The Seafarer
Poetry
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Anonymous
The Seafarer Main Text
The Seafarer
Translated by Ezra Pound
May I for my own self song’s truth reckon, Journey’s jargon, how I in harsh days Hardship endured oft. Bitter breast-cares have I abided, Known on my keel many a care’s hold, And dire sea-surge, and there I oft spent Narrow nightw...The Seafarer Themes
Here are the major themes of the Old English poem The Seafarer.
Exile and Loneliness
The Seafarer vividly describes the physical and emotional toll of his self-imposed exile at sea. He is isolated from the warmth and security of land, separated from his kinsmen, and exposed to the harsh elements of nature. The howling winds, freezing...
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The Seafarer Key Facts
The Seafarer Key Facts
Title: The Seafarer
Author: Anonymous
[The Seafarer is an Old English poem giving a first-person account of a man alone on the sea.]
Manuscript Source: Preserved in the Exeter Book, a 1...
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The Seafarer Summary
The poem begins with the Seafarer recounting his travels at sea and his hardships. He describes the harsh conditions he has endured as a sailor, including freezing cold nights, hunger, and loneliness. He recalls his time as a night watchman at the prow of the ship, where he was drenched by the waves and overwhelmed by the wildness of the sea and the sharp cliffs. Hi...
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