1: What is the predominant mood in "The Seafarer"? As you prepare ideas for your essay, it might help to consider the following ideas. What are the attitudes and outlook of the speaker's life? Is "The Seafarer" comforting or depressing or something else? What makes you feel this way? Use specific examples from the poem to support your interpretation of the predominant mood of the poem.

2: What does the sea represent in "The Seafarer"? As you prepare ideas for your essay, think of the sea as an actual character in the story. How does the author describe the sea? What are its characteristics? How does it interact with other aspects of nature and with people? Does it seem to be human? Thinking about these ideas will give you a better understanding of what the sea represents. Express what you believe the sea to be in your essay. Use details from the text to support your thoughts.