The poems “The Wanderer” and “The Seafarer”, found in the Exeter Book with unknown authors, represent a lot about what Anglo-Saxon life is about. The Anglo-Saxons are a group of people from the Baltic shores of Germany who drove out the Britons in order to settle the greater part of Britain. The Sutton Hoo treasure, composed of ornate weapons and jewelry, demonstrated that the Anglo-Saxons were great craftsmen, historians, scholars, and poets disparaging the common depiction of them as barbaric. Scops, or bards, were also very important to society.
The storytellers would tell heroic tales, rich in detail, that echoed the reverberation of fame, which may be why they were so important. Their poems convey the AngloSaxon culture through references to religion, allusions to warrior society, and blatant reliance on a leader. Christianity became an important part of the Anglo-Saxon culture when Saint Augustine Il converted King Ethelbert of Kent in 597 A. D. This pivotal moment led to other Anglo-Saxon leaders converting, and Christianity became a unifying force among the Anglo-Saxon people.
Similarly, Christianity is also a large part of “The Seafarer”. In “The Seafarer”, the reader is introduced to an old sailor reflecting on the way of life he has chosen. At first, the Seafarer seems to regret his choice, wondering “[w]ho could understand, / In ignorant ease, what we others suffer / As the paths of exile stretch endlessly on? ” (55-57). He resolves with his choice soon after as his “soul roam[ing] with the sea… wandering to the wildest corners / Of the world, returning ravenous with desire” (59-61).
The Seafarer says that he is often left “[w]ondering what Fate has willed and will do” (43), but firmly believes that “[f]ate is stronger / And God mightier than any man’s mind” (115-116). The Seafarer views Earth as a temporal trial, meant to test mortals on their way “to where our home is… [t]o rise to that eternal joy / That life born in the love of God” (117, 120-121). He concludes his thoughts by saying a prayer, praising God as the “unchanging creator of earth” (124). His faith shows that he is a temporal warrior in the fight for eternal glory.
The Anglo-Saxons belong to what is known as a warrior society where warriors are valued and treated with the highest forms of respect. In “The Wanderer”, the reader is introduced to a grieving soldier mourning the loss of his comrades and lord. The lone soldier reminisces of “[s]ome battle launched on their long, last journey… by the wall they defended” (73, 72). He remembers the “[b]estowal of treasure, and sharing of feast… the bright ale cup” being presented to them after battle in honor of his company’s efforts (85-86). On the other hand, the Seafarer does not concentrate on what he lacks, such as “rewards… assion for women… [or] worldly pleasures” (44-45).
Instead, he feels blessed with “[n]othing, only the ocean’s heave… Flying solitary, screaming, exciting me” (46, 62). The old sailor is content with the life he has chosen, and needs nothing else but God’s blessing to compensate him. However, the Wanderer depends heavily on a lord to guide him. Anglo-Saxon law and order was the responsibility of the leader in his or her clan, family, kingdom, or tribe. Fame, success, and survival was achieved through loyalty to such a leader, especially success which was measured in gifts from the leader.
This system of loyal dependency is observed in “The Wanderer”. “Head on knee, hand on knee, loyally laying, / Pledging his liege as in days long past” the Wanderer recalls that precious moment until it is replaced by “the dark earth cover[ing] [his] dear lord’s face (37-38, 21). The death of the leader leaves the soldier in exile, “woefully toiling on wintry seas/With churning oar in the icy wave / Homeless and helpless he fled from fate… mindful of misery… and death of kin” (3-7).
Without the protecction of his overlord, the Wanderer ilacks a defining urpose in life, sailing “over wintry seas, seeking a gold-lord… to befriend me / With gift in the mead-hall and comfort of grief” and daydreaming of better days. (23-25). {TRANSITION] The Exeter Book was a manuscript of miscellaneous Anglo-Saxon poems that included both “The Wanderer” and “The Seafarer”. From daunting tasks at sea to dreaming about the comforts of home, many Anglo-Saxon poems deal with the dismal life of a sea voyager struggling against the elements. These two elegiac poems give readers a glimpse of what Anglo-Saxon life was like near 940 A. D.
Though the tales may seem grim, there’s always a brightness that accompanies it. In this particular case, Christianity was the radiance beginning to unify the people together. For guidance, soldiers relied on the direction of a goldlord to keep soldiers on task and steer them towards gleaming gold and victory. Furthermore, the loyal dependency system practiced shows the audience what a warrior class society was like. All of these fundamental components were crucial to the survival of the Anglo-Saxon nation and can still be found today in these literary delicacies today.