The Conundrum of the Workshops

The title reflects the poem’s main theme with a touch of irony. A “conundrum” is a confusing and difficult problem or question that might be impossible to resolve. However, it can also refer to a playful riddle based on a pun (Question: What is the center of gravity? Answer: The letter “V.”). A “workshop” can be any space in which something is created, whether handicrafts or artistic products. Therefore, the conundrum of the workshops is whether what people create is worth creating. More narrowly, as the poem repeatedly puts it: “Is it Art?” This question can be taken as a serious conundrum: Can we ever determine once and for all what constitutes Art? However, the Devil chuckles as he poses it to Cain (Line 8), amused by making humankind take it seriously, like a riddle-maker might be amused if we took the question about the center of gravity seriously. In other words, Kipling suggests that “Is it Art?” only seems to be an important question while, in fact, it hinders creation by weakening the artist’s confidence and drive.

The poem opens with an image of the first dawn in the Garden of Eden, where God has placed Adam, the first man.