Transcript Anglo-Saxon Lyric Poetry

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.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wTFMU
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