Synopsis and Analysis of The Seafarer In a personal tale that is true, The Seafarer tells a story of "times of trouble" breathing the breath "of bitterest woe." His education was a long one aboard a ship that dared "the terrible toss of waves" where he traveled even by night "with anxious care" along the rocky walls of dangerous cliffs. It was so cold that his hands were "held captive with hoar-frost" and his hot …showed first 75 words of 810 total…

…showed last 75 words of 810 total…sail firmly and passionately against the cold, unreasoning dark. But alas, it is not to be. In all, this is a marvelous composite of the clashing of two powerful cultures. The pagan Vikings were indeed eventually overcome by Christianity, but the rugged spirit of The Seafarer comes through with force and conviction that leaves the pious Christian sermon at the end a weaker vessel than the heaving ship of the old man of the sea.