"The Wanderer" (pp. 20-23)

1. Introduction (ll. 1-7)
   1. In what circumstances does the sailor find himself? Where is he? Why is he there?
   2. List words with strong, negative connotation that help to establish the poem's mood.
2. 2nd verse paragraph (ll. 8-17)
   1. Who is the speaker of these lines?
   2. What does the speaker believe characterizes a hero?
3. 3rd verse paragraph (ll. 18-25)
   1. What has the speaker tried to do in recent times?
   2. What happened to his lord?
4. 4th verse paragraph (ll. 26-51)
   1. What happens to the Wanderer that intensifies the suffering that he has already experienced?
   2. Look up the word juxtaposition in a dictionary. Describe the juxtaposition in this verse paragraph.
5. 5th verse paragraph (ll. 52-65)
   1. What are lessons about life that the speaker of this verse paragraph has learned?
   2. What characteristics does the wise man possess?
6. 6th verse paragraph (ll. 66-79)

Detail the scene the wise man describes in this verse paragraph. Be specific in your illustrations.

7. 7th verse paragraph (ll. 80-93)

What issues does the speaker bring up in this verse paragraph that are inspired by the scene that he describes in verse paragraph 6?

8. 8th verse paragraph (ll. 94-102)

What lesson about life in general does the speaker learn after his reflection in verse paragraphs 6 and 7?

9. 9th verse paragraph

Why does the poem lend itself to the Christian monk's addition of Christian elements? (How are the beliefs in this pagan poem similar to beliefs in Christianity?)

10. The entire poem
    1. One interpretation suggests that there are two speakers: one a younger man, the other an older wise man. Another maintains that the poem has one speaker who grows in understanding his situation. Which sounds more reasonable?
    2. What about the story of the wanderer lends itself to Christianizing?
    3. How is "The Wanderer" similar to "The Seafarer"?
11. Literary terms
    1. caesura
    2. alliteration
    3. persona
    4. rhythm