The Exeter Book :: Old English Poetry Literature Essays

The Exeter Book The Exeter Book is the largest existing collection of Old English poetry. The manuscript was given to the library of Exeter Cathedral by its first bishop, Leofric, at the end of the tenth century. The book consists of 131 parchment leaves which measure approximately 12.5 by 8.6 inches. The most famous works contained in the Exeter Book include â€Å"The Wanderer,† â€Å"The Wife’s Lament,† â€Å"The Seafarer,† and â€Å"Wulf and Eadwacer.† In addition to the 31 major poems, 96 riddles are also included in the collection. The manuscript was likely copied by a single scribe in 975, though â€Å"The Wanderer† is though to date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes’ conversion to Christianity in the sixth century. â€Å"The Wife’s Lament† may have pre-dated â€Å"The Wanderer† because â€Å"it offers none of the typical Christian consolation for her despair and appears to reflect a pre-conversion, pagan attitude tow ards ones’ fate† (The Exeter Book). Both poems are invaluable resources in their depiction of the precepts and roles of men and women in Anglo-Saxon society. â€Å"The Wanderer† is an elegy, or a lament for the dead and the glories of the past. The narrator of the poem has lost his kin in battle and is wandering alone and contemplating the temporal nature of life. It is clear that the narrator respects the comitatus, the bond of loyalty between a lord and his warriors, as is illustrated when he recalls â€Å"embracing and kissing his liege lord and laying his hands and his head on his knee† (Wanderer 101). The stoic attitude of the narrator is reflective of the Anglo-Saxon culture in which men were supposed to be brave and unemotional. Despite this convention, the narrator’s sorrow is strongly conveyed in the Ubi Sunt (‘Where are they?’) passage when he asks, â€Å"Where has the horse gone? Where the young warrior? Where is the giver of the treasure?† (Wanderer 101). The narrator’s lament also displays the permeating cultural belief that everything in life is predetermined by fate. This is seen when the narrator envisions the end of the world in everlasting winter when â€Å"all the earth’s kingdom is wretched [and] the world beneath the skies is changed by the work of the fates† (Wanderer 102). The poem ends with a strong reference to Christianity in the lines, â€Å"It will be well with him who seeks favor, comfort from the Father in heaven, where for us all stability resides† (Wanderer 102).

Animals and Birds Should Never Be Kept in Cages

â€Å"Animals and birds should never be kept in cages† A cage is defined as an enclosure used to confine or protect something. People nowadays keep animals in cages for entertainment and profit purposes. However, there are other reasons, such as the importance of preserving the species to ensure it does not go into extinction and giving people a chance to appreciate wildlife that is impossible to find in a modern city. Therefore, to a great extent I agree that animals and birds should be kept in cages. To begin with, caging animals and birds prevent them from going into extinction. By caging animals in enclosures that simulate their natural environments, these animals will not be vulnerable. They are allowed to roam around the space provided without their natural instinct to live in the â€Å"wild† being destroyed. By providing animals and birds food and proper medical care, their healths are taken care of. If we let the animals live in the wild untouched, they may be prone to contracting diseases. Not only that, they are more subjected to being hunted. Furthermore, animals are not evenly distributed around the world due to the differences in the habitats that they live in. These animals allow humans to appreciate wildlife more. Humans will be exposed to different types of species available including those that exist in natural abundance and those that are endangered. This increases their awareness about the wild. By portraying endangered species, humans may pay more attention to preserve them. This also helps to prevent animals from going into extinction. For instance, the White Tigers at the Singapore Zoological Garden are kept in enclosures that resemble their natural habitat. According to research, there are six subspecies of tigers left in the world and one of them is The White Tigers. On the flip side, some people may claim that caging the animals and birds is unethical as it deprives them of their freedom. However, I cannot agree to this statement. As I have stated, animals are kept in enclosures that are big enough for them to roam around. This does not deprive animals of their freedom. In conclusion, it is important to cage animals as it reaps benefits for both animals and humans. Indeed, it is my conviction that animals and birds should be kept in cages.

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