The Wanderer, The Seafarer And Beowulf Analysis

Literature: Common Points between Caedmon’s Hymn, the Wanderer, the Seafarer, and Beowulf

The literary poems Caedmon’s Hymn, the Wanderer, the Seafarer, and Beowulf from the Anglo-Saxon period all share common points. First of all, all their authors remain unknown, because of how long ago they were written (from the 5’th to the 11’th century), although Caedmon’s Hymn had been translated from old English to Latin by the monk Venerable Bede from the 7’th to the 8’th century. Another common point between all the texts is the loyalty towards their lords from the protagonists. Beowulf, in the epic Beowulf, risks his life to kill the monsters, Grendel and his mother, and the Dragon, to obey Hrothgar, his ring-giver. In the Wanderer, the narrator finds himself grieved because of the loss of his lord, who he has buried. The Seafarer also states that he wishes to go back to land to find a new ring-giver, for he has been exiled from his home land. Loyalty to their ring-givers was an Anglo-Saxon way of life; they would serve their lords and protect him, while he would cover them in gifts, which is why they would also be called by the name “ring-giver” or “gift-giver”. Most of the works mention death by sword and death of close ones, for the sword was a common weapon at the time and there could often be quarrels between two tribes or communities. The Wanderer mourns his dead companions, which have all died in battle, while the Seafarer explains that the reason why he hesitates to