Time in “The Wanderer” reflects the author's worldview after his exile. Throughout the poem, time is used in an attempt to paint a picture as miserable and painful as the character's outlook on life. As I read the elegy, my initial thought was that man was in conflict with nature; however, I now believe that time is a medium through which the poet conveys his thoughts in response to his misfortunes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay At the beginning of the poem, it is revealed that "one alone" must "shake the frozen sea with his hands" as punishment for past transgressions (1.4). This sensory language immediately creates an unpleasant scene that appeals to the senses: exiled, the Wanderer is forced to paddle the wintry waves using only his bare hands. Seeking a new lord, the "ice-locked waves" are problematic for the banished Wanderer as he has no means to protect himself from winter's merciless bite, just as he has no Lord to protect him from harm (24). Mother Nature shows no mercy to the scorned warrior, unleashing the full force of her icy arsenal. I originally labeled this harsh climate as the Wanderer's main problem, but I concluded that, instead, the source of his conflict is his exile. The frigid, prison-like sea and merciless hail storms are simply consequences that help the reader imagine and imagine the Wanderer's "winter-bleak" state of mind (24). As the poem progresses, the poet explores the heavy heart of the Wanderer, who is deeply scarred and wounded. The person often dreams of belonging to a lord again, but is always deeply disappointed to awaken only with the vast, barren sea before him. These daydreams offer only a temporary source of comfort. As the waves crash, the Wanderer sees the seabirds spread their wings, take flight, and escape the icy grip of the whales' road, in stark contrast to the person's imprisoned state. The fluttering birds easily shake off the frost, snow, and hail that plague the exiled Wanderer, once again creating a deep rift that distinguishes between those who manage to escape the sea and those who are imprisoned by it. Trapped by a winter blanket, the Wanderer dwells in the “middle earth,” which “falls and decays every single day” (64-65). This part of the poem ends by offering the reader a semblance of hope. Perhaps the exiles' daunting journey is not in vain. The poet states that before a man can become wise, he must go through “his share of winters in this world” (65). In the poem, wisdom is measured by the number of winters he has weathered, and the Wanderer has certainly endured his share of sad time. On a superficial level, this can be interpreted as the gaining of wisdom with age; the longer you live, the more cautious you become. However, diving deeper and weathering winters might be a euphemism for overcoming trials and tribulations. The Wanderer endured harsh suffering such as burying nearly everyone he had loved and living out the rest of his days in exile. While these tribulations are not ideal, they are his teachers, not just his torment. Simply put, the poem highlights the importance of the adage that “what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.” As the poem progresses, a change occurs regarding time. Instead of simply describing situations, time begins to directly shape the world. “Frost-beaten” buildings will collapse and walls will.