The Evil Monk

By Charles Baudelaire

Sonnet
    The ancient cloisters on their lofty walls     Had holy Truth in painted frescoes shown,     And, seeing these, the pious in those halls     Felt their cold, lone austereness less alone.     At that time when Christ's seed flowered all around,     More than one monk, forgotten in his hour,     Taking for studio the burial ground,     Glorified Death with simple faith and power.     And my soul is a sepulchre where I,     Ill cenobite, have spent eternity:     On the vile cloister walls no pictures rise.     O when may I cast off this weariness,     And make the pageant of my old distress     For these hands labour, pleasure for these eyes?

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a contemplative and introspective exploration of faith, isolation, and personal creativity. The theme revolves around the spiritual journey of the narrator, who compares himself to an austere monk in a barren cloister. The tone is melancholic and introspective, with the narrator longing for a creative and spiritual release akin to the monks who glorified death through their art.

The poem's structure is carefully constructed, with a clear progression from the exterior world of the ancient cloisters to the inner world of the speaker's soul. The use of the cloisters as a metaphor for the narrator's soul is an effective literary device, creating a strong visual image of the isolation and austerity he feels. Additionally, the contrast between the vibrant frescoes of the past and the "vile cloister walls" of the narrator's soul serves to heighten his sense of despair and longing.

The poem also employs a tone of lamentation and desire for transformation, best embodied in the final lines where the speaker yearns to "cast off this weariness" and transform his "old distress" into creative labor and pleasure. In this way, the poem becomes a poignant exploration of the human desire for creative and spiritual fulfillment, and the struggle to find meaning and beauty in a world (or soul) that feels desolate and bare.

Understanding the Sonnet

The sonnet is one of the most enduring and celebrated forms of poetry, known for its strict structure and profound themes. With a history spanning centuries, sonnets have been used to explore love, beauty, politics, and mortality, all within the confines of just 14 lines.

Sonnets are characterized by their precise form and rhyme scheme, which vary depending on the type of sonnet. Here’s a closer look:

  • Shakespearean (English) Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains followed by a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This form often builds a complex argument or narrative, culminating in a powerful closing statement.
  • Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet: Divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), with a typical rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various patterns in the sestet such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave usually presents a problem, with the sestet providing a resolution.
  • Meter: Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and melodic quality that enhances its emotional impact.

The sonnet’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to condense complex emotions and ideas into a small but potent package, making it a favorite form for poets seeking to explore profound themes with precision and elegance.