Setting

Physical setting

The physical setting of the poem “The White Man’s Burden” refers, broadly, to the places that the white man colonises. It is likely that the setting is inspired by Kipling’s own experiences in India, but it could also refer to the Philippines, as the poem is reportedly addressed to the US in relation to its potential colonisation of the islands.

We are given little detail on the landscape itself. The speaker of the poem suggests that the lands the white man is colonising are places of conflict, famine, and sickness:

Take up the White Man’s burden-
The savage wars of peace –
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease 

The White Man, therefore, must help end these conditions, even at the cost of a “savage war”. This paints a picture of ...

Teksten herover er et uddrag fra webbogen. Kun medlemmer kan læse hele indholdet.

Få adgang til hele Webbogen.

Som medlem på Studienet.dk får du adgang til alt indhold.

Køb medlemskab nu

Allerede medlem? Log ind