Journal 6

Journal 6:  Certain motifs, or recurring ideas, such as the journey, exile, and fate, appear frequently in many Anglo-Saxon works. What recurrent motifs have you found in the three works? Cite evidence in the text to support your answers.

            Motifs, reoccurring ideas, of journey, exile, fate, religion appear frequently in Anglo Saxon works. “The Seafarer,” written by Burton Raffel, is about a man, who is reminiscing and evaluating the life as he lived it. The Seafarer’s main themes are of exile, hardship, and loneliness. In the poem, lines 1-33 describe the hardships the man faced through his journey of life on the sea, and lines 33-66 describe his yearning of the sea despite these hardships. Although the man is described as resenting the hardships he faces in his isolated world, it is conveyed that the man still holds a feeling of emotional attachment to the sea. Phrases such as “my feet were cast with in icy bands” and “How wretched I was… alone in a world blown clear of love,” convey the amount of difficulties the man had in his journeys. It also represents that the exile theme that is so common amongst Anglo-Saxon literature. Despite this, the quote “The time for journeys would come eagerly over my soul called me eagerly out, sent me over the horizon, seeking foreigner’s homes,” shows that the man is thrilled and excited about the thrill each journey brings. In a way, it is his fate to wander the sea and embark on these difficult journeys. Lastly, quotes such as “Thus the joys of God are fervent with life” and “With the angels, life eternally blessed in the hosts of heaven,” end the poem with a religious connection, another theme prevalent in Anglo-Saxon literature.

The “Wanderer” is told from the view of a man who is in solitary exile and ruin. Once upon a time, this man lived in prosperity serving and helping is lord. Now his kingdom was gone, never to return to is again. The poem starts out with the phrase, “The lonely traveler longs for grace”. Immediately, the story throws the Anglo Saxon motifs of exile and loneliness towards the readers. While in exile and hardship, the man conveys his past stories as a warrior in his lord’s band of retainers. He remembers that in the days of prosperity how he served his lord so proudly in times of need. “When, young and yearning, with my lord I yet feasted.” The man shows that he yearns for the brighter days once more, and concludes with an admonition to put faith in God. In a sense, it can be said that fate turned against this poor man to put him in such exile and hardship. The man feels that he can regain his former glory by finding wisdom beyond earthly values through a new salvation of God.

    Grendel is told from the view of a murderous monster born in the form of Cain. Grendel is riddled with reoccurring Anglo-Saxon themes involving journeys, hardship, and loneliness. Throughout the novel, Grendel is seen constantly going to the mead hall to pick out his latest victims. These mead hall raids can be seen as a reoccurring journey that is occurring over and over again. Grendel also feels lonely and wishes that someone or something could understand his views on the worlds. He is infuriated by the shapers words and resolves to violence to prove such heroic stories wrong. Grendel can be seen as a misunderstood, confused individual. In the beginning of the novel, Grendel wants to make peace with the humans, but what human would dare befriend a hideous monster such as Grendel. This conveys the motif of loneliness. The humans endure hardship and misfortune, another Anglo-Saxon motif, as Grendel terrorizes the mead hall.