““The Seafarer”The Seafarer”

Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon Lyric Lyric Sailor’s POVSailor’s POV Isolation Theme – longing for land and seaIsolation Theme – longing for land and sea Home – ultimately the seaHome – ultimately the sea

DictionDiction

Lord – master and “man in charge”Lord – master and “man in charge” Gannet – large, web-footed sea-birdGannet – large, web-footed sea-bird

““The Wife’s Lament”The Wife’s Lament”

Lyric (at times narrative)Lyric (at times narrative) Wife’s POVWife’s POV Theme of love torn apartTheme of love torn apart Husband may have killed wife?Husband may have killed wife?

DictionDiction

Aphorism – a short saying offering some Aphorism – a short saying offering some kind of advice or lesson kind of advice or lesson

Earth Cave – known as a graveEarth Cave – known as a grave

““Wulf and Eadwacer”Wulf and Eadwacer”

Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon LyricLyric Unknown Female POVUnknown Female POV Wulf – the love of the speakerWulf – the love of the speaker Eadwacer – the man she is/was “with” or Eadwacer – the man she is/was “with” or

the one that split Wulf and speaker the one that split Wulf and speaker apartapart

Theme of lost loveTheme of lost love

DictionDiction

Island – a piece of land completely Island – a piece of land completely surrounded by watersurrounded by water

~could be figurative idea of isolation!~could be figurative idea of isolation!

““Bonny Barbara Allen”Bonny Barbara Allen”

MedievalMedieval Folk Ballad and NarrativeFolk Ballad and Narrative Slighted Female POVSlighted Female POV Theme of vengeance and unreciprocated Theme of vengeance and unreciprocated

lovelove She seeks revenge on Sir John Graene, She seeks revenge on Sir John Graene,

then herself diesthen herself dies Melodious with a serious contentMelodious with a serious content

DictionDiction

Rhyme Scheme – the pattern of rhyme for Rhyme Scheme – the pattern of rhyme for the last word of each line in a poemthe last word of each line in a poem

Knell – the sound of a bell rung slowly for Knell – the sound of a bell rung slowly for a funerala funeral

““Twa Corbies”Twa Corbies”

MedievalMedieval Folk Ballad (narrative)Folk Ballad (narrative) 2 Crows POV – 22 Crows POV – 2ndnd Person Person 11stst Person – POV – man that overhears corbies Person – POV – man that overhears corbies Theme of Diminishing Loyalty; Insignificance of Theme of Diminishing Loyalty; Insignificance of

LifeLife Everything/one in the knight’s life has moved on Everything/one in the knight’s life has moved on

and he is “crow’s meat”and he is “crow’s meat” Morbid!Morbid!

DictionDiction

Twa - twoTwa - two Fail dyke – wall of turfFail dyke – wall of turf Hause-bane – neck boneHause-bane – neck bone

““Sir Patrick Spens”Sir Patrick Spens”

MedievalMedieval Folk BalladFolk Ballad 33rdrd Person Unknown POV – sympathetic to Person Unknown POV – sympathetic to

the lot of Sir Patrick Spens and his menthe lot of Sir Patrick Spens and his men Theme – tragic deathTheme – tragic death Shipwreck of a Scottish knight/sailor and Shipwreck of a Scottish knight/sailor and

his menhis men

DictionDiction Omen - anything perceived or happening Omen - anything perceived or happening

that is believed to portend a good or that is believed to portend a good or evil event or circumstance in the evil event or circumstance in the

future; future; portent portent New moon wi’ the old moon in her arm – New moon wi’ the old moon in her arm –

This natural phenomenon in which an This natural phenomenon in which an outline of the old moon is seen filling outline of the old moon is seen filling out the crescent of the new moon out the crescent of the new moon

was was considered an omen of bad things to considered an omen of bad things to come (text)come (text)

““I Sing of a Maiden”I Sing of a Maiden”

MedievalMedievalLyric poemLyric poem33rdrd Person Unknown POV Person Unknown POVReligious Theme - Celebrates Religious Theme - Celebrates Virgin MaryVirgin MaryCode of courtly loveCode of courtly loveSecular – coming of springSecular – coming of springSimile – Jesus = SpringSimile – Jesus = Spring

DictionDiction Courtly loveCourtly love – the code of behavior – the code of behavior

between women and their suitorsbetween women and their suitors SimileSimile – comparison of two unlike things – comparison of two unlike things

using like or asusing like or as PunPun – a play on words – a play on words MatchlessMatchless – unequaled; without a mate – unequaled; without a mate

““Ubi Sunt Qui Ante Nos Fuerunt?”Ubi Sunt Qui Ante Nos Fuerunt?”

MedievalMedieval Lyric; Folk BalladLyric; Folk Ballad 22ndnd (us) or 1 (us) or 1stst Person Unknown POV – Person Unknown POV –

warningwarning Theme of fear of death for living Theme of fear of death for living

materialistically – heaven v. hellmaterialistically – heaven v. hell Heaven – Where are they? The ones that Heaven – Where are they? The ones that

were born before us?were born before us?