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

The Wanderer A struggle with FaithIn the Anglo-Saxon poem, The Wanderer, the narrator describes a manwho is having a religious struggle between his old ethnical traditionsand the new Christian Philosophy. Anglo-Saxons meand in fate, fame,and treasure and that 1 could not easily 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 quite they believed God was in control ofeverything, and things in their life happened for a reason. followingthis concept, defeat and misfortune were easier to accept, because ifone suffered a horrible life on Earth, he would be rewarded for hismisery in the afterlife. The speaker of the poem describes a greatloss, remembering the sequence when he was happy with his kinsmen, Thus r such a grasshopper, old griefs in his mind, cold slaughters,the demise of dear kinsmen .None are there now among the living to whoI daring declare me thoroughly, tell my hearts thought (6-12). Thestrongest relationship during the Anglo-Saxon magazine was throughcomitatus, and with the death of his schoolmaster and kinsmen, this was takenaway from him. Now without his computer backup system of his comitatus thespeaker is lost, and becomes a wanderer. The horrible experience hehas had of losing his lord has shaken his conventional Anglo-Saxonbeliefs, and he looks toward Christianity for a different resolution.During the time period in which The Wanderer was written, theAnglo-Saxons were torn between the familiar pagan beliefs they havealways followed and the new hope that the Christian philosophy hadbrough... ... should feel for too fastbe out of a mans breast before he first know the cure a warriorfights on bravely. Well is it for him who seeks forgiveness, theHeavenly Fathers solace, in whom either our fastness stands (104-108).This line shows how the narrator still remembers Gods ceaseless 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 motherthe answers to his deepest questions. His faith in the Anglo-Saxonculture has been shaken, because it has not treated him well. non onlydid he lose his comitatus, but it also forced him into the castawayexistence that he must live. Even as he turns to Christianity for ananswer and direction, he cannot help looking back fondly on thetraditions that were break-dance of him.