Question
content to samollag
score
Lack of language
control
Poor organization
Gaps in organization
Organized (perhaps
Sense of
with brief digressions) completeness, fluency
Limited language
control
It has been suggested what the wall in "The Wanderer" might symbolize. Now expand that thought by writing one or
two paragraphs in which you explain why that symbolism is appropriate. Use examples from the poem to support your
position.
Answer
The wall in “The Wanderer” is often seen as a symbol of the protagonist’s loneliness and isolation. The poem begins with the narrator standing alone on a cliff, looking out at the sea and reflecting on his life. He is surrounded by a wall of mist, which serves as a physical barrier between him and the rest of the world. This wall of mist is a metaphor for the emotional walls he has built around himself, preventing him from connecting with others. The narrator’s loneliness is further emphasized by his description of the sea as “cold and grey” and the sky as “dark and drear”. These images of desolation and emptiness reflect the narrator’s inner state of mind. The wall of mist also serves as a reminder of the narrator’s mortality, as it is a physical barrier between him and the afterlife. This symbolism is further reinforced by the narrator’s musings on death and his longing for a better life beyond the wall. By using the wall as a symbol of loneliness, isolation, and mortality, the poem conveys a powerful message about the human condition.