The poem I ve chosen to read is Invictus , a Victorian quatrain poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley written

in 1875 but not published until 1892 in the Book of Verses. Out of the night that covers me, as the pit from pole to pole, whatever gods may be unconquerable soul. Black I thank For my

In the fell clutch of circumstance have not winced nor cried aloud. the bludgeonings of chance bloody, but unbowed.

I Under My head is

Beyond this place of wrath and tears but the Horror of the shade, menace of the years me unafraid.

Looms And y et the Finds and shall find

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 title Invictus which is Latin for unconquerable, is perfect in expressing the overall meaning of the poem. Henley explores his story of struggle and his will to survive unconquerable in the face of a severe test throughout the poem, whether stated directly or through various poetic devices.

The poem reflects the severe test in Henley s life and is graphical representation of the struggle he overcame. At twelve years old young Henley was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the bone. In his early twenties the disease progressed to his foot resulting in the amputation of his leg below the knee, anesthetics were not used during the amputation one cannot imagine the pain. When physicians informed Henley a similar operation to his other leg was again needed he enlisted doctor Joseph Lister and he managed to save the leg but Henley endured twenty months of excruciating pain. This ordeal motivated Henley to write Invictus , with signs of his disease and his iron will refusing to break evident throughout the poem. Henley explores the severe struggle he faced in Invictus by using out of the night covers me a metaphor that portrays he was engulfed in a time of suffering. The metaphor shows that there was no escaping the suffering and that he could only face it. His struggle can also be represented by the simile black as the pit from pole to pole which shows Henley felt trapped in a pit of suffering and misery. The rest of the first stanza I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul shows his will is unbroken even in a time of such pain but he is unaware what is responsible for his unconquerable soul but is thankful this is shown by use of gods and not just god. The next two stanzas reflect Henley s courage and will to survive even if there is more pain to come as he ages reflected in the metaphor menace of the years . Henley shows his courage when he had not winced nor cried aloud meaning he didn t express his pain publicly but dealt with it alone. The use of imagery in my head is bloody, but unbowed: is so vivid and clear in symbolizing his agony and pain and that he had not given up. Henley s will to survive is perfectly expressed in I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul . Henley wanted to portray he didn t care what obstacles he had to overcome in life and their consequences because he was in charge of his life. The rhyming scheme in this quatrain poem is ABAB meaning every other line rhymes making it easier to read and better to express Henley s ideas and themes.

The poem has influenced many people including Nelson Mandela who recited it to other prisoners when he was imprisoned. However it has many critics who say the poem is average at best. This is because of its melodramatic tone and singsong versification. I however disagree with this, the way Henley conveys that it is always p ossible to prevail through misery and anguish in life and that we are the controller of our fate is really inspiring, the poem is very memorable. BY CAMPBELL BURKE