Final answer:
The theme of courage in 'Invictus' by William Ernest Henley is developed through imagery, determined language, and metaphors that assert personal agency and resilience in the face of adversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
In William Ernest Henley’s poem "Invictus," the theme of courage is developed through the use of strong, evocative imagery and determined language. Henley writes, “In the fell clutch of circumstance / I have not winced nor cried aloud,” and “Under the bludgeonings of chance / My head is bloody, but unbowed.” This diction conveys the speaker’s resilience and bravery in the face of adversity. Moreover, the poem concludes with the lines, “I am the master of my fate, / I am the captain of my soul,” which underscore the theme by asserting personal agency and unyielding strength of will despite external challenges. The poem uses no specific narrative conflict but rather general human struggles to imply that courage is the force that empowers one to maintain dignity and self-control, thus becoming the defining aspect in overcoming life’s trials.
Text evidence is crucial to support these ideas, and Henley's own use of figurative language is a literary device that achieves the poem's theme. We see this in the metaphor of life's challenges as a battle: "In the fell clutch of circumstance," suggesting courage is needed to face the figurative enemies of dire situations. The poet crafts a universal message of inner strength and the courage to confront and control one's destiny, which can be seen as both challenging conventional expectations and meeting them in a rhetorically effective way.