William Ernest Henley

First Stanz

a

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.

Second Stanza

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Third Stanza

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.

Fourth Stanza

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.

"Invictus", which is Latin for

"Unconquered"

• Henley began to write poems, including "Invictus” after the amputation of his one leg below the knee, when he was in his twenties.

• Thus a poem about not giving up, no matter what may come our way.

• This poem is a lyric poem.

• The overall rhyme scheme of the poem is abab cdcd efef ghgh.

Out of the night that covers me, a

black as the pit from pole to pole, bI thank whatever gods may be a for my unconquerable soul. b

Vocabulary

• pole to pole from end to end• unconquerable unbeatable• fell cut/lethal/savage• clutch grasp• circumstance condition• winced grimaced• chance accidental• unbowed undefeated

Vocabulary

• wrath anger• looms emerges• Horror fear• menace threat• unafraid fearless• strait passage• charged emotional• scroll document

Nelson Mandela

• Nelson Mandela used this poem as an inspiration during the apartheid years to sustain him.

Compare Mandela’s and Henley’s Situations

William Henley Nelson Mandela

Time

Problem faced

Kind of Pain

Solution Provided by the poem

Read the poem and find allusions to the following themes (quote)

Death Pain Courage

Find equivalents for the following phrases in the poem.

“ I’m hurt but I resist”

“ I do not fear old age”

Quote the line which shows that the poem is addressed to anybody in the world, no matter what race or religion they are.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Quote the key lines of the poem.______________________________________________________________________________

And interpret them! What is the message conveyed here.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Citation

• Worksheet prepared by Dominique.

• To view more of her work log on to: eslprintables.com Username: Julianaelle

Answer Key

Compare Mandela’s and Henley’s Situations William Henley Nelson Mandela

Time 1875 1960 - 1990

Problem faced Leg amputation apartheid

Kind of Pain PHYSICAL + MORAL (hard to lose a limb when you are only 25 years old)

MORAL pain of being deprived of freedomPHYSICAL EXHAUSTION (very hard work in labor camp)

Solution Provided by the poem

Finds strength in the writing of the poem + hope that life will go on in spite of amputation

Allows him to use the strength of his soul so as not to yield to despair

Read the poem and find allusions to the following themes (quote)

Death Pain Courage

The night that covers meBlack

Menace of the years

Place of wrath and tears

My unconquerable soul

I have not winced nor cried aloud

My heart is bloody but unbowed

Unafraid

Find equivalents for the following phrases in the poem.

“ I’m hurt but I resist” “My head is bloody but unbowed”

“ I do not fear old age” “the menace of years finds and shall find me unafraid”

Quote the line which shows that the poem is addressed to anybody in the world, no matter what race or religion they are.

_______________________________________ “ I thank whatever gods may be”

Quote the key lines of the poem._“ I am the master of my fateI am the captain of my soul”

And interpret them! What is the message conveyed here.Nobody can enslave my soul, I am free if I decide to be so.I am the decision-maker.The mind is stronger than the body, it helps you go on when you think you’ve lost all your strength and hopes.