The Wanderer Diction
The Anglo-Saxon time period was full of exceptional warriors where epic poems were commonly used by monks to educate the people of England, for much of the population was illiterate. These spoken poems were made for either entertainment purposes or to send a special message. While some poems talk about exciting battles and brute strength, “The Wanderer” is a lament. Filled with strife and loss, the unknown poet uses anaphora, tone, and diction to help create a melancholic tone.
In the beginning of the poem, the unknown author uses diction with negative connotation such as “frozen”, “cruel”, and “sorrow”. The poet has experienced a great loss. With such a loss, the speaker often sees hallucinations of his king, a man he had fought beside until his death. Even far away from the kingdom, roaming through the icy cold alone, these memories still haunt him. This excerpt shows his pain, his longing for his king is so intense that it causes him to hallucinate: “Sometimes it seems I see my lord, Kiss and embrace him, bend my hands And head to his knee, kneeling as though He still sat enthroned, ruling his …show more content…
Where is the warrior?
Where is his war-lord?
Where now the feasting-places? Where now the mead-hall
Pleasures?
Alas, bright cup! Alas, brave knight!
Alas, you glorious prince! All gone,
Lost in the night, as you never had lived.” (Lines 90-94)
The repetitive structures of the quote suggests the bitterness he has toward the whole situation. And because this was the type of poem to be read out loud, the repeat of the words “where” and “alas” create rhythm and a make it more pleasant toward the ear.
“It’s good to guard your faith, nor let your grief come forth
Until it cannot call for help, no help but heed
The path you’ve place before it. It’s good to find your grace
In God, the heavenly rock where rests our every hope.” (Lines 110-113) He shifts from sorrow of the loss of his friends, again, to the hope and faith he has in god to help
In the beginning of the poem, the unknown author uses diction with negative connotation such as “frozen”, “cruel”, and “sorrow”. The poet has experienced a great loss. With such a loss, the speaker often sees hallucinations of his king, a man he had fought beside until his death. Even far away from the kingdom, roaming through the icy cold alone, these memories still haunt him. This excerpt shows his pain, his longing for his king is so intense that it causes him to hallucinate: “Sometimes it seems I see my lord, Kiss and embrace him, bend my hands And head to his knee, kneeling as though He still sat enthroned, ruling his …show more content…
Where is the warrior?
Where is his war-lord?
Where now the feasting-places? Where now the mead-hall
Pleasures?
Alas, bright cup! Alas, brave knight!
Alas, you glorious prince! All gone,
Lost in the night, as you never had lived.” (Lines 90-94)
The repetitive structures of the quote suggests the bitterness he has toward the whole situation. And because this was the type of poem to be read out loud, the repeat of the words “where” and “alas” create rhythm and a make it more pleasant toward the ear.
“It’s good to guard your faith, nor let your grief come forth
Until it cannot call for help, no help but heed
The path you’ve place before it. It’s good to find your grace
In God, the heavenly rock where rests our every hope.” (Lines 110-113) He shifts from sorrow of the loss of his friends, again, to the hope and faith he has in god to help