Speaker or Narrator, and Point of View
First-person speaker who relays his own monologue, in which two internal voices battle
Form and Meter
free verse resolving into an end-rhymed quatrain
Metaphors and Similes
similes: the speaker's life is as "free as the road," and "as large as store."
metaphors: bays, flowers, and garlands are all metaphors for worldly success and recognition (perhaps including poetic fame)
Alliteration and Assonance
assonance: "lines and life," "sighs did dry"
alliteration: "Loose as the wind, as large as store," "Shall I be still in suit? ," "Have I no harvest," "garlands gay," "hast hands," "suit and serve"
Irony
Genre
lyric poem
Setting
Tone
conflicted, ranting
Protagonist and Antagonist
Major Conflict
There is an intense conflict between the speaker's two internal voices: one wants to rebel against God, while the other remains devout.
Climax
Foreshadowing
Understatement
Allusions
The poem may allude to the parable of the prodigal son.
