Upon reading The Wanderer, the first thing one notices is the dark, depressing mood of the poem. However, many people miss the overarching message of hope

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Choi

Justin Choi

Professor Brokaw

Literature 40: Intro to British Literature

24 September 2012

He Came, He Saw, He Wandered

        Upon reading “The Wanderer”, the first thing one notices is the dark, depressing mood of the poem. However, many people miss the overarching message of hope that prevails in spite of the Wanderer’s unfortunate situation. By analyzing the Wanderer’s meditations on sorrow, wisdom, and life during his exile the reader finds hope beyond a chaotic and destructive world through salvation with God. This is important to note as it shows the Wanderer is not a pitiful outcast being, but a shining example of how people must find strength in God during the temporary struggles of life.

        At the beginning of the poem, the Wanderer laments that he is alone and wishes for mercy from God, but acknowledges that “fate is firmly set” (5). Because he knows a “downcast heart wont defy destiny,/ nor the sad spirit give sustenance” (15-16) he decides to keep his thoughts about how difficult his life is to himself while he meditates in solitude. He goes on to remember how good his life used to be and remarks that when he thinks of all these things it only makes him sadder. The Wanderer then wonders why he does not feel completely hopeless despite these seemingly insurmountable troubles. “Therefore, I don’t know why my woeful heart/ should not wax dark in this wide world/ when I look back on the life of eorls” (58-60). What he is saying is that he does not know why he does not despair when he remembers the good times even though they make him incredibly sad. The rest of the poem is spent trying to find an answer to this question.

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        To do so, the Wanderer begins by describing the qualities of a wise man.

No one is wise without his share of winters

in the world’s kingdom. A wise man must be patient,

 not too hot of heart nor hasty of speech,

…………………………………………

and never eager to commit until he can be sure.

…………………………………………

A wise man must know the misery of that time

when the world’s wealth shall all stand waste. (64-66, 69, 73-74)

 In short, the Wanderer says that in addition to being old, a wise man does not share his troubles with the ...

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