This famous poem, written by Britain's imperial poet, was a response to the

American takeover of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War.

Read the poem to yourself at least THREE TIMES before beginning to answer the questions.

Take up the White Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.
Take up the White Man's burden--
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard--
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--
"Why brought he us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?"
Take up the White Man's burden--
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloak your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your gods and you.
Complete cartoon analysis worksheet

Questions:

  • According to Kipling, what is the ‘White Man’s Burden?’

  • Based on this poem, how did imperialists (people who supported annexation) think of the people in the countries they were taking over (i.e., Cuba, Philippines, etc.)?

  • Kipling supported U.S. annexation of the Philippines. What might someone say who disagreed with Kipling

Vocabulary:
Burden: a heavy responsibility
Breed: children
Harness: boring daily work
Fluttered: unsteady
Folk: people
Sullen: bad-tempered; gloomy
Cloak: hide