Beowulf: a Seafarer and Wanderer?
An obvious theme in the “The Seafarer” and “The Wanderer,” is exile; both narrators are immured at sea. What readers may not realize, in the beginning, is that Beowulf is also exiled. Beowulf exiles himself when he goes into battle. In many parts of his speech to Hrothgar, Beowulf refers to himself alone. “This one favor you should not refuse me—that I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall…” (Holt 25). Beowulf relies less on the men than on himself; he willingly exiles himself in order to defeat Grendel.
Another common theme in the three works of literature is elegy. The Seafarer laments the warmth and beauty that the spring and summer months bring; “Orchards blossom, the towns bloom, fields grow lovely as the world springs fresh, and all these admonish that willing mind leaping to journeys…” (Holt 89). The Wanderer laments his king and tribe; “He sees his kinsmen slaughtered again, and cries…” (Holt 104). In “Beowulf,” Hrothgar and the rest of the Danes grieve for the fallen warriors that were killed at the hands of Grendel; “Hrothgar, their lord, sat joyless in Herot, a mighty prince mourning the fate of his lost friends and companions…” (Holt 22).
Another common theme in the three works of literature is elegy. The Seafarer laments the warmth and beauty that the spring and summer months bring; “Orchards blossom, the towns bloom, fields grow lovely as the world springs fresh, and all these admonish that willing mind leaping to journeys…” (Holt 89). The Wanderer laments his king and tribe; “He sees his kinsmen slaughtered again, and cries…” (Holt 104). In “Beowulf,” Hrothgar and the rest of the Danes grieve for the fallen warriors that were killed at the hands of Grendel; “Hrothgar, their lord, sat joyless in Herot, a mighty prince mourning the fate of his lost friends and companions…” (Holt 22).