In the lyrics “The Seafarer,” “The Wanderer,” and “The Wife’s Lament,” exile was one of many causes of the Anglo-Saxon anxiety. Anglo-Saxon’s lived on an island where it was often cold and wintery. The towns on the island were often large to help with safety, this is why exile was of great concern back then. Whether the exile was being self imposed or enforced by a greater character, life on their own was a scary thought. In the lyrics “The Seafarer,” “The Wanderer,” and “The Wife’s Lament,” an individual was removed from their homeland or normal lives and forced to live somewhere else.
In the lyric “The Wife’s Lament,” a woman’s husband was sent a great distance to war, leaving her all alone for an enduring period of time. She began to feel as if he would never return home to her. She lived her days in exile, having nobody to support her, protect her, or care for her. She spent her says fearing her husband would never return home to her again. Her husband’s kinsman returned and told her to that her husband would never return home to her. She feared this was true and due to the dismay overwhelming her heart, she
…show more content…
His homeland, lord, and kinsmen were all wiped out in the war. He went into exile because he lost everything he knew in life. The man traveled everywhere in search for this new lord to provide him with shelter and protection. While on his journey he travel through the harsh, wintery sea. The exile was difficult for the speaker mostly due to him not having anyone to spend his days with. He spent all of his days at sea, alone. The speaker talks about how the exile would be much simpler if he had someone with him to keep him company for the long winter days at sea. “Often to the wanderer, weary of exile, Cometh God’s pity, compassionate love, Though woefully toiling on wintry seas with churning oar in the icy wave” (lns.