ANALYSIS OF

METAPHOR, IMAGERY,
AND
PERSONIFICATION IN
“INVICTUS” BY
WILLIAM ERNEST
HENLEY
Ulfauziyyah
ABSTRACT

This paper is to analyse a poem entitled “Invictus” by William Henley. The purpose of
this paper is to discuss about the intrinsic aspects of this poem. The writer uses the
theory of instrinsic aspects and close reading as the method. From this writing, the
writer finds that there are three intrinsic aspects using in this poem which are
metaphor, imagery, and personification. In conclusion, each of the intrinsic aspects
has its own purpose in this poem.

Keywords: Invictus, Intrinsic Aspects, Metaphor, Imagery, Personification

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of The Study

One of genres in literature is poetry. Edwin Arlington Robinson, in “A Handbook To Literature”
(1960:366) by William Flint Thrall and Addison Hibbard, defines poetry as a language that tells us,
through a more or less emotional reaction, something that cannot be said. All poetry, great or small,
does this. Another definition of poetry comes from Robert Frost in “An Introduction to Poetry” by
Laurence Perrine (1969:64) that says poetry provides the one permissible way of saying one thing
and meaning another. The definition of poetry is somehow different, it depends on every one’s point
of view. The poetry itself also has its different messages between one another. Sometimes it is hard to
understand the meaning of poetry, analysing poetry might be one of the best way to figure out the
meaning of poetry.
1.2 Purpose of the Study
To understand the using of metaphor, imagery, and personification.
1.3 Scope of The Study
The scope of this study is the analysis of metaphor, imagery, and personification in poetry entitled
“Invictus” by William Ernest Henley.
2. THE BIOGRAPHY OF
WILLIAM HENLEY
Born in Gloucester, England, poet, editor, and critic, William Ernest Henley was
educated at Crypt Grammar School, where he studied with the poet T.E. Brown, and
the University of St. Andrews. At age 12 Henley was diagnosed with tubercular
arthritis that necessitated the amputation of one of his legs just below the knee; the
other foot was saved only through a radical surgery performed by Joseph Lister. As
he healed in the infirmary, Henley began to write poems, including “Invictus” which
concludes with the oft-referenced lines “I am the master of my fate; / I am the captain
of my soul.” He is also the author of A Song of Speed (D. Nutt, 1903), Hawthorn &
Lavender with Other Verses (D. Nutt, 1901), and For England’s Sake: Verses and
Songs in Time of War (D. Nutt, 1900), among others. He died in Woking, England, on
July 11, 1903.
3. “INVICTUS” BY WILLIAM
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 bludgeoning 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.
4. THE TRANSLATION OF
“INVICTUS”
“Tak Terkalahkan” berlindung dari bayangan ketakutan
Terlepas dari malam yang menyelimutiku, Dan tahun-tahun yang mengancam
Hitam bagaikan lorong dari ujung utara ke ujung Temukan, dan temukan aku! Aku tidak takut
selatan
Ini bukanlah tentang bagaimana cara melewati
Aku berterimakasih atas apapun yang Tuhan gerbang ini,
Berikan pada jiwa tangguhku Tapi bagaimana hukuman ini harus dijalani
Ketika terjatuh Aku adalah penguasa takdirku
Aku tidak merintih juga tidak menangis keras Aku adalah pemimpin jiwaku
Ketika dihantam keadaan,
Kepalaku berdarah, tapi aku tetap tidak menunduk
Terbayang di luar sana, kemarahan dan air mata
5. DISCUSSION

5.1 Metaphor
Metaphor’s run vividly in every stanza in Henley’s “Invictus”. The use of metaphors in “Invictus” enhances the
images and feelings described by the author.
Out of the night that covers me (stanza 1, line 1)
It is the first metaphor that come across in the poem. “Night” represents the feeling of suffering and pain that
the author describes throughout his writing. “Night” is the darkest part of the day and therefor Henley
compares night to agony.
Looms but the horror of the shade (stanza 3, line 10)
In this line, “shade” signifies an upcoming unexpected event in life. “Shade” is also used to foreshadow the
inevitable incidents that create a hardship that one must conquer.
And yet the menace of the years (stanza 3, line 11)
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid (stanza 3, line 12)
The term “menace of the years” stands for the coming of age and the author states that he is not scared of
the forthcoming years. “Finds, and shall find, me unafraid”, these lines also help the reader visualize that the
author of the poem embodies a character trait of bravery, which relates to another figure of speech, imagery.
5.2 Imagery
The use of imagery in “Invictus” provides readers with deeper sense of the poem and connects
them to the author’s true feelings. Henley uses strong relevant adjectives to paint a picture of
the horrors of misery he feels in the beginning and towards the end of the poem he allows
readers to grasp that it was his bravery that helped him overcome the pain.

“Black as the Pit from pole to pole”

Henley opens his poem with simile, but this simile here is basically used to display a visual
imagery picturing of how dark and gloomy this time was for him and how the severe pain he
was feeling could stretch from the North Pole to the South Pole.
“My head is bloody, but unbowed”
In this line, he is describing his pain using kinesthetic imagery. Although he is in discomfort, the
term “unbowed” displays his resilient composure he is capable of maintaining during his time of
travail. This line truly shows how strong one can be when courageousness is needed most.
“Beyond this place of wrath and tears”
Finally, in the last stanza Henley once again portrays a moment of rage and unhappiness using
visual imagery. The dark description reveals the authors actual outlook on this certain time in
life and wants readers who are dealing with a similar situation to relate.
5.3 Personification
Personification is the attribution of personal or human characteristics to an inanimate object, or
the representation of an abstract quality in human form. Henley beautifully uses personification
in his poem “Invictus” to show what really happens in his life through it.

“Out of the night that covers me”

The first inanimate object given human abilities is the word “Night”. Henley uses personification
giving “Night” a human quality in the first line of the poem, “Out of the night that covers me”.
Night resembles suffering and the author describes that suffering to be “covering” or taking
over, his entire body.
“In the fell clutch of circumstance”
The second use of personification in “Invictus” is found in the first line of the second stanza, “In
the fell clutch of circumstance”. Henley is comparing the crucial circumstance he is going
through to a deadly grip that’s possibly restraining him from preforming at his best.
“Under the bludgeoning’s of chance”
The final example of personification is in the second stanza as well, “Under the bludgeoning’s
of chance”. The word “chance” is being given a human characteristic of be able to hit
something. Henley is describing his suffering to something instantaneously striking him with the
serious pain.
6. CONCLUSION

The poetry “Invictus” is written by William Earnest Henley based on his real life story. At age 12
Henley was diagnosed with tubercular arthritis that necessitated the amputation of one of his
legs just below the knee; the other foot was saved only through a radical surgery performed by
Joseph Lister. From this poetry, Henley carefully selected elements of speech including
metaphor, imagery and personification in it to relate to the world about overcoming ones
hardships and conquering evil.

Henley also thanks God for the invicible soul that God has given to him and shows how strong
and he is. He shows us that no matter how painful a disease is, we havo to believe and survive.
The last stanza of this poetry is the strongest one, he tells us that we are both ‘the master’ and
‘the captain’ of our life, that it is us choosing to live in pain or be brave when facing a challenge.
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