Robert Brownings Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came Essay -- Childe

Robert Brownings Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came Robert Brownings Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came is a poem about torture. Whether Roland is actually in brilliance or just trapped in the madness of his mind, his own failure and the way in which he wasted his life will continue to rally him for all eternity. The imagery throughout the poem displays a completely despairing attitude, and several bitter ironies which he cannot escape plague him during his quest. The title Childe implies an untested knight, merely Roland is already jaded at the beginning of the poem. Reliving his failure, Roland has no reason to have any positive thoughts. Everything he sees is negative and ugly. The grass grows as scrimp as hair in leprosy, and the oak tree is gaping at death. The way in which he views Nature is almost Puritanical. It speaks to him peevishly, saying that it is waiting for perspicaciousness Day. To him, the land is sparse and dead because it is being punished, just as he is. Even the river seems to have a life of its own when he describes it. First he ascertains that the...