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?
A. The rhyme and meter are halting and uneven, helping the speaker communicate his fear of the future.
B. The rhyme and meter are harsh and sharp, helping the speaker communicate his severe emotional pain.
C. The rhyme and meter are bouncy and light, communicating the speaker's decision to ignore those who criticize him.
D. The rhyme and meter are somber and military-like, communicating the speaker's determination to reach his goals.
To determine how the structure of the poem affects its tone, we need to consider the specific choices made in terms of rhyme and meter. In the case of "Invictus," the structure consists of four quatrains, each with an AABB rhyme scheme. The meter of the poem is primarily iambic tetrameter, meaning that each line is made up of four iambs, or unstressed followed by stressed syllables.
In analyzing the effect of this structure on the poem, we can rule out options C and D. The bouncy and light rhyme and meter mentioned in option C do not align with the serious and introspective nature of the poem, nor does the somber and military-like rhyme and meter mentioned in option D accurately capture the overall tone of the piece.
Between options A and B, we see that the harsh and sharp rhyme and meter mentioned in option B better reflects the intense emotional pain that the speaker describes throughout the poem. The halting and uneven nature mentioned in option A does not capture the consistent rhythm and flow present in the poem. Therefore, the correct answer is B.