INVICTUS William Ernest Henley INVICTUS William Ernest Henley

INVICTUS William Ernest Henley

INVICTUS William Ernest Henley INVICTUS ANALYSIS INVICTUS (2009) Nelson Mandela film, title inspired by this poem

William Ernest Henley Ø Born in Gloucester, England Ø Educated at Crypt Grammar School and University of St. Andrews Ø A son of a struggling bookseller who died during his teenage years (father) Ø At 12, diagnosed with tubercular arthritis that necessitated the amputation of one of his legs. Ø Later, he developed the same infection to his other leg. Joseph Lister, saved his second leg through radical surgery. Ø Died at 53.

William Ernest Henley Ø He was in the hospital during his darkest hours when he wrote the Invictus. Ø He finally recovered after 20 months. Ø Reason to like Ernest - a poet whose themes engage in inner strengths and perseverance. Ø Numerous collections include A Book of Verses (1888), London Voluntaries (1893), and Hawthorne and Lavender (1899). Ø He edited the Scots Observer, later called National Observer Ø A close friend of Robert Louis Stevenson who based the character of Long John Silver of Treasure Island in part of Henley.

INVICTUS ANALYSIS Ø Latin for unconquered, invincible, undefeated Ø A lyric poem in four-quatrain (four-lined stanzas), 16 lines Ø Written in 1875; published in 1892 in a collection Life and Death (Echoes). Ø Originally had no title until editor Arthur Quiller-Couch included the poem in The Oxford Book of English Verse. Ø A poem that shows how passionate and unconquered he is.

INVICTUS ANALYSIS Stanza 1 Motivated by 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. 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. 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 theme and a link with the title (Latin for unconquerable).

INVICTUS ANALYSIS Stanza 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. Deadly grip Draw back, as with fear or pain A heavy club to beat him (a stick/ armor) Even in the midst of horrible circumstances, Henley refused to let life defeat him, but instead he rose up and fought back 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.

INVICTUS ANALYSIS Stanza 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. Death Source of danger; advancing age Henley’s belief of afterlife Even though he may not know what is to come, he is unafraid and ready for what’s next in life.

INVICTUS ANALYSIS Stanza 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. Narrow/Restricted Fate allotted him 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.

INVICTUS ANALYSIS “I am the master of my FATE: I am the captain of my SOUL. ” reflection Fate may delegate us to something unchangeable/ uncontrollable but after all, we are the ones in control of our own destiny and soul. 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.

INVICTUS ANALYSIS “I am the master of my FATE: I am the captain of my SOUL. ” Presented by Marie Joy Perez Uy