Literary Devices in Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came

The poem begins in medias res, a Latin phrase meaning “in the middle of things.” Beginning in this way allows Browning to immediately place readers in the action without addressing the backstory of the speaker. This provides a more gripping hook to attract readers’ attention and also keeps them engaged throughout the tale by slowly revealing why the speaker has come to this place to speak with this “hoary cripple.”