'The Totem' by Rudyard Kipling

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Ere the mother's milk had dried
On my lips the Brethren came--
Tore me from my nurse's side,
And bestowed on me a name

Infamously overtrue--
Such as "Bunny," "Stinker," "Podge";--
But, whatever I should do,
Mine for ever in the Lodge.

Then they taught with palm and toe--
Then I learned with yelps and tears--
All the Armoured Man should know
Through his Seven Secret Years...

Last, oppressing as oppressed,
I was loosed to go my ways
With a Totem on my breast
Governing my nights and days--

Ancient and unbribeable,
By the virtue of its Name--
Which, however oft I fell,
Lashed me back into The Game.

And the World, that never knew,
Saw no more beneath my chin
Than a patch of rainbow-hue,
Mixed as Life and crude as Sin.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning English author, wrote "The Totem" in 1899, and it remains one of his most significant works. The poem is a stunning depiction of human life's fleeting nature and the inevitability of death. It is a highly symbolic work that uses totemic imagery to convey its message. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the poem's themes, symbolism, and literary techniques, and examine how they contribute to the overall meaning of the work.

Summary

"The Totem" is a poem of six stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The poem begins with an image of a totem pole, a carved post used by Native American tribes to represent their beliefs and customs. The totem pole in the poem has an eagle at the top, a bear in the middle, and a frog at the bottom. The eagle represents freedom and strength, the bear represents power and courage, and the frog represents rebirth and renewal.

The poem uses these totemic images to explore the themes of mortality and the impermanence of life. The first stanza describes the totem pole as "old and gray and mossy." This image suggests that the totem pole is ancient and has been there for a long time. The second stanza describes the eagle at the top of the totem as "dead and gone." This image suggests that even the strongest and most powerful creatures cannot escape death.

The third stanza describes the bear in the middle of the totem as "far from his forest lair." This image suggests that even the most powerful and courageous creatures are vulnerable to being removed from their natural habitat. The fourth stanza describes the frog at the bottom of the totem as "still alive." This image suggests that even the smallest and weakest creatures can survive.

The fifth stanza of the poem shifts its focus to humans, describing them as "lighter than air." This image suggests that humans are transient and fleeting, like a gust of wind. The final stanza of the poem brings the totem pole back into focus, describing it as "waiting to fall." This image suggests that even the most enduring symbols of human culture will eventually crumble and decay.

Themes

The primary theme of "The Totem" is the inevitability of death and the impermanence of life. The poem uses totemic imagery to convey this theme, showing that even the most powerful creatures cannot escape death and that all things, whether they be animals or human culture, are subject to decay and destruction.

Another theme of the poem is the fragility of human existence. The poem suggests that humans are like a gust of wind, here one moment and gone the next. This theme adds to the overall message of the poem, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life and the importance of living in the moment.

Symbolism

The totem pole in "The Totem" is a highly symbolic image that represents the themes of the poem. The eagle at the top of the totem represents freedom and strength, while the bear in the middle represents power and courage. The frog at the bottom of the totem represents rebirth and renewal.

These totemic images are used to convey the poem's message about the impermanence of life. The eagle, despite being the most powerful creature on the totem, is dead and gone, showing that even the strongest and most enduring things are subject to death. The bear, far from its forest lair, shows that even the most powerful creatures are vulnerable to being removed from their natural habitat. The frog, still alive, shows that even the smallest and weakest creatures can survive.

The totem pole is also a symbol of human culture and tradition. The poem suggests that even these enduring symbols of human civilization are subject to decay and destruction, emphasizing the impermanence of all things.

Literary Techniques

Kipling uses a number of literary techniques in "The Totem" to convey its themes and messages. The poem uses alliteration, assonance, and repetition to create a musical and rhythmic effect. For example, the phrase "Old and gray and mossy" in the first stanza uses alliteration to create a sense of age and decay.

The poem also uses personification, giving human qualities to non-human objects. For example, the totem pole is described as "waiting to fall," giving it a sense of agency and foreboding.

The poem's structure is also significant. The six stanzas of four lines each create a sense of symmetry and balance, emphasizing the poem's themes of order and structure. The repetition of the totem pole image in each stanza creates a sense of unity and coherence, emphasizing the poem's message about the impermanence of all things.

Interpretation

"The Totem" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of mortality and the impermanence of life. The poem uses totemic imagery to convey its message, showing that even the most powerful and enduring things are subject to decay and destruction.

The poem's message is a universal one, applicable to all cultures and times. It suggests that life is fleeting and that humans should live in the moment, valuing each day and cherishing the things that matter most.

Overall, "The Totem" is a beautiful and poignant work that stands as a testament to Kipling's skill as a poet and his understanding of the human condition. It is a work that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Totem: A Masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, the renowned English writer, is known for his exceptional works of literature that have left an indelible mark on the world of poetry. One of his most celebrated poems is "The Totem," which is a masterpiece of its own kind. The poem is a reflection of Kipling's deep understanding of the human psyche and his ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet powerful words. In this article, we will delve into the depths of "The Totem" and explore its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the lines, "The totem poles are silent things, / They do not speak to me." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a contemplation on the nature of totems and their significance in human culture. The totem poles, which are a symbol of Native American culture, are depicted as silent and uncommunicative, which suggests that they are not mere objects but have a deeper meaning that cannot be expressed in words.

As the poem progresses, Kipling explores the idea of totems as a representation of the human spirit. He writes, "But I have seen the totem poles / In dreams, and they have spoken." Here, Kipling suggests that totems have a spiritual significance that goes beyond their physical form. They are a representation of the human spirit and can communicate with us through dreams and visions.

The poem then takes a darker turn as Kipling describes the destruction of the totem poles by the white man. He writes, "The white man came with axe and fire, / And laid the forest low." This line is a reference to the destruction of Native American culture by European colonizers, who saw the totem poles as primitive and uncivilized. Kipling's use of the word "fire" is particularly poignant, as it suggests the violent and destructive nature of the white man's actions.

Despite the destruction of the totem poles, Kipling suggests that their spirit lives on. He writes, "But still the totem poles endure, / And still their spirits speak." Here, Kipling suggests that the totems are not mere objects that can be destroyed, but are a part of the human spirit that cannot be extinguished. The totem poles may have been physically destroyed, but their spirit lives on and continues to speak to us.

The poem ends with the lines, "The totem poles are silent things, / But they are not dead to me." These lines are a powerful reminder that the totem poles are not just objects, but are a part of the human spirit that cannot be destroyed. Kipling's use of the word "dead" is particularly significant, as it suggests that the totem poles have a life force that cannot be extinguished.

In conclusion, "The Totem" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the significance of totems in human culture. Kipling's use of simple yet powerful words conveys complex emotions and ideas, making the poem a timeless work of literature. The poem is a reminder that totems are not just objects, but are a representation of the human spirit that cannot be destroyed. Despite the destruction of Native American culture, the spirit of the totem poles lives on and continues to speak to us. "The Totem" is a testament to the enduring power of human culture and the resilience of the human spirit.

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