The Will to Win
About the Poet:
- Poet: Berton Braley
- Born in Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Known for writing motivational and inspirational poems
- Wrote around 4,000 poems and many short stories
- Famous for his optimistic nature and belief that “anything is possible”
Theme of the Poem:
- The poem talks about the importance of strong willpower to achieve success.
- It teaches that hard work, determination, and sacrifice are the keys to winning.
- No matter how difficult life becomes, if your desire is strong enough, you can achieve anything.
Key Qualities Required for Success (As per the Poem):
- Strong desire for your goal
- Hard work (day and night)
- Sacrifice (time, peace, sleep)
- Planning and patience
- Courage to face opposition
- Hope and confidence
- Wisdom (sagacity)
- Determination (pertinacity)
- Faith in God
Challenges/Hurdles Mentioned in the Poem:
- Fear
- Cold weather
- Poverty
- Hunger (famished)
- Weakness and thinness (gaunt)
- Sickness
- Pain (both mental and physical)
Important Words & Their Meanings:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Plan |
| Fret | Worry |
| Sagacity | Wisdom and good judgment |
| Pertinacity | Strong determination |
| Famished | Very hungry |
| Gaunt | Thin due to hunger or sickness |
| Grim | Serious or harsh |
Positive Strengths Mentioned in the Poem:
- Working day and night
- Sacrificing peace and sleep
- Sweating and planning for your goal
- Overcoming fear
- Using full strength and wisdom
- Continuing efforts without giving up
- Keeping faith in God
Negative Weaknesses Mentioned in the Poem:
- Sickness
- Hunger
- Poverty
- Cold
- Pain (body and mind)
- Fear of opposition
- Giving up easily
Poetic Devices / Figures of Speech Used:
- Climax – Arrangement of ideas in increasing order of importanceExample: “Capacity, strength and sagacity”
- Tautology – Repeating similar meaning wordsExample: “Famished or gaunt”
- Alliteration – Repetition of consonant soundsExample: “Sweat for, fret for”
- Antithesis – Contrast between two ideasExample: “Your peace and your sleep”
- Repetition – Repeating the same word/phraseExample: “For it”
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