The Seafarer and The Wife’s Lament

advise; caution

person or animal that guards

having or showing great warmth of feeling

ill will

sympathizing; pitying

causing sorrow; hard to bear

charm; delightfulness

joy; great pleasure

compensation, as for a wrong

cheerful

rhythmic breaks in the middle of lines, where the reciter could pause for breath

two word poetic renamings of people, places, and things, such as the kenning "whales' home" for the sea

the repetition of vowel sounds in unrhymed, stressed syllables (for example, "batter these ramparts"

the repetition of initial consonant sounds in accented syllables

a lyric poem mourning the loss of someone or something

Though the seafarer "drowns in desolation" at sea, he returns to it again and again, for life itself, no matter where it is spent, is exile. The only home is heaven.

The speaker of this poem has been sent into exile by her husband.

Although she still longs for him, she is bitter and angry about the friendless, lonely, joyless fate she must endure.