Anglo-Saxon Lyric Poetry: “The Seafarer”

Style

Lyric poetry – poetry that expresses a speaker’s personal thoughts and feelings. Usually short and musical. Emphasizes the experience of the emotion felt.

Elegy – a serious poem of lament, usually mourning a death or other great loss.

Common Elements - Kennings

Kennings - descriptive phrases to replace a noun. Example: “heaven’s candle” = the sun

First my lord went out away from his people over the wave-tumult (sea).

– “The Wife’s Lament”

Common Elements - Themes

Most Anglo-Saxon lyric poems deal with tests of courage.

Reflects the uncertainty of life in the Anglo-Saxon period.

Speakers typically 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.

Anglo-Saxon Lyric Poetry Assignment As you begin the reading

assignment, keep in mind the themes of loneliness, hardship and isolation. Does this poem fit these themes?

Use the provided worksheet to identify kennings, alliteration and caesuras in the poetry.

As well as to identify and define unfamiliar vocabulary from the poems.