The ElegyThe Elegy

a poem that mourns the a poem that mourns the death of a person or laments death of a person or laments

something lostsomething lost

• The dominant mood in Anglo-Saxon The dominant mood in Anglo-Saxon poetry is elegiac.poetry is elegiac.

• It reflects a sense of sadness over It reflects a sense of sadness over the grimness and transient nature of the grimness and transient nature of earthly life that is found in the epic.earthly life that is found in the epic.

• It is also found in several Old English It is also found in several Old English poems and fragments in which a poems and fragments in which a bard laments the passing greater bard laments the passing greater days and greater glories.days and greater glories.

““The Seafarer”The Seafarer”

• From the Exeter Book, a manuscript From the Exeter Book, a manuscript of miscellaneous Anglo-Saxon poems of miscellaneous Anglo-Saxon poems dating from around A.D. 940.dating from around A.D. 940.

• Based on oral tradition and recorded Based on oral tradition and recorded by monks.by monks.

• The “songs” of the Exeter book are The “songs” of the Exeter book are the chief source of Anglo-Saxon the chief source of Anglo-Saxon poetry.poetry.

Social/cultural basis for the Social/cultural basis for the poempoem

• Anglo-Saxons were sea voyagersAnglo-Saxons were sea voyagers

• Northern seas were then– as now – Northern seas were then– as now – especially cruel. The weather is especially cruel. The weather is harsh and the seas rough.harsh and the seas rough.

• The speaker in “The Seafarer” is an The speaker in “The Seafarer” is an old sailor who drifted through many old sailor who drifted through many winters on ice-cold seas.winters on ice-cold seas.

Primary theme – “fatalism”Primary theme – “fatalism”

• Reflects mood of deep gloom and Reflects mood of deep gloom and pessimismpessimism

• Life was brief and filled with perilLife was brief and filled with peril• One’s fate or wyrd was inescapableOne’s fate or wyrd was inescapable• Many scholars believe A/S were quick Many scholars believe A/S were quick

to embrace Christianity because it to embrace Christianity because it offered comfort and relief from the offered comfort and relief from the bleak pagan outlook.bleak pagan outlook.

Secondary theme - “exile”Secondary theme - “exile”

• A recurrent theme in A/S poetryA recurrent theme in A/S poetry

• Isolation might come from accidents Isolation might come from accidents at sea or the aftermath of battle at sea or the aftermath of battle (especially if one’s lord or protector (especially if one’s lord or protector were killed).were killed).

• Many A/S poems contrast joy and Many A/S poems contrast joy and security of the tribal banqueting hall security of the tribal banqueting hall with misery or danger with misery or danger