Man's Burden
How would you define the thesis statement of "The White Man's Burden"?
Rudyard Kipling himself provided a thesis statement for "The White Man's Burden" when he wrote to his friend Theodore Roosevelt, who had recently become governor of New York, in 1898: Now, go in...
The White Man's Burden
What do the British do in the colonies according to "The White Man's Burden"?
In "The White Man's Burden," Kipling describes the British role in the colonies as one of service and sacrifice. They work hard to meet the needs of the colonized, seeking others' profit rather than...