IMPERIALISM IN INDIA

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
• English short story writer, poet, and novelist.
• Most known for his stories of British soldiers in India.

THE WHITE MAN'S BURDEN

• Poem written by Kipling in 1899
• Describes how Kipling feels about imperialism in India.
• "Take up the White Man's burden--" is at the beginning of every line
• "Burden" symbolizes what British felt they had to do for the people of India.

WHAT THE POEM IS TRYING TO SAY

Untitled Slide

• The poem is trying to convey the fact that the British had no place in India.
• Lines like "to seek another's profit, and work another's gain" support this
• British felt like they had an "obligation" to help the people of India.

SOURCES