The Exeter Book · English Literature

The poem 'The Seafarer' contrasts the hardships of life at sea with what other lifestyle?

  1. The honor and glory of a warrior on the battlefield
  2. The peaceful routine of a monk in a monastery
  3. The comfortable but spiritually ignorant life on land
  4. The relative safety of life within a fortified town
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Correct answer: The comfortable but spiritually ignorant life on land

The speaker of 'The Seafarer' describes the frost, cold, and loneliness of the ocean. He notes that the 'city-dweller' who is 'flushed with wine' cannot understand the suffering or the spiritual drive that compels a man to seek the 'path of the exile' on the sea.

Difficulty: Medium Question 15 of 20

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