Home > The Seafarer Summary & Study Guide > The Seafarer Group > Question and Answer

Question:

Answers:

1. 
   amy-lepore Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   The speaker tells us that no one is sure which way he will die--either by sickness, old age, or by an enemy's hand.  An ungodly liife on earth is restricted to earth, but a life lived in godly manner on earth with be celebrated with the angels in heaven. 

   No man has ever faced the dawn
   Certain which of Fate's three threats
   Would fall: illness, or age, or an enemy's
   Sword, snatching the life from his soul.
   The praise the living pour on the dead
   Flowers from reputation: plant
   An earthly life of profit reaped
   Even from hatred and rancor, of bravery
   Flung in the devil's face, and death
   Can only bring you earthly praise
   And a song to celebrate a place
   With the angels, life eternally blessed
   In the hosts of Heaven.
   

   The speaker tells us that earthly riches and material items can not be taken with us when we pass, and that God showers sinners with his anger.  Those who do not pay homage to God while on earth are bound to face his wrath for eternity.  Those who forget God while on earth are doomed as He is all-powerful.

   A brother
   Opens his palms and pours down gold
   On his kinsman's grave, strewing his coffin
   With treasures intended for Heaven, but nothing
   Golden shakes the wrath of God
   For a soul overflowing with sin, and nothing
   Hidden on earth rises to Heaven.
   We all fear God. He turns the earth,
   He set it swinging firmly in space,
   Gave life to the world and light to the sky.
   Death leaps at the fools who forget their God.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/seafarer

   Rate answer:

   • Flag as inappropriate

   Posted by amy-lepore on Saturday September 13, 2008 at 2:01 PM