1. From ocean's wave a Wanderer came,
 The line introduces the arrival of a wanderer from the sea. Literary
devices used:
 Personification: The ocean is personified as having waves.
2. With visage tanned and dun:
 The line describes the wanderer's appearance, with a tanned and
darkened face. Literary devices used:
 Imagery: The phrase "visage tanned and dun" creates a visual image of
the wanderer's complexion.
3. His Mother, when he told his name,
 The line refers to the wanderer's mother, who barely recognizes him
upon hearing his name. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "m" sound in "Mother" and "name"
creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
4. Scarce knew her long-lost son;
 The line emphasizes that the wanderer's mother can hardly recognize
her son, whom she had lost touch with for a long time. Literary devices
used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "s" sound in "Scarce" and "son"
creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
5. So altered was his face and frame
 The line highlights the significant changes in the wanderer's
appearance, both facially and physically. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "f" sound in "face" and "frame"
creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
6. By the ill course he had run.
 The line suggests that the wanderer's altered appearance is a result of
the troubled and wrongful path he had taken. Literary devices used:
 Metaphor: The phrase "ill course he had run" metaphorically represents
the wanderer's negative life choices.
7. There was hot fever in his blood,
 The line describes the presence of intense fever or agitation within the
wanderer's bloodstream. Literary devices used:
 Metaphor: The phrase "hot fever in his blood" metaphorically conveys
the wanderer's emotional turmoil.
8. And dark thoughts in his brain;
 The line indicates the presence of disturbing and troubling thoughts
within the wanderer's mind. Literary devices used:
 Personification: The phrase "dark thoughts in his brain" personifies the
thoughts as having a negative quality.
9. And oh! to turn his heart to good
 The line expresses the mother's desperate desire to change and
redirect her son's heart toward goodness. Literary devices used:
Exclamation: The exclamation "oh!" conveys the intensity of the
mother's plea.
10. That Mother strove in vain,
 The line reveals that the mother's efforts to reform her son's heart were
unsuccessful. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "v" sound in "That Mother strove"
creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
11. For fierce and fearful was his mood,
 The line describes the wanderer's temperament, characterized by
intensity and fear. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "f" sound in "fierce" and "fearful"
creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
12. Racked by remorse and pain.
 The line indicates that the wanderer is tormented by feelings of guilt
and suffering. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "r" sound in "Racked," "remorse," and
"pain

13. And if, at times, a gleam more mild
 The line suggests that occasionally, there are fleeting moments of a
gentler expression on the wanderer's face. Literary devices used:
 Imagery: The phrase "a gleam more mild" creates a visual image of a
softer facial expression.
14. Would o'er his features stray,
 The line describes how the gentle expression would briefly appear on
the wanderer's features. Literary devices used:
 Personification: The features of the wanderer are personified as being
capable of straying or changing.
15. When knelt the Widow near her Child,
 The line depicts the scene where the widow, the wanderer's mother,
kneels beside him. Literary devices used:
 Imagery: The line creates a visual image of the widow kneeling beside
her child.
16. And he tried with her to pray,
 The line describes the attempt of the mother and the wanderer to pray
together. Literary devices used:
 Imagery: The line suggests a scene of prayer and emphasizes the
shared act between the mother and the wanderer.
17. It lasted not for visions wild
 The line reveals that the moments of prayer and tranquility were shortlived due to the wanderer's wild and disturbing visions. Literary devices
used:
Alliteration: The repetition of the "v" sound in "visions wild" creates a
sense of emphasis and rhythm.
18. Still scared good thoughts away.
 The line conveys that the wanderer's unsettling visions continue to
prevent positive and virtuous thoughts from prevailing. Literary devices
used:
 Personification: The good thoughts are personified as being scared or
driven away.

19. "There's blood upon my hands!" he said,
 The line signifies the wanderer's admission of guilt and the presence of
bloodstained hands as a metaphorical representation of his
involvement in violence. Literary devices used:
 Metaphor: The phrase "blood upon my hands" symbolizes the guilt and
responsibility for his actions.
20. "Which water cannot wash;
 The line emphasizes that the guilt and stain of his actions cannot be
cleansed or absolved by mere water. Literary devices used:
 Hyperbole: The statement exaggerates the inability of water to cleanse
the guilt, creating emphasis on the Wanderer's remorse.
21. It was not shed where warriors bled
 The line clarifies that the blood on his hands is not from battlefields or
honorable combat. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "w" sound in "where warriors bled"
creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
22. It dropped from the gory lash,
 The line reveals that the blood on his hands is a result of the lash used
in the brutal whipping of slaves. Literary devices used:
 Imagery: The phrase "gory lash" creates a vivid image of the violent and
bloody act of whipping.
23. As I whirled it o'er and o'er my head,
 The line describes the wanderer's motion of swinging the lash over and
over again. Literary devices used:
 Imagery: The line creates a visual image of the wanderer repeatedly
swinging the lash.
24. And with each stroke left a gash.
 The line signifies that with each swing of the lash, the wanderer
inflicted deep wounds or gashes on the victims. Literary devices used:
 Imagery: The phrase "left a gash" creates a visual image of the severe
injuries caused by the lash.
25. "With every stroke I left a gash,
The line repeats the previous sentiment, highlighting the repetitive
nature of the wanderer's violent actions. Literary devices used:
 Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "With every stroke I left a gash"
reinforces the impact and intensity of the Wanderer's brutality.
26. While Negro blood sprang high;
 The line emphasizes that the lashings caused the blood of enslaved
Africans to flow or spurt. Literary devices used:
 Imagery: The phrase "Negro blood sprang high" creates a vivid visual
image of the blood being forcefully ejected.
27. And now all ocean cannot wash
 The line signifies that even the vastness of the ocean cannot cleanse or
remove the guilt and stain of his actions. Literary devices used:
 Hyperbole: The statement exaggerates the impossibility of cleansing,
highlighting the Wanderer's overwhelming guilt.
28. My soul from murder's dye;
 The line expresses that the wanderer's soul is permanently stained with
the guilt of murder. Literary devices used:
 Metaphor: The phrase "murder's dye" symbolizes the permanent mark
of guilt associated with taking lives.
29. Nor e'en thy prayer, dear Mother, quash
 The line suggests that not even the heartfelt prayers of his mother can
extinguish the wanderer's guilt. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "q" sound in "thy prayer, dear" creates
a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
30. That Woman's wild death-cry!
 The line refers to the agonized cry of a woman, possibly one of the
wanderer's victims

