An Essay About "The Wanderer"

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English Literature (1) Dr. Sabah Shakury A research paper on" The Wanderer" Themes and Symbolism Prepared by: Mahmoud Mohamad Sulaiman Abdulhaleem Introduction The wanderer “The wanderer” is a poem that was composed early in the fifth or sixth century during the Anglo-Saxon period. In fact, this poem was not written directly but it was passed generation after generation orally for hundreds of years until it was written and preserved in the Exeter Book with a collection of English literary works. It was written in old English and consists of one hundred and fifteen lines. This poem is classified as a lament with an elegiac mood that was so common during that era. It talks about a wanderer who is mostly the speaker of the poem as a warrior who has to go into the experience of the exile. He (the speaker) expresses traditional beliefs about how a wise man should act in addition to the idea of human death fate. All these ideas and more are formed in a difficult language and structure. Summary At the beginning of the poem, the first speaker presents the wanderer as a person who is looking for God's mercy and favor. He says these words as the speech of "earth-walker". he illustrates how miserable it is when sorrow is your only friend . He remembers the pleasure time in the mead-hall and feasting with friends and with his lord, but of course they are all far. He says when he sleeps, he dreams that he has returned and to the lord's hall where he used to meet the lord, embracing and kissing him but when he wakes up he only sees waves and sea-birds ; so sadness still stay with him. He explains how a man can be a wise. A wise man needs enough time – a long time, until he is old. The wise man must be so patient, emotionally stable. He must think deeply before any promise and be specific in his speech. He must not be weak or foolish. So
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