A monk becomes the brunt of vehement anger in Robert Browning's poem
             "Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister." Using sarcastic remarks and cruel
             metaphors, the speaker directs his diatribe directly to Brother Lawrence,
             criticizing him for being impious, lustful, and greedy and comparing him to
             a swine. The setting of the soliloquy adds a dose of irony to the poem, as
             the speaker's tone is anything but peaceful as a cloister should be. In
             addition to the setting, Browning's rhyme and meter aptly convey the fiery
             tone of the poem. Likewise, diction is replete with hellish imagery and
             harsh words that fit the speaker's ire. Poetic elements like diction,
             meter, rhyme, and imagery work together in "Soliloquy of the Spanish
             Cloister" to create an ironic poem that lambastes a monk.
             The tone of Browning's poem is angry, resentful, and even hateful,
             indicated clearly by his diction. Moreover, the narrator's word selection
             mirrors his accusations of Brother Lawrence as being impious; the imagery
             is deliberately religious in nature but with an evil, hellish bent. For
             example, Brother Lawrence's monogrammed goblet is "rinsed like something
             sacrificial," ( 21). He even curses in a blasphemous manner, as when he
             cries, "God's blood, would not mine kill you!" (4). The narrator frequently
             damns and curses Brother Lawrence and begs that he is sent "flying Off to
             hell," (54-55). Also, when describing what would otherwise be pleasant,
             such as Brother Lawrence's flowers, the speaker instead says, "Water your
             damned flowerpots, do!" (2). As if no actual word can convey the speaker's
             disgust with Brother Lawrence, the poem begins and ends with a growl: "Gr-r-
             r," (1; 72). Phrases like "my heart's abhorrence," also carry the tone and
             theme of the soliloquy, as do word choices like "scrofulous," which means
             The imagery created by such strong diction is dramatic, especially as
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