Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came - Robert Browning
A Haunting, Symbolic Quest Driven by Grim Resolve
CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME
by Robert Browning
[Excerpt]
My first thought was, he lied in every word,
That hoary cripple, with malicious eye
Askance to watch the working of his lie
On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford
Suppression of the glee, that pursed and scored
Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby.
What else should he be set for, with his staff?
What, save to waylay with his lies, ensnare
All travellers who might find him posted there,
And ask the road? I guessed what skull-like laugh
Would break, what crutch ’gin write my epitaph
For pastime in the dusty thoroughfare.
[Browning’s full poem, consisting of 34 six-line stanzas, continues with Childe Roland recounting his desolate journey across a bleak landscape to reach the Dark Tower. The above excerpt conveys the opening tone—mistrust, suspicion, and a relentless push forward. For the complete poem, which is in the public domain, please consult literary archives.]
Robert Browning’s “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came” is a haunting, dreamlike narrative poem that portrays a lone knight’s struggle to reach a mysterious Dark Tower. The speaker, known as Childe Roland, narrates his journey through a desolate and nightmarish landscape marked by decay, failed hopes, and ominous signs.
Taking its title from an allusion in Shakespeare’s *King Lear*, the poem frames a quest that seems both inevitable and horrifying: Roland cannot turn aside, despite the betrayals and grim visions he encounters. Browning’s language emphasizes the speaker’s resolve amid adversity, capturing the bitter resignation of a hero who presses on even though the final destination might hold doom.
Central to the poem is its fusion of external and internal struggles—Roland’s physical journey through a wasted land mirrors his inner turmoil: he is uncertain whom to trust, haunted by the memories of comrades lost. As each stanza unfolds, Browning heightens the mood with grotesque imagery, painting the environment itself as a reflection of Roland’s psychological fear and iron will.
Ultimately, the poem’s conclusion suggests a paradoxical triumph. Roland arrives at the Dark Tower, and though we do not learn the precise outcome, his final gesture—raising his “slug-horn”—symbolizes an act of defiance, a valiant stand against despair. Over the centuries, critics and readers alike have debated whether Roland’s quest is purely allegorical—representing personal determination and moral conviction—or a literal chivalric mission. Either way, the poem endures as one of Browning’s most enigmatic explorations of courage under the weight of hopelessness.
Key points
• The poem is a dramatic monologue that weaves external peril with deep psychological tension.
• Childe Roland’s unwavering determination drives him forward despite recurring portents of doom.
• Browning’s evocative imagery creates a bleak, symbolic landscape of moral and emotional decay.
• The ending’s ambiguity invites reflection on the nature of heroism: is Roland’s stance one of despair, defiance, or both?