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Invictus: The Unconquerable

By: William Ernest Henley

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. In the fell clutch of circumstance      I have not winced nor cried aloud, Under the bludgeonings of chance      My head is bloody, but unbowed. 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. 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.

ANALYSIS

BY: RXNX

Invictus is a latin term which is defined as “undefeated”, thereby granting the poet to call his poem “Invictus: The Unconquerable.” William Ernest Henley in Invictus: The Unconquerable depicts a person in society who is unafraid of the horrors bestowed upon life, and unbothered by punishments he ought to get for his sins. The poem magnifies the stubbornness of the poet against the events that occur in his life, making it crystal clear that absolutely nothing can tear him down.

The man thanks “whatever gods may be for (his) unconquerable soul” which magnifies his confidence in himself and his resilient soul. It also reiterates the fact that he is unstoppable and no monster in this world (literally and figuratively) can get in his way.

Furthermore, Henley further reiterates his point of nothing can tear him apart because he had “not winced nor cried aloud”. This further proves the poet’s strong will to never expose weakness in front of anyone, not even himself, for he wishes to prove his strength to himself and the rest of the world.

Additionally, Henley claims imagery of his “head is bloody, but unbowed.” This illustrates that piles upon piles of misfortune occurs to the poet, and yet, although he may be heavily injured (whether mentally or physically), he still grips on to his dignity, keeps his head held high, and firmly refuses to bow down to life’s depressing factors.

The poet signifies himself as a warrior, painting an image of an unfortunate man who has seen and been through so many of the horrible things that could happen to a person in this world. However, he never gave up no matter what life decided to throw his way. He is nonchalant towards his chances of going to heaven, and the duration of his sentence in hell will be as a result of his defiance and his sins.

He is “the master of (his) fate” and “the captain of (his) soul”. This further exemplifies the poet’s belief that only he can decide how to live his life and that only he is in charge of himself; he is the master of his own self and no other being can interfere.

SIDE NOTES

BY: RXNX

Out of the night that covers me, - seeking comfort in darkness

Black as the Pit from pole to pole, - the depth of the darkness

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul. – Thankful that his soul cannot be touched

PART ONE illustrates the poet’s gratitude of his soul always being protected no matter how dark the situation he is in.

In the fell clutch of circumstance – Personification of the bad events occurring

I have not winced nor cried aloud, - suggests he feels nothing and unbothered

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed. – Through all the treacherous encounters, the poet feels as though his dignity is above all. i.e he is badly injured, yet remains standing tall.

PART TWO illustrates the poet’s pain and anguish which he suppresses and remains strong and unbothered instead.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears – the world in which we live in

     Looms but the horror of the shade, - beyond that world is unknown darkness

And yet the menace of the years

     Finds, and shall find me, unafraid. – And over the years, the poet is still unconcerned by the unknown horrors of the world.

PART THREE illustrates the poet’s lack of fear towards the unknown and the oblivion of knowing the future. He is only certain of one thing – he will remain unbothered throughout it all. It matters not how strait the gate, - the chances of him going to heaven

     How charged with punishments the scroll, - all the bad deeds he’s done

I am the master of my fate:

     I am the captain of my soul. – only he controls his own life and does as he pleases in his life.

PART FOUR illustrates the poet’s opinion on heaven and hell, claiming he does not care where he ends up, and firmly states that he is his own master.

RXNX

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I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

By: Maya Angelou The free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wings in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with fearful trill of the things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. ANALYSIS

By: RXNX Maya Angelou portrays a painfully beautiful imagery of the clear and evident difference between freedom and suppression. Although the poem is written about birds, it may also be a metaphor for individuals in society as they reflect on their lives. The poem is split into a situation where a person in society feels remarkably free, confident and ambitious, and another where an individual believes they are suppressed and trapped. 

Maya expresses the bird's claimed territory, where it "leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends." This reiterates the bird's nerve to challenge the earth and uncover its limitations, as it chooses, willingly, to explore the skies and the seas. This mirrors the possibility of an individual in society who plans on discovering and exploring the world with nothing stopping them.

Furthermore, the bird touching "orange sun rays" mirrors the image of mankind achieving peace, happiness and prosperity i.e. freedom is positivity. The level of freedom that can be acquired is further exemplified when the bird "dares to claim the sky." Believing that every beautiful thing in the world can be cherished and is made just for you can lead to the freedom of the mind. 

In the opposing situation, the unfortunate souls are explored, through which the bird "stalks down his narrow cage." The narrow cage mirrors the level of suffocation life can hold if the person is not given the freedom which they truly deserve. The bird "can seldom see through his bars of rage" which describes the bars of the cage to be that of anger and fury. This magnifies the thought that the only thing trapping a person from their freedom, is nothing but the bars of their blinding rage and belief that they can never be free.

SIDE NOTES

By: RXNX

The free bird leaps - Freedom allows risks to be made on the back of the wind - personification and floats downstream - from sky to water (how much it can touch) till the current ends - the edge of the earth and dips his wings - imagery in the orange sun rays - touched by light i.e positivity and dares to claim the sky. - confidence Part ONE indicates the freedom of a bird as it can do whatever it desires. It's level of freedom is exemplified as he 'dares to claim the sky'. But a bird that stalks - trapped down his narrow cage - locked away (space is limited) can seldom see through his bars of rage - Jealousy of not being free his wings are clipped and his feet are tied - Prevention of freedom (feeling helpless) so he opens his throat to sing. - all it can do is cry for help. Part TWO shows the opposite life, where a bird is caged and feels helpless and suppressed. The caged bird sings with fearful trill of the things unknown - Sings of the dangers ahead but longed for still - yearned to discover the dangers and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom - the voice is heard but not acted upon. Part THREE is where the bird cries for help anywhere, hoping that someone will hear it and set it free. The free bird thinks of another breeze - another adventure and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees - Peaceful imagery that reflects its life. and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn - Hunting for survival. and he names the sky his own. - The world can be his if he wants it to be. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams - The prison is where it dies along with its dreams. his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream - Even its shadow pleads for help. it is what his life feels like. his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing

RXNX