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Anglo-Saxon Poetry

Anglo-Saxon Poetry. “The Seafarer,” “The Wanderer,” & “The Wife’s Lament. “The Seafarer”. What is this poem about? A seafarer who drifts away from human companionship Even though he is “drowning in desolation” he continues to return to the sea Life no matter where it is spent is exile

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Anglo-Saxon Poetry

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  1. Anglo-Saxon Poetry “The Seafarer,” “The Wanderer,” & “The Wife’s Lament

  2. “The Seafarer” • What is this poem about? • A seafarer who drifts away from human companionship • Even though he is “drowning in desolation” he continues to return to the sea • Life no matter where it is spent is exile • The only home is heaven

  3. “The Seafarer”Regular Rhythms • “This tale is true, and mine. It tells” • “But there isn’t a man on earth so proud” • Purpose to oral tradition: helps with memorization of lines

  4. “The Seafarer”Kennings • Eagle’s screams: caw • Summer’s sentinel: the cuckoo • The whale’s home: the sea • Purpose to oral tradition: poetic words used for imagery and memorization

  5. “The Seafarer”Assonance • “To the open ocean, breaking oaths” • Purpose to oral tradition: helps with rhythm and memorization

  6. “The Seafarer”Alliteration • “This tale is true, and mine. It tells” • “My soul roams with the sea, the whales Home, wandering to the widest corners Of the world, returning ravenous with desire, Flying solitary, screaming…” • Provides rhythm and repetition

  7. “The Seafarer”Theme • Wandering With the Anglo-Saxon belief of home, to be wandering was to have nothing • ExileThe Anglo-Saxons did not have patriotism to their country, but to their lord, so to be exiled was to be forsaken and they feared this

  8. Elegy & Lyrics • Lyrical Poetryexpresses the thoughts and feeling of a single speaker's life • Elegiac Poetrya type of lyric poetry where the loss of someone or something is mourned

  9. Question • How is “The Seafarer” an example of elegiac poetry and lyrical poetry?

  10. “The Wanderer” • What is this poem about? • Wanderer has experienced a complete collapse • His lord died • He has no purpose • He has no one to promise his loyalty to • He is left to wander in search of a new lord

  11. “The Wanderer”Kenning • Lines 20-26 • How does the kenning “gold-lord” help you infer the wanderer’s goal?

  12. “The Wanderer”Kenning Answer • Suggests wander’s livelihood is intimately connected with his having a lord, or one who will provide him with gold, or money.

  13. “The Wanderer”Alliteration and Assonance • Read lines 87-92 • What images and ideas do alliteration and assonance bind together in these lines?

  14. Answer • Alliteration: “walls wondrous high,” serpent shapes,” and “carnage…and conquering fate” • Assonance: “warriors” with “memorials”

  15. “The Wanderer”Caesura • How are caesuras used in “The Wanderer?” • Why are caesuras used?

  16. “The Wanderer”Caesura Answer • They are breaks in the middle of a line • Add to rhythmic element, add to meaning they either echo an idea or oppose an idea

  17. “The Wanderer”Theme • Isolation

  18. “The Wife’s Lament”Overview • Speaker has been sent into exile by her husband. • She still longs for her husband • She is angry and bitter about her friendless, lonely, joyless fate she must endure. • Be able to answer essential question on pg. 31

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