Page "The Wanderer (poem)" Paragraph 4

The Wanderer conveys the meditations of a solitary exile on his past glories as a warrior in his lord's band of retainers, his present hardships and the values of forbearance and faith in the heavenly Lord.

The warrior is identified as eardstapa ( line 6a ), usually translated as " wanderer ", who roams the cold seas and walks " paths of exile " ( wræclastas ).

He remembers the days when he served his lord, feasted together with comrades, and received precious gifts from the lord.

Yet fate ( wyrd ) turned against him when he lost his lord, kinsmen and comrades in battle and was driven into exile.