Invictus

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)

"Invictus" is a short poem by the British poet William Ernest Henley. The title is Latin for "unconquered".^[1] It was first published in 1875.

Background

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Invictus

At the age of 12, Henley became a victim of tuberculosis of the bone. In spite of this, in 1867 he successfully passed the Oxford local examination as a senior student. His diseased foot had to be amputated directly below the knee; physicians had announced that the only way to save his life was to amputate. Henley persevered and survived with one foot intact. He was discharged in 1875, and was able to lead an active life for nearly 30 years despite his disability. With an artificial foot, he lived until the age of 53. "Invictus" was written from a hospital bed despite Henley's condition.

Popular culture references

• Kings Row, a 1942 film in which the poem is recited at the climax
• Think and Grow Rich, a self-help book by Napoleon Hill which uses "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul" as a motivational tool to encourage the reader to take charge of his or her life
• One Tree Hill, a television show in which Chad Michael Murray's character Lucas recites the poem to his friend Haley during an episode, and as a voiceover at the end

See also

• Invictus, an upcoming film directed by Clint Eastwood about Nelson Mandela and the 1995 Rugby World Cup champions
• If—, an inspirational poem by Rudyard Kipling
• Stiff upper lip
• Timothy McVeigh, convicted of the Oklahoma City bombing, chose "Invictus" as his final statement prior to his execution^[1][2]

References