How Greek Literature, Poetry and Myths Influenced Rudyard Kipling

Today to celebrate Rudyard Kipling’s birthday, we will discuss how he became so famous. Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was a famous English writer, poet, and journalist, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. He is best known for his works of fiction, such as The Jungle Book, Kim, and the Just So Stories, as well as his poems, such as “If-” and “Gunga Din”. Rudyard Kipling was also a passionate student of the classics, the study of the ancient Greek and Roman cultures, and their languages, literature, history, and art. Studying the classics had a profound influence on Kipling’s life and work, as he drew inspiration, adaptation, and criticism from the ancient sources.

Kipling’s interest in the classics began at an early age, when he learned Latin and Greek at school. He was fascinated by the stories and myths of the ancient world, and he read widely from the classical authors, such as Homer, Virgil, Cicero, and Plutarch. He also admired the classical style of writing, which he described as “simple, direct, and unaffected” He tried to emulate this style in his own prose and poetry, and he often used classical references and allusions in his works.

Rudyard Kipling’s Puck of Pook’s Hill

One of the most obvious examples of Kipling’s use of the classics is his collection of stories Puck of Pook’s Hill (1906), in which a mischievous fairy named Puck introduces two children, Dan and Una, to various historical figures and events from British history. Among these are several characters and episodes from Greek and Roman mythology, such as Heracles, Orpheus, the Argonauts, and the Trojan War.

Kipling retells these stories in his own style, mixing humor, adventure, and moral lessons, and often adding his own twists and interpretations. For instance, in the story “A Centurion of the Thirtieth”, he portrays the Trojan prince Aeneas as a cowardly and treacherous leader, who abandons his men and his city to escape with his lover Dido. Kipling also uses the classical myths as a way of exploring the themes of heroism, loyalty, fate, and the clash of civilizations, which are recurrent in his works.

Rudyard Kiplings L’Envoi

Another example of Kipling’s fascination with the classics is his poem “L’Envoi” (1892), which is a tribute to the ancient Greek poet Homer, the author of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. Kipling praises Homer as the master of storytelling, who captured the essence of human nature and the glory and tragedy of war. He also compares himself to Homer, as a humble bard who sings of the deeds of great men and women, and hopes to inspire his readers with his words. Kipling uses several references and allusions to Homer’s works in his poem, such as the epithets “wine-dark sea” and “rosy-fingered dawn”, the names of the Greek gods and heroes, and the scenes of battles and voyages. He also adopts the meter and rhyme scheme of the Homeric hexameter, which is a poetic form consisting of six feet, each with a long and a short syllable.

Rudyard Kipling’s Kim

A third example of Kipling’s influence by the classics is his novel Kim (1901), which is widely regarded as his masterpiece. It is the story of a young orphan boy, Kimball O’Hara, who grows up in British India, and becomes involved in a secret espionage mission, as well as a spiritual quest. The novel is rich in cultural and historical details, and it also contains many parallels and contrasts with the Odyssey, the epic poem that narrates the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus, who tries to return home after the Trojan War.

Both Kim and Odysseus are clever and cunning protagonists, who travel across diverse lands and encounter various dangers and temptations. Both also have a loyal companion, who helps them in their journey: Kim has the Tibetan lama, who is his spiritual guide and father figure, while Odysseus has the faithful swineherd Eumaeus, who is his host and friend. However, while Odysseus is driven by his desire to reunite with his wife and son, Kim is more interested in exploring the world and finding his own identity. Moreover, while Odysseus is aided by the goddess Athena, who protects him and disguises him, Kim is opposed by the Russian agents, who try to capture him and expose him.

These are just some of the examples of how studying the classics influenced Rudyard Kipling, and how he used them as sources of inspiration, adaptation, and criticism. Kipling was not only a talented and versatile writer, but also a curious and learned reader, who appreciated the beauty and wisdom of the ancient Greek and Roman culture, and who sought to share it with his own audience.

We will be adding a special feature on Rudyard Kipling in our next edition of Greece at the Oscars, coming out in April 2024.

Rudyard Kipling’s Adventures in India

Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, India, in 1865, and was influenced by the Indian culture and the British imperialism. His father, Lockwood Kipling, who worked in Lahore as the director of an art school and museum, got him a job as subeditor at the Civil & Military Gazette. In 1887 he moved to the Allahabad Pioneer, a better paper which gave him greater liberty in his writing and for which he travelled the Indian subcontinent as a correspondent.

At the same time his books became successful; by 1888 he had already published six volumes with short stories, among them Soldiers Three (1888). In style, the stories showed the influence of Edgar Allan Poe, Bret Harte, and Guy de Maupassant. But the subjects were Kipling’s own: Anglo-Indian society, which he readily criticized with an acid pen, and the life of the common British soldier and the Indian native, which he portrayed accurately and sympathetically. In his Plain Tales from the Hills (1888) he tells stories from Anglo-Indian life.

Rudyard Kipling’s adventures in India were not only literary, but also physical. He loved to explore the diverse and fascinating landscapes, cultures, and wildlife of the country, and he often used them as the settings and backgrounds for his stories and poems. Travelling extensively, by train, horse, or foot, he visited many places, such as Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Calcutta, Darjeeling, Shimla, and Kashmir. He also went on hunting and fishing expeditions, and enjoyed observing and describing the flora and fauna of India. Kipling was especially fond of the jungles, where he encountered many animals, such as elephants, tigers, leopards, monkeys, snakes, and crocodiles. In his travels he also met many people, from different religions, castes, and professions, and learned about their customs, beliefs, and languages and was fascinated by the diversity and complexity of India, trying to capture its essence and spirit in his works.

These are just some of the examples of how Rudyard Kipling’s adventures in India influenced his life and work, and how he used them as sources of inspiration, adaptation, and criticism. Kipling was not only a talented and versatile writer, but also a curious and adventurous traveler, who appreciated the beauty and diversity of India, and who sought to share it with his own audience.