Introduction
The tenth-century Exeter Book contains a short soliloquy known as ‘The Wanderer’. It is set against the background of the reign of King Athelstan (r. 924-39), who united England and opened the way for the English to return to towns in the north and east ransacked by Vikings, now in silent ruin under freezing winter skies.
THE wise must grasp the full horror of that time when all the wealth of this world shall stand empty; already in divers places through this middle-earth, winds shake walls crusted with rime, storm whistles through the buildings.
The feast-halls are crumbling, their lords laid low, bereft of joy, their proud men-at-arms fallen before the wall. Some war has consumed, and borne them on their journey hence; some a bird carried off over the deep sea; some the grey wolf apportioned to death; some a sad-faced earl hid in an earthen grave. Thus the Creator of men laid waste this dwelling-place until, robbed of the bustle of its folk, the ancient handiwork of giants stood empty.
One man gives wise thought to this walled place, pondering deeply this dark life; far off memories of bloody battle crowd his soul, wise with the years; and these words stir within:
“Where now is the horse? Where the young rider? Where the giver of kingly gifts? Where are the houses of feasting? Where the hall’s laughter?
Précis
In the anonymous poem ‘The Wanderer’, an Anglo-Saxon warrior returns to a town ransacked and ruined by Vikings, and is prompted to reflect that one day all the works of men will lie empty and open to the sky. He thinks back over many battles, and sighs for people and places that are gone forever. (55 / 60 words)
In the anonymous poem ‘The Wanderer’, an Anglo-Saxon warrior returns to a town ransacked and ruined by Vikings, and is prompted to reflect that one day all the works of men will lie empty and open to the sky. He thinks back over many battles, and sighs for people and places that are gone forever.
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Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: besides, if, just, may, must, otherwise, whereas, whether.