Kipling - "The Man Who Would Be King" For context, consider the reading for Empire (syllabus), the Kipling bio, and our class video, Queen Victoria's Empire.

Study Questions--Respond to questions with specific ideas.  Note page references to support your ideas.

1. Imperialism involves claiming and exploiting lands beyond a country's border for prestige, raw materials, and markets for its goods.  Colonialism involves transforming those lands--their social structure, culture, government, and economy.  However, some critics see colonialism as an "early, amateur form of imperialism" (Deane 354), pointing to imperialism as being broader in scope and expanding and incorporating the economic and political purpose of colonalism.  Imperialism has a more "coherent organizational form" and characterizes itself in terms of its missionary purpose for the globe (Deane 354).  As the NA suggests (pp. 28-30), the new imperialism emphasized Britain's global reach as its duty and responsibility in order to bring civilization, enlightenment, and progress to the world, a "romantic" narrative that gave British citizens pride in their country's empirical mission.  Explain how the story illustrates these ideas.  Find examples from the story.  [Deane, Seamus.  "Imperialism/Nationalism," edited by Frank Lentricchia and Thomas McLaughlin, Critical Terms for Literary Study, U of Chicago P, 1995, pp. 354-68.]

2. What does the story say about the responsibility and duty of ruling, of being king.  Does the story suggest that imperialism (empire building) can be enlightened? Benevolent? Responsible? 

3. On pp. 928-29; 941, Carnehan discusses government regulation.  What is his criticism, and how does it relate to the story's themes?  According to the Queen Victoria's Empire video (or the NA, pp. 10-12, 28-29), how did government bureaucracy and regulation affect the Crimean War? Empire administration?

4. What view of India do we get in the opening pages of the story (pp. 924-26)?  Focus on conditions as well as views of people.  Be sure to consider views of the Native States.  You can also consider the entire story.

5. What is the role of storytelling in this story?  Consider that Carnehan and Dravot author their own legend or story and then make it happen--make it "real."  What is the interplay between fiction and reality?  Does storytelling relate to the themes of imperialism and colonialism?

6. What is the role of the narrator in this story?  What function does he serve?

7. Is empire building a masculine enterprise?  If so, what does this suggest?  What role do women play in this story?  For Victorian masculine and feminine values, see NA, p 19.