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The poem "Invictus" was written in 1875 by William Ernest Henley. It expresses his resilience in the face of adversity, as he had recently undergone the amputation of his foot due to tuberculosis. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker expressing thanks for his "unconquerable soul" despite facing a night that "covers me, Black as the Pit." Over four stanzas with an A-B-A-B rhyme scheme, the speaker declares that though his head may be "bloody" under "the bludgeonings of chance," his head remains unbowed. The theme is one of surviving severe hardship through an undefeatable spirit and will.

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3K views12 pages

Data Encoding Patterns

The poem "Invictus" was written in 1875 by William Ernest Henley. It expresses his resilience in the face of adversity, as he had recently undergone the amputation of his foot due to tuberculosis. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker expressing thanks for his "unconquerable soul" despite facing a night that "covers me, Black as the Pit." Over four stanzas with an A-B-A-B rhyme scheme, the speaker declares that though his head may be "bloody" under "the bludgeonings of chance," his head remains unbowed. The theme is one of surviving severe hardship through an undefeatable spirit and will.

Uploaded by

markalvin_ocampo
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Invictus

William Ernest Henley

William Ernest Henley 1849-1903


Arguably his best-remembered work is the poem "Invictus", written in 1875. It is said that this was written as a demonstration of his resilience following the amputation of his foot due to tubercular infection. This passionate and defiant poem is said to be his acceptance of death and dying.

Invictus is a Latin word that means invincible Or unconquerable.

Persona
The persona is the speaker or the voice present in the poem.

Addressee
The addressee is the person or thing the persona is speaking to.

In inferring the personas identity, feelings, and mood, note his/her words and tone. The words of a persona reveal so much about his/her beliefs, values, judgments, and attitudes.

Out of the night that covers me , Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.
The poet used alliteration. The repetition of the consonant P sound in Pit, Pole and another Pole.

The author started the poem with a personification of night covering him.

He then followed it with a simile comparing the black to a pit. (hole)

The first stanza of the poem describes the predicament that the persona is in. This poem is written in first point of view. The author is the teller of this story and uses I throughout the poem.

What qualities of the persona can you infer From the line I thank whatever gods may be, for my unconquerable soul.?

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

The second stanza begins, "In the fell clutch of circumstance" continues to state what is happening, but he is still in high spirits about his life. His head may be bloody, but he does not lower his head in shame

It follows the ababcdcd-efefef-ghgh rhyme scheme. It is relatively short, containing only eight syllables to each line.

Repetition - The purposeful re-use of words and phrases for an effect.

Symbolism
Symbols are a writers most effective tools in delivering a message for they evoke responses from the readers unconscious emotions. By using symbols, a poet is able to present a complex of meanings in just one word.

Rhyme
Words that have different beginning sounds but whose endings sound alike.

Mood
The mood is gloomy although the personas attitude is optimistic. This is due to the diction or choice of words. Gloomy words like night, cover, black, Pit, in the first quatrain set the mood for the rest of the poem. This mood is sustained throughout the poem with words like fell, under, bludgeonings, beyond, tears, looms, horror, shade, menace, strait, and scroll.

Theme

The theme of the poem is the will to survive in the face of a severe test.

Other Literary Devices


Apostrophe: Speaking directly to a real or imagined listener or inanimate object; addressing that person or thing by name. Example: O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done O Life! Let me live Oh, Romeo, wherefore art thou... Hyperbole: An outrageous exaggeration used for effect. Example: He weighs a ton. I need an eternity to decide.

Euphemism
An inoffensive expression/ word used in place of a sharper or more explicit one. to pass away (meaning to die) may I go to the washroom (public toilet) memorial park (cemetery) previously owned car (second hand) opportunity school (school for the retarded) senior citizen (old person) underprivileged (poor)

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