In this narrative poem, Stephen Crane’s organization, tone, and language are used to portray his theme. The enjambment in the poem is used to convey that the end of the world is going to come not as a gradual event, but as one huge connected climax. For example, in the fifth line, “With Blood,” is connected to the sixth line, “That feel upon the earth.” The speaker’s tone is filled with despair because “God lay dead in heaven (1).” The omnipotent God has been defeated by Satan and now darkness has taken over the world. After the grueling war between God and Satan, the result of this war is the angels’ “wings drip-dripping with blood” (4) and “Angels sang the hymn of the end” (2) which indicates that Satan and his demons have defeated God and his angels. The “Came monsters” (11) or demons are “livid with desire.”(11) The demons “fought” and the result is that they have “wrangled over the world.” (13) Satan and his demons has succeeded dominating the world with darkness and evil and therefore the speaker feels hopeless and miserable, which is portrayed in line fifteen, “But of all sadness this was sad.” The speaker feels that there is no hope left for the world. The theme can also been seen through his formal language and his use of concrete details of demonic images such as “Then from the far caverns of dead sins came monsters, livid with desire.” (9-11)
Stephen Crane uses many stylistic devises in order to express that in the end, Satan will dominate the world. Crane uses alliteration to emphasize his theme. For example, “Winds went moaning, their wing drip-dripping?” (3-4) The “dr” sound from “drip-dripping” has a rough sound and leaves the reader with the feeling of distress and dread. A paradox is used; “wrangled over the world, a morsel” (13-14). It depicts how monsters take pleasure in destroying the world and to God, it is the biggest lost and the demons’ greatest victory.
Stephen Crane also uses many metaphors throughout his poem. “The purple winds” (3) which represents royalty, portrays heaven where the dying angels are moaning. “From the far caverns” (9) conveys how the “monsters” or demons (11) have come from hell. Having an angry desire, the demons take joy destroying the world. Also near the end of the poem, the church is symbolized through “A woman” (16) as the bride who is married to Jesus or the “sleeping man.” (17) Crane emphasizes that church is the last hope but even the church will be devoured from Satan. The church tries to shield but eventually it will fall to the “final beast” (18) which is Satan.