"The Wanderer" Study Questions 1. What is the main loss that the Wanderer says he mourns?
2. What five other losses follow from this central loss?
3. Why did the Wanderer leave his home and embark on this sea voyage? (Lines 20-25)
4. What three happier memories does the Wanderer recall? (Lines 30-52)
5. Although the Wanderer values the wisdom of old age, what unstated loss might the Wanderer also be mourning? (Lines 52-60)
6. On what does the Wanderer blame these loses? (Lines 61-80)
7. How do these loses color his entire life?
8. How does the Wanderer personify sorrow (Lines 26-28)?
9. What is his attitude toward sorrow and what has he learned about sorrow?
10. How (5 ways) does the Wanderer describe a wise man (Lines 59-64)?
11. What are three words repeated in the poem that can summarize the Wanderer's attitude?
12. Explain how the wintry images and the nature images in the poem suit the speaker's mood.
13. When the Wanderer says that no man may be considered wise "who cannot reckon / many winters in the world," What does he mean?
14. What has the Wanderer learned about sorrow and misfortune?
15. Starting at line 62, the speaker moves from a personal perspective to a more spiritual, worldly outlook. Explain, using specific references to the text (Imagery, specific words, figurative language), what the speaker discusses and his attitude toward the concept/topic. **Hint-It is a religious event***