Literary Techniques Used In William Henley's 'Invictus'

Invected Invictus

What is one to do when stuck in a pickle, finding nothing but sorrow and self-pity being the only realistic ways of comfort? Write a poem. That is what William Henley did when he wrote “Invictus”. The poem “Invictus” talks about how William Henley is the master of his own soul and how he’s not going to let anything or anybody else run his life. The theme of this poem includes not giving up and pushing on in life no matter what any one says or does. William Henley deeply states, “I thank whatever gods may be,” and then adds “for my unconquerable soul.” In this message he is saying that he isn’t going to let anyone conquer him and he thanks the gods for the soul that he has. The lesson he teaches in this poem is to basically go through all the hell everyone decides to put you through, and not let any of it get you down. Just live life with your chin up.

The literary devices used in William’s poem is alternated rhyme, for example he writes, “Beyond this place of wrath and tears,” and then the third line down he rhymes with the line, “And yet the menace of the years.” He uses simile when he writes, “Black as the pit
Leiknes, not only stealing my coffee cup and lying about it, but also constantly insulting me with his dry, painful humor. So rather than living and thriving in the words of William’s poem I am instead doing the opposite of it and giving up because of the people in this world who aren’t funny and think they are. They bug me to such an extent that I want to rip my eyes out and throw them at little toddlers, so that these unfortunate souls of this completely misguided world end up having to see a counselor for the rest of they’re sad pathetic lives because they have a phobia of eyeballs. Like William said “I have not winced nor cried out loud,” but I have gotten to the point of being extremely insane due to people like Mr.