INVICTUS ANALYSIS by William Ernest Henley

INVICTUSWilliam Ernest Henley

INVICTUS

Nelson Mandela film, title inspired by this poem

Born in Gloucester, England Educated at Crypt Grammar School and

University of St. Andrews A son of a struggling bookseller who died

during his teenage years (father) At 12, diagnosed with tubercular arthritis that

necessitated the amputation of one of his legs. Later, he developed the same infection to his

other leg. Joseph Lister, saved his second leg through radical surgery.

Died at 53.

He was in the hospital during his darkest hours when he wrote the Invictus.

He finally recovered after 20 months. Reason to like Ernest - a poet whose themes engage in

inner strengths and perseverance. Numerous collections include A Book of Verses (1888),

London Voluntaries (1893), and Hawthorne and Lavender (1899).

He edited the Scots Observer, later called National Observer

A close friend of Robert Louis Stevenson who based the character of Long John Silver of Treasure Island in part of Henley.

Latin for unconquered, invincible, undefeated A lyric poem in four-quatrain (four-lined stanzas), 16 lines Written in 1875; published in 1892 in a collection Life and

Death (Echoes). Originally had no title until editor Arthur Quiller-Couch

included the poem in The Oxford Book of English Verse. A poem that shows how passionate and unconquered he is.

Stanza 1Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

Night is a metaphor for suffering of any kind. The speaker compares the darkness of his suffering to the blackness of a hellish pit stretching from the north pole to the south pole. In line 4, unconquerable establishes the theme and a link with the title (Latin for unconquerable). 

Abode of evils;Pole to pole – everywhere

Instead of succumbing to despair, Henley was able to be thankful that, though his body was beaten, his soul wasn’t.

Stanza 2In the fell clutch of circumstanceI have not winced nor cried aloud.Under the bludgeonings of chanceMy head is bloody, but unbowed.Even in the midst of horrible circumstances, Henley refused to let life defeat him, but instead he rose up and fought back

Draw back, as with fear or pain

Deadly grip

Overcome (a stick/ armor)

Believes that simply fate happened to him and he was still in control of his own destiny

He has high spirits, regardless of what happened; His body may have blood stains, but he is not ashamed.

ALLITERATION: clutch, circumstance, cried; not and nor; bludgeoning, bloody, but and unbowed.

Stanza 3Beyond 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.

Death

Source of danger

Henley’s belief of afterlife

Even though he may not know what is to come, he is unafraid and ready for life.

Stanza 4It 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.

Narrow/Restricted

Despite of the narrow gate, the fell clutch of circumstance and bludgeoning of chance, Henley, with the punishments allotted to

him, will still pass the gate.

Though his future has been established with a disease, he will continue on and control his own fate and soul.

“I am the master of my FATE: I am the captain of my

SOUL.”Fate may delegate us to something unchangable/ uncontrollable but after all, we

are the ones in control of our own destiny and soul.

reflection

theme

You control your own fate than anyone else ever will.

In this world that brings us destruction, we can still be victorious through our own life

awareness and management.