Which lines from "If" by Rudyard Kipling are the best example of repetition?

Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,

1 answer

The lines from "If" by Rudyard Kipling that best exemplify repetition are:

  • "Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,"
  • "Or being hated don’t give way to hating,"

In these lines, the repetition of the structure "Or being..." emphasizes the conditional nature of the advice being given, creating a rhythmic and impactful quality to the poem. Additionally, the use of "If you can..." in other sections of the poem serves a similar purpose, reinforcing the conditions under which the ideals of the poem may be achieved.