The Wanderer is a staple of Anglo-Saxon fiction and has been recited for countless centuries to new audiences. The poem follows the story of a former warrior who currently lives a life of solitude. After the loss of his lord and kin, the warrior (the titular "wanderer") sets out to sea in an attempt to find a sense of spirituality and understanding after all the tragedy he has endured. The true protagonist of the poem is a very fascinating and in-depth character that many have certainly studied. During the Middle Ages, the protagonists of Anglo-Saxon works often reflected the ideal qualities of a heroic man in society. The Wanderer provides a quintessential example of this aforementioned archetype. The protagonist of The Wanderer is an example of an ideal Anglo-Saxon man due to his honor towards the nobility, as well as his feelings of religious questioning. These two aspects act as umbrellas and ultimately bring together many perfect traits of an ideal Anglo-Saxon, showing the concept in a more refreshing way than many epic poems of the time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayOne of the key traits of the Middle Ages was honor, particularly as it pertained to the nobility. The relationship between the nobleman and the thane was extremely important. Not to mention that the bonds formed between the men of a king's band were brotherhoods that did not break for a lifetime. When The Wanderer opens, the eponymous hero lives alone. The members of his noble company all died in battle, the same battle that forced the warrior into exile. Even gone, the hero refuses to let the memories of his companions fade in vain. The first part of the poem, in particular, is dedicated to respect for the brave men who died in battle. The hero remembers the treasures he shared with all of them, as well as the various parties the group attended. Such a large majority of the poem is devoted to discussing the loss of friends and the tightening of Anglo-Saxon bonds that the reader is truly introduced to a hero who has an emotional core to him. Meanwhile, the hero lives in isolation, which reflects the Anglo-Saxon ideal of self-importance and self-discovery. The importance of honor towards the nobility demonstrates a staple of the Middle Ages and at the same time builds a deeper character of the warrior, sometimes even overselling this message. The Middle Ages included a period of crusades and witnessed an era of religious significance to a radical degree. The Anglo-Saxons believed strongly in a center of religious and philosophical meaning in everyday life. However, most were fascinated by fatalism. Fatalism, sometimes called “the wyrd,” is what defined Anglo-Saxon culture and made everything the way it was meant to be. The Wanderer almost completely rejects fatalism, but still clearly retains its religious overtones. The hero of the story talks about faith as one of the most important qualities a person can have and how better days are still ahead. Beliefs like these reflect Christian thinking at the time, which suggested that heaven was open to all because Jesus died for our sins. In a sense, the warrior in this story is having a spiritual (though not entirely Christian) breakthrough and sees a side of optimism, even given the past tragedy. Following these religious overtones, the story is set at sea, and one of the other important Anglo-Saxon qualities is a great reverence for the sea. Although religious importance is one of the most important qualities of an Anglo-Saxon, having a background equally.