01.

05H Theme Comparison Chart and Response Questions

Complete this portion of the chart with evidence from “The White Man’s Burden.”

Literal Interpretive Evaluative

“The White Man’s Burden”
Description of
characters/speakers represented
in the poem:
The author and speaker is Rudy
Kipling. He is discussing how poorly
soldiers are treated.
Why is this in the poem?
It is in the poem because it
demonstrates his individual views on
the British Empire.
What is the message about the
British Empire?
His message is what he views on British
imperialism.

Plot/Topic of Each Stanza:
Stanza 1: “Send the best men
abroad and your sons into exile to
serve your captives. These
“newly-caught” people are wild,
angry, and both devilish and
childish.”
1. It is in the poem because it It demonstrates how the British
demonstrates how the British are empire supports the development of
encroaching on other countries. other nations so they can keep all
the gains.
2. This one is in it as they must be
honest in order to make money from
these folks.

Stanza 2: “To temper your terror and
hold back your pride, to use simple
and frank words, and to gain profit
by others.”
Stanza 3: “You are to fill mouths with
food and end famine and get rid of
sickness and disease. However, you
must be careful to avoid, as your
goal draws near, falling into sloth
and folly and watching your hopes
dissolve.”
3. They must assist the other
citizens of the nation they invaded,
this is why it is in the poem.
4. The British make the males work
like peasants rather than as kings.
5. The guys in charge of you will
accuse you of wrongdoing, and the
people you are trying to aid will
resent you for turning them into
slaves.

Stanza 4: “Not the work of Kings but 6. You will have freedom, but it will
of common men, toiling like serfs. be limited by the laws you must
You will mark ports and roads with abide by.
both your living and your dead.”

Stanza 5: “Being blamed by those

you protect and being hated by
those you guard. The hosts will call
out, asking why you brought them
out of bondage toward the light.”

Stanza 6: “He warns you not to use

Freedom as a cloak for weariness
because everything you do or say
will be watched and weighed by the
“silent, sullen peoples” you are
endeavoring to help.”
Stanza 7: “You must ignore light, 7. You need to consider the overall
unwarranted praise and seek the picture.
manhood that comes from many
“thankless years” and “dear-bought
wisdom”.

Theme: Based on the evidence in this chart for “The White Man’s Burden,” what is the author’s message
about the British Empire?

The author of "The White Man's Burden" is attempting to argue that the British Empire is trying to defend
imperialism as a noble endeavor based on the evidence in this chart.

Complete this portion of the chart with evidence from The Man Who Would Be King.

Literal Interpretive Evaluative

What happens in the text?
Character Action:
Dravot and Carnehan make a
contract with one another to
become kings of Kafiristan.
Why is this in the story?
Their contract is important
because it sets the story in
motion. It shows the
business-like approach the two
men have toward their goal of
being kings.
What is the message about the British
Empire?
The contract shows that the two characters
are attempting to mimic the formal operations
of the Empire.

Additional Character Action: The British Empire has a perpetual desire to

Dravot promises to build an It demonstrates the manner in rule other nations.
empire. which Dravot will rule the
empire. It portends his failure.

Additional Character Action:

Dravot acting as if he is the This suggests that something There is only one monarch in the British
sole King has Carnehan will happen when the two guys Empire, and that is what Dravot is attempting
fuming. get angry with one another. to achieve.
Character Statement:
Carnehan says, “We have been This quote provides a backstory This quote shows how the two characters
boiler-fitters, engine-drivers, for the two characters. attempted to work within the limitations of the
petty contractors, and all that, Empire and how they were dissatisfied with
and we have decided that India the outcomes.
isn’t big enough for such as us.”

Additional Character This demonstrates how Dravot has assumed

Statement: With this quote we can see how authority, believes he is the only monarch of
Carnehan says, “We have been Dravot believes he is the only the realm, and how his influence has led him
boiler-fitters, engine-drivers, King. to completely forget about his best buddy,
petty contractors, and all that, who is also King.
and we have decided that India
isn’t big enough for such as us.”

Additional Character
Statement: This quote demonstrates how This demonstrates how someone will attempt
“‘I won’t make a Nation,’ says angry Carnehan has been with to overthrow a king if they grow too powerful.
he. ‘I’ll make an Empire! These Dravot. He feels insulted by It portends Dravot's demise because of his
men aren’t niggers; they’re Dravot’s arrogant mannerisms. escalating power.
English! Look at their eyes–look
at their mouths. Look at the
way they stand up. They sit on
chairs in their own houses.
They’re the Lost Tribes, or
something like it, and they’ve
grown to be English.”

