by William Ernest Henley 1875

Welcome to the parent guide for this text! Read below to find out about what your child is reading in class and how you can support him/her at home.

This week in class, we’re reading "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley.

William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) was an English poet, critic, and editor. His best known poem is "Invictus," published in 1875, which he wrote just following the amputation of his foot due to tuberculosis.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Fate & Free Will, Identity, and Resilience & Success as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"How does a person overcome adversity?", "What makes you who you are?", and "Can we control our fate?"

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask your child about this poem at home:
    • What was "Invictus" about?
    • What did you learn about Fate & Free Will?
    • What did you learn about Identity?
    • What did you learn about Resilience & Success?