Read the stanza from "Invictus."

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.

How does the structure of "Invictus" affect the poem?

1) The rhyme and meter are bouncy and light, communicating the speaker's decision to ignore those who criticize him.

2) The rhyme and meter are halting and uneven, helping the speaker communicate his fear of the future.

3) The rhyme and meter are harsh and sharp, helping the speaker communicate his severe emotional pain.

4) The rhyme and meter are somber and military-like, communicating the speaker's determination to reach his goals.

I also believe the best answer to be the fourth option: The rhyme and meter are somber and military-like, communicating the speaker's determination to reach his goals.

Explanation:

Invictus is a poem by William Ernest Henley. It was written while the author was in hospital, undergoing treatment for tuberculosis of the bone - he had already lost a leg to the disease. This poem shows the speaker's determination and courage in the face of adversity. No matter how much life tries to take him down, he does not give in. He is unafraid, his soul is unconquerable, his head is unbowed. He is the master or his fate.

There is, though, something somber about the poem's imagery. It is constantly mentioning terrible hardships, it talks of the night, its darkness being a metaphor for hopelessness. Still, at the end of each stanza, the speaker convinces himself that he is strong, he will keep on facing the challenges. The rhyme and meter help convey such determination. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter - four beats or stresses, might remind the reader of a military march song - and the rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef ghgh.