Background and Interpretation

“A Brief History of Old English” by Michael D.C. Drout, from the ebook King Alfred’s Grammar

“Bede” from The World According to Bede

Background and interpretation of “The Wanderer” can be found on  “The Wanderer” page of Dr. Arnold Sanders’s faculty web page at Goucher College.  (His notes include links to many other things that pertain to his course; you should ignore those because they do not apply to our class.)

Original Versions

“The Dream of the Rood” in Old English, from University of Oxford, along with additional information

“Bede’s Story of Caedmon” from Beowulf in Cyberspace, along with additional information

Audio Files

“The Dream of the Rood” read by Micael D. C. Drout from Wheaton College

Multiple versions of “Cædmon’s Hymn” by Michael D. C. Drout from Wheaton College

“The Wanderer” by Michael Drout.

Read along with the original version of the poem while you listen. Professor Michael Drout of Wheaton College is a medieval scholar, and his reading of the poem reflects his understanding of the poet’s emotions.

Prof. Drout can read the original, so his oral performance gives us additional insight into the poem as well as allowing us to hear the way the words would have sounded when performed aloud, as this poem would have been.