How does your knowledge of historical context you to understand the following passage from “the wanderer”?
he who has tried it knows how cruel is,
sorrow as a companion,
to the one who has few beloved friends,
the path of exile holds him, not at all twisted gold,

During this time in history, the Anglo-Saxon people were being invaded by other tribes. You have to remember this was back in 1100 AD before England had really been civilized. When the conquering tribes (kingdoms) came it was not to fight in a field. They would attack the villages, killing everyone. This poem is about a young man who has lost everyone and everything he loves from such a battle. There is no one left to talk to or have for a companion.

A. they give the reader hope. if the whole book was dark & unhopeful it’d be a little less interesting, little moments make it more interesting to read because then you want to know what happens. if it’s all dark there’s no point in reading if you already know the outcome of it.