Notes on our class discussion

1. Invictus
William Ernest Henley

2. William Ernest Henley
• August 23, 1849 – July 11, 1903
• Born in Gloucester, England
• Suffered from tuberculosis of the
bone as a boy
• Went to the hospital in 1874 for a
tubercular infection in his bones
• At 25 he had to have his left leg
amputated and was told he
would lose his right leg also
• Recruited Dr. Joseph Lister, father
of antiseptic medicine, to save it
• He spent 20 months in the
hospital and wrote poems about
his experiences there

3. Henley
• In 1875 wrote “Invictus” but it was not published until
1892
• 1877 – began his editorial career in London and
published a few poems mainly in the journals he
edited
• 1887 – his poems were included in a popular series
“Canterbury Poets” and this brought him recognition
• 1888 – first poetry book A Book of Verses was
published
• He is believed to be the inspiration for the pegged-
legged pirate in Treasure Island by his friend Robert
Louis Stevenson

4. Invictus
• Invictus – Latin for unconquerable
• “night covers me” – night is symbolic for
darkness, depression, death
• “Black as the Pit” – the death pit is hell – can
be hell on earth
• “Pole to Pole” North – South Pole
• “I thank whatever gods may be” – uncertainty
of the existence of God – he trusts himself

5. Invictus
• “fell clutch” – fell is to knock down
• “clutch” – to grip – tighten – could be choked
• “circumstance” – life
• Life may challenging, choking him but he will
not turn away in pain or cry out (give up)
• “bludgeoning” – to beat or strike
• “chance” – life, destiny
• Although life is beating him and

6. Invictus
• Although life is beating him – many trials –
and his head is “bloody” – he is hurt
• But his head is also “unbowed” – he is proud
and will not give up
• “horror of the shade” – darkness and death
• “menace of the years” – the threat of death
• He will face it “unafraid” – not afraid of death,
of challenges

7. Invictus
• “strait the gate” – refers to The Bible New
Testament Mathew 7:14 “Strait is the gate
and narrow the way that leads to eternal life”
• The way is difficult and narrow
• “scroll” – the law
• “I am the captain of my fate” – reference to a
ship – his life is the ship and he is the captain,
he is in control of his life