anglo-saxon lyric poetry “the seafarer” “the wanderer” “the wife’s lament” all three...
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Anglo-Saxon Lyric Poetry
“The Seafarer”
“The Wanderer”
“The Wife’s Lament”
All three poems come
from the Exeter Book.
Common Elements - Kennings
They use kennings, which are descriptive phrases to replace a noun, such as “heaven’s candle” for the sun.
First my lord went out away from his people over the wave-tumult (sea).
– “The Wife’s Lament”
Common Elements - Themes
All three lyric poems deal with tests of courage.
All three lyric poems reflect the uncertainty of life in the Anglo-Saxon period.
All three speakers suffer from extreme loneliness and struggle against the odds to keep their spirits alive.
“The Seafarer” Kennings in place of
simple nouns. Details to enable
visualization (imagery).
Moods clearly defined by description.
Alliteration gives poem rhythm.
Inconsistent ending.
“The Wanderer” Kennings in place of
simple nouns. Details to enable
visualization (imagery).
Moods clearly defined by description.
Alliteration gives poem rhythm.
Inconsistent ending.
“The Wife’s Lament” Caesuras (pause in
middle of lines) gives poem a sense of sadness and weariness.
Kennings in place of simple nouns.
Details to enable visualization (imagery).
Moods clearly defined by description.
Alliteration gives poem rhythm.
Assignment Package –Anglo-Saxon Lyric Poetry As you begin the reading
assignment, keep in mind the themes of loneliness, hardship and isolation. Do the poems fit these themes?
Identify kennings. Identify alliteration and
caesuras. Identify and define
vocabulary from the poems.
Anglo-Saxon Lyric Poetry Review
Please record the following questions, and answer in complete sentences.
“The Seafarer”
What is the theme (poet’s main point) of this poem?
In the speaker’s opinion, what is the difference between life at sea and life on land?
Describe the speaker’s relationship to the sea. How does he feel about it?
What affect does the “lure of the sea” have on the speaker?
“The Wanderer”
Why is the speaker in this poem considered to be a “lonely traveler”?
Why does the speaker live in exile? What is the speaker’s view on those who
have wisdom?
“The Wife’s Lament”
How did the speaker become separated from her husband?
How does the speaker feel about this separation?
Why did the speaker move to the “den in the earth”?
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