Simon the Cyrenian Speaks Literary Elements

Speaker of the poem: Simon the Cyrenian
Point of view: first person

Four-stanza poem, quartet, ABAB rhyme scheme

"Bearing the cross" can be said to have a metaphorical meaning as well in this poem due to the added information that Simon of Cyrene is a black man, and to represent the weight of racism.

"He only seeks to place it there because my skin is black" is an example of repeating "S" sounds.

The main message and irony of the poem lie in the showing of words having more power than weapons and violence. It is the word of Jesus that moves Simon, it is more powerful than the lash or stone of Rome.

Narrative poetry

The poem revolves around a Biblical character called Simon of Cyrene during the Crucifixion.

Contemplative, reflective

Protagonist: Simon of Cyrene. Antagonist: Rome

A black man called Simon the Cyrenian gets an order from the Roman soldiers to bear the cross for the Crucifixion of Jesus.

Simon is moved by pity and influenced by Jesus' words that he decides to bear the cross for Him, and not because of the order he was given by Rome.

"Any yet I knew and came" can be considered foreshadowing because it predicts the bearing of the cross for Jesus by the speaker Simon the Cyrenian.

"It was Himself my pity bought" is an example of an understatement because of the connotation of the word pity. In this context, the word holds a much deeper and more profound meaning.

The entire poem is an allusion to the Bible and BIblical character Simon of Cyrene.

Rome here represents the entirety of the cultural customs, corruption, and individuals enforcing violence.

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"He never spoke a word to me, And yet He called my name" represents an exaggerated statement because of their paradoxical nature. Jesus called Simon's name without ever speaking to him, in the sense that he felt a calling impacted by the words of Jesus.

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