Anglo-Saxon Poetry

Although written almost 1,600 years ago, early Anglo-Saxon poetry expresses timeless, inextricably human questions and emotions that make the reading as relevant today as it was in the 5th and 6th centuries. As modern readers, the poetry resonates with the poet and philosopher in all of us. Questions about existence, the meaning of life, individual purpose and significance arouse feelings of anxiety, forlornness, joy, mystery, elation, and sadness. An interesting aspect for the modern reader is the Anglo-Saxon perspective on Fate. The speakers in "The Seafarer" and "The Wanderer" seem to solemnly accept their fate as exiled and lonely travellers on the sea or on land. The work they do for their lord, or king (remember the hierarchical structure of Anglo-Saxon society) gives them a purpose, and without this purpose their life has no meaning. As they struggle to find and affirm meaning amidst toil and hardship, the modern reader cannot help but identify with them, which makes these poems so timeless and enjoyable.