Theme: Based on the evidence in this chart for The Man Who Would Be King, what is the author’s
message about the British Empire?

Based on the evidence in this cart for The Man Who Would Be King, the theme the author wants to show is that ambition
unchecked can lead to corruption.

Response Questions
Use textual support from your reading of pages 25-37 to answer the questions below in complete sentences.

1. Describe the change in Dravot and Carnehan’s relationship from the beginning to the end of the story. What is the
catalyst for the change and what is the result? Use evidence from the text to support your response.

2. How do the narrator, Dravot, and Peachy each represent an aspect of the British Empire? Use evidence from the text to
support your response.

In 8-10 sentences, answer the questions below based on your reading of The Man Who Would Be King and study of
the British Empire.
3. How is Dravot and Carnehan’s adventure representative of the British Empire? Discuss at least three specific parallels
using support from the text.

4. Was Kipling using his novella, The Man Who Would Be King, as support of the concept of “noblesse oblige?” Discuss
specific evidence from the text, Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden,” and the context of Kipling’s life.

1. At the very beginning of the story, Carnehan and Dravot were best friends. They both wanted to rule a country and
become Kings together, as Englishmen would do. The main problem, or the catalyst, was when Dravot became
corrupt. Which then leads to the theme, unchecked ambition can lead to corruption. Dravot went on and broke the
pact he had made before with Carnehan, and he also went to find a woman. This ended up causing the downfall of
their Empire.
2. In this story, the narrator and Peachy would represent the good part of the English Empire, always trying to help
others, wanting to be good and follow the rules. While, on the other hand, Dravot would represent the bad side of
the English Empire, because of his selfishness, his lust for power, how he wanted to rule the Empire on its own,
and not following the rules.
3. The English Empire was very powerful ang got to rule a really big part of the world. Carnehan and Dravot
represent the pioneering explorers who helped establish the British Empire, and their conceit encapsulates the
foolishness of the Empire’s paternalistic ideals. The parallels that support this statement are: one, when while
Dravot is on the ground, Carnehan leaves to explore new areas, hoping to find new lands to conquer and rule.
Later, Dravot advances to another Kingdom to seize its wealth, in which he finds valuable stones and gold. In
comparison, the British Empire has a history of encroaching on native lands, defeating them in war, and stealing
their natural resources for personal gain. A part of the text that backs up this analogy is the following, “He brings
peace to these people and tries to organize them in order to get resources.” The second parallel is when some
far-off foreigners crown Dravot king because they consider him a hero for saving their lives while they were being
pursued. He chooses to provide the people a strong and effective kingdom in return due to his acknowledgment. In
order to better defend itself from outside threats, the British Empire also developed reliable and powerful political
systems in its colonies. They did this to establish their superiority. This is supported by the following text: “... my
work was to help people.” Finally, the last parallel is when Dravot and Carnhean both exhibit a sense of superiority
and the conviction that they are better than everyone else. The leaders of the British Empire believed they were in
charge of the world and could do whatever they wanted, so they went on to invade and win over several colonies
in order to achieve the sovereignty they coveted. The next text provides evidence for this comparison, “By virtue of
the authority vested in me by my own right…”
4. Yes, the purpose of this tale was to discuss the Noblesse Oblige. It narrates the tale of two individuals who entered
a less developed nation to reign over its inhabitants because they believed they were superior. The Empire of
Daniel and Peachey experiences a brief period of peace. Daniel administers justice in a way that is far more fair
than what the populace is used to seeing while Peachey commands the troops. Daniel decides to get married and
establish a hereditary monarchy since he is certain he has discovered his calling. Peachey reminds him of their
bargain and cautions him not to become overconfident because they are still dealing with barbarians. However,
Daniel is unconcerned by such prudence and chooses a bride from among the young women in his new city. She
fears that any woman who sleeps with a god will be consumed by fire as a result of the close physical contact. As
a result, it is simple for the local priests, who have seen their influence decline since Daniel and Peachey arrived,
to persuade her to investigate her new husband's claims to be a deity. When they are going to kiss during the
wedding ceremony, she bites him instead. Blood is drawn from the bite, demonstrating that Daniel is not, in fact, a
god. He is eventually thrown from a rope bridge into a narrow ravine by the villagers, where his body is smashed
on the rocks. Peachey is kidnapped and put to death on a cross; when he survives, the shocked villagers free him.
They promote the noblesse oblige in this way.