31. "Her cry is ever in my ear,
 The line reveals that the wanderer is haunted by the relentless echo of
the woman's death cry. Literary devices used:
 Personification: The cry is personified as being ever-present in the
wanderer's ear.
32. And it will not let me pray;
 The line signifies that the haunting cry prevents the wanderer from
finding solace in prayer. Literary devices used:
 Personification: The cry is personified as having agency in preventing
the wanderer from praying.
33. Her look I see, her voice I hear
 The line indicates that the wanderer vividly remembers the woman's
gaze and can still hear her voice. Literary devices used:
Imagery: The line creates visual and auditory images of the woman's
appearance and voice.
34. As when in death she lay,
 The line refers to the woman's appearance in her state of death.
Literary devices used:
 Imagery: The line creates a visual image of the woman lying in death.
35. And said, 'With me thou must appear
 The line recalls the woman's words, foretelling the wanderer's eventual
judgment alongside her. Literary devices used:
 Quotation: The line directly quotes the woman's statement.
36. On God's great Judgment-day!'"
 The line completes the woman's statement, emphasizing the
impending judgment day and the wanderer's accountability. Literary
devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "g" sound in "God's great Judgmentday" creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
37. "Now, Christ from frenzy keep my son!"
 The line is the mother's plea for divine intervention to protect her son
from his torment. Literary devices used:
 Invocation: The line directly addresses Christ, seeking his intervention.
38. The woeful Widow cried;
 The line describes the mother's sorrowful state as she cries out. Literary
devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "w" sound in "woeful Widow" creates
a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
39. "Such murder foul thou ne'er hast done
 The line is the mother's reassurance, expressing disbelief that her son
could commit such heinous acts. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "m" sound in "murder foul" creates a
sense of emphasis and rhythm.
40. Some fiend thy soul belied!"
 The line suggests that the wanderer's actions were a result of his soul
being deceived or influenced by an evil force. Literary devices used:
 Personification: The fiend is personified as having the ability to deceive
the wanderer's soul.
41. "Nay, Mother! the Avenging One
 The line contradicts the mother's belief, as the wanderer asserts that he
is accountable and witnessed by an avenging force. Literary devices
used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "a" sound in "Avenging One" creates a
sense of emphasis and rhythm.
42. Was witness when she died!

The line suggests that the avenging force witnessed the woman's death
and is aware of the wanderer's guilt. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "w" sound in "witness when she"
creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
43. "The writhing wretch with furious heel
 The line describes the wanderer's act of inflicting harm, but clarifies that
he

43. "The writhing wretch with furious heel
 The line describes the wanderer's act of inflicting harm, but clarifies that
he did not harm another person. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "w" sound in "writhing wretch with"
creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.
44. I crushed, no mortal nigh;
 The line emphasizes that the wanderer's violent actions were directed
towards something other than a human being. Literary devices used:
 Hyperbole: The statement exaggerates the intensity of the wanderer's
actions by denying their impact on another person.
45. But that same hour her dread appeal
 The line suggests that despite the absence of mortal harm, the
wanderer's actions resulted in a distressing plea or cry. Literary devices
used:
 Personification: The appeal is personified as being dreaded.
46. Was registered on high;
 The line implies that the distressing plea or cry was noticed and
recorded by a higher power. Literary devices used:
 Metaphor: The phrase "registered on high" symbolizes the recording of
the appeal by a divine entity.
47. And now with God I have to deal,
 The line indicates that the wanderer must now face the consequences
of his actions before God. Literary devices used:
 Personification: Dealing with God is personified as a process or
interaction.
48. And dare not meet His eye!"
 The line reveals the wanderer's deep sense of guilt and shame, as he
feels unworthy to look into the eyes of God. Literary devices used:
 Alliteration: The repetition of the "d" sound in "dare not meet His"
creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm.