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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

Invictus is a powerful poem because it depicts an unconquerable soul that remains strong in the face of adversity. The poem describes facing pitch black darkness and difficult circumstances, but thanking God for inner strength and never wavering despite troubles. It discusses facing future threats and death without fear, knowing past challenges have prepared the soul. The poem emphasizes that one is master of one's own fate and captain of one's soul, controlling what happens through strong will. It has inspired many leaders because it conveys that one alone determines one's path.

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460 views3 pages

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

Invictus is a powerful poem because it depicts an unconquerable soul that remains strong in the face of adversity. The poem describes facing pitch black darkness and difficult circumstances, but thanking God for inner strength and never wavering despite troubles. It discusses facing future threats and death without fear, knowing past challenges have prepared the soul. The poem emphasizes that one is master of one's own fate and captain of one's soul, controlling what happens through strong will. It has inspired many leaders because it conveys that one alone determines one's path.

Uploaded by

NurHidayahMostaffa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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"Invictus" is an adjective in Latin meaning 'unconquerable' or 'unsubdued' (if that is a word)

To answer the question, here are the reasons why Invictus is a powerful poem.
1.

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.
In the first four lines we understand that there is pitch black darkness disguised as a
gloomy problem or despair and there seems to be no way out of it. He 'prays' to the gods
in most agnostic way possible by saying 'whatever gods may be'. But even as he prays,
he doesn't ask for strength to deal with the crisis looming overhead, he simply thanks
them for the strength he already has. That itself is an indication of how is soul
isinvincible.

2.

In the fell clutch of circumstance


I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance


My head is bloody, but unbowed.
The second stanza stands tall and continues to tell the tale of a courageous soul that
never complained once in the wake of difficult circumstances; a soul that never flinched
once even as the problems were staring into its eyes. The power is demonstrated as the
poet writes '... bloody, but unbowed' which tells us that he'd rather endure the beating
than call for a surrender.
3.

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.
This stanza tells us of death (literally or metaphorically). If I were to describe this
situation in my words I would say, "I know that I am living a life filled with constant
threats and I know that the future holds a greater problem (death, perhaps). But I know
that all the troubles I have sustained over the years have prepared me to face what lies
ahead."

4.

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.
This is the punch of this short poem. The meaning of 'strait gate' has often been debated
but according to me, the poet is talking about the so-called judgement day and even
then, he recognizes no one but himself as his own master. Only he can decide what is to
be done with his soul and hence, his fate. This is makes it evident that he has strong
will.

5.

The poem has inspired many greats like Nelson Mandela, Roosevelt. And continues
to inspire many others because of the feeling it incites that you alone can control your
fate, you alone know what is best for you and you alone know which path you choose. It
is a poem that's strong at heart and strong-headed.

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