In the Old English poems titled Beowulf and "The Wanderer," compare and contrast the two titular characters.

The two Old English poems titled Beowulf
and “The Wanderer” present title characters whose various similarities and
differences include the following:

• The Wanderer
  implies that he is a man “eager for fame” (Donaldson translation), and certainly a
  desire for fame is one of Beowulf’s motivations as
  well.


• Both the Wanderer and Beowulf lose, through death,
  the kings they obviously love.


• Both the Wanderer and
  Beowulf have spent much time at sea, although this seems to be especially the case with
  the Wanderer.


• Both the Wanderer and Beowulf are familiar
  with loss and mutability.


• Both the Wanderer and Beowulf
  know the importance of being wise.


• Both the Wanderer and
  Beowulf ultimately place their trust in God, as when the Wanderer concludes his poem by
  stating,

It will be well with him who seeks
favor, comfort from the Father in heaven, where for us all stability
resides.

• The Wanderer seems much more lonely
  than Beowulf, who is often surrounded by loyal
  followers.


• Nothing suggests that the Wanderer is a
  particularly high-ranking person, unlike Beowulf.


• The
  Wanderer seems sadder than Beowulf, who is generally a confident, even up-beat
  character.


• The Wanderer has apparently been an exile, a
  fate not suggested about Beowulf.


• The Wanderer seems to
  think that he cannot (or should not) share his thoughts freely with others, whereas
  Beowulf is typically outspoken and eloquent.


• The Wanderer
  seems far more dependent on others than does Beowulf.


• The
  Wanderer seems anxious about his future on earth, whereas Beowulf (until the very end)
  seems generally confident.


• The Wanderer seems preoccupied
  with a strong sense of loss and nostalgia, whereas Beowulf generally looks to the future
  and assumes that he will be able  (with God’s help) to meet most of the challenges life
  may bring his way.