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”?

“The Norse Raiders” Video

From which countries did the Vikings originate?

What were the causes of the Vikings expansion from their homelands?

How did they treat their victims? How far did they explore in the Atlantic and

in the Mediterranean? Describe the Viking religion.