EN372 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Exeter Book, Bayeux Tapestry, Alliterative Verse
Document Summary
The wanderer and the rise of middle english. The idea not to be too keen on things. One of the oe poems preserved in the exeter book (10th century) Elegiacal in tone passing of life (all arranged in exeter book but not together) In tandem with the seafarer may be written by the same person but this is uncertain: composer and compiler are anonymous though, titles of each assigned by the first person on the exeter book. Likely composed 597 ce but this is unknown based on christian influence. Meter is similar to standard oe 4 stressed lines broken by caesura and contain alliterations. Talking about the ocean and its cold barrenness similar in the seafarer (as the path of life: waves being fallow (pregnant = not flat, frost, cold and hail. Mention of seabirds also similar in the seafarer. Idea of patience and moderation in all things: also a christian idea.
