The Wanderer: A struggle with Faith Essay -- English Literature

The bird of passage A struggle with FaithIn the Anglo-Saxon poem, The Wanderer, the narrator describes a manwho is having a religious struggle between his old hedonist traditionsand the new Christian Philosophy. Anglo-Saxons believed in fate, fame,and treasure and that one could non advantageously change his life. TheChristian Religion believed of an afterlife in Heaven or Hell, andwhere one would go depended on their actions during their human life.Since Christians did believe in an afterlife, they did not believe inpagan philosophy instead they believed God was in control ofeverything, and things in their life happened for a reason. Followingthis concept, defeat and disaster were easier to accept, because ifone suffered a horrible life on Earth, he would be rewarded for hismisery in the afterlife. The speaker system of the poem describes a greatloss, computer memory the time when he was happy with his kinsmen, Thusspoke such a grasshopper, old griefs in his mind, cold slaugh ters,the terminal of dear kinsmen.None atomic number 18 there now among the living to whoI dare declare me thoroughly, differentiate my hearts thought (6-12). Thestrongest relationship during the Anglo-Saxon time was throughcomitatus, and with the death of his lord and kinsmen, this was takenaway from him. Now without his support system of his comitatus thespeaker is lost, and becomes a wanderer. The horrible experience hehas had of losing his lord has shaken his handed-down Anglo-Saxonbeliefs, and he looks toward Christianity for a different answer.During the time period in which The Wanderer was written, theAnglo-Saxons were torn between the familiar pagan beliefs they have constantly followed and the new hope that the Christian philosophy hadbrough... ... should care too sprybe out of a mans breast in advance he first know the cure a warriorfights on bravely. intumesce is it for him who seeks forgiveness, theHeavenly Fathers solace, in whom all our fastness stands (104-10 8).This aura shows how the narrator still remembers Gods eternal lovefor those who suffer, as well as knowing that there is a life inheaven after his earthly life. The Wanderer reflects the traditionalAnglo-Saxon beliefs, as well as captures the speakers efforts to findthe answers to his deepest questions. His faith in the Anglo-Saxonculture has been shaken, because it has not treated him well. Not onlydid he lose his comitatus, but it also forced him into the outcastexistence that he must live. Even as he turns to Christianity for ananswer and direction, he cannot do looking back fondly on thetraditions that were part of him.