Question

Read the following poem and write an appreciation of the poem ‘The Will to Win’ in a paragraph format. 

The Will to Win If you want a thing bad enough To go out and fight for it, Work day and night for it, give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it. If all that you dream  and scheme is about it and life  seems useless and worthless without it. If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it and lose  all your terror of the opposition for it. If you simply go after that thing that you want with all  Of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence and stern pertinacity. If neither cold poverty, famished or gaunt  or sickness or pain  of body and brain  can keep you away from the thing that you want, If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,  with the help of GOD you'll get it! - Berton Braley

Points-

• Title and Poet
• Rhyme scheme
• Figures of speech
• Theme/Central idea
• Favourite line
• Special features - Type of the poem, language, tone, implied meaning, etc.
• Why I like/dislike the poem.

Read the following poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of given points in paragraph: 

The Will to Win If you want a thing bad enough To go out and fight for it, Work day and night for it, give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it. If all that you dream  and scheme is about it and life  seems useless and worthless without it. If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it and lose  all your terror of the opposition for it. If you simply go after that thing that you want with all  Of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence and stern pertinacity. If neither cold poverty, famished or gaunt  or sickness or pain  of body and brain  can keep you away from the thing that you want, If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,  with the help of GOD you'll get it! - Berton Braley

You can use the following points while appreciating the given poem

• The title   (½)
• The poet   (½)
• Rhyme scheme   (1)
• Figures of speech   (1)
• Central Idea/Theme   (2)

Answer 1

• Berton Braley has written this inspirational poem, The Will To Win'.
• The poem has no specific rhyme scheme, but rhymes are used randomly all throughout. The most common type is lines ending with the word ‘it’; e.g., ‘for it’, ‘of it’, ‘of it’; ‘without it’, ‘about it’; ‘beget it’, ‘get it'; 'sweat for if, ‘fret for if, and so on. Other examples are ‘capacity', 'sagacity’, ‘tenacity’: ‘pain’, ‘brain’.
• The main figure of speech used is repetition, as seen in the abundance of ‘for if phrases used throughout the poem. The other figures of speech are Climax, Tautology, Antithesis, etc.
• The poem is rich in ideas for personality traits and circumstances that aid or hamper success.
• My favourite line is If dogged and grim you. This line is a very forceful Alliteration, motivating us to persist forcefully with our efforts in order to achieve success.
• Special Features
  • The poem is motivational and inspirational, encouraging readers to work hard and never give up.
  • The language is simple yet powerful, making it easy to understand and relate to.
  • The tone of the poem is encouraging and determined, pushing the reader to strive for success.
• I like this poem because it encourages me to be persistent and to keep on striving for success - because that's the only way to achieve it. This is an inspirational poem. It motivates one to set targets and achieve goals.

Answer 2

• Berton Braley’s inspirational poem The Will to Win does not follow a specific rhyme scheme, but rhyming words are used randomly throughout. The most frequent pattern includes lines ending with ‘it,’ such as ‘for it,’ ‘of it,’ and ‘without it.’ Other notable rhyming words include ‘capacity,’ ‘sagacity,’ and ‘tenacity,’ as well as ‘pain’ and ‘brain.’
• The poem primarily employs repetition, evident in the frequent use of the phrase ‘for it.’ Additionally, literary devices such as Climax, Tautology, and Antithesis enhance its impact.
• The poet presents a formula for guaranteed success, emphasizing both actions to take and pitfalls to avoid. He urges us to fight for success with determination, using our strength, abilities, and wisdom. To achieve our goals, we must work tirelessly, sacrificing time, peace, and rest.

• This poem serves as a powerful source of motivation, inspiring individuals to set goals and strive for success. I find it highly inspiring and enjoyable.