"The Seafarer" and Beowulf are two pieces of literature that differ in their subject and speaker, but through use of their author's careful words they evoke brilliant images captivating the reader. The character of the speaker and subject matter differ in the two excerpts. In "The Seafarer," the character seems to be someone who has much experience on the sea, perhaps a sailor, and is commenting on the beauty of nature. In Beowulf, the persona is a warrior that is boasting about his exploits and his superior strength. Therefore, the subject matter differs greatly. The seafarer compares his soul to a bird trapped in a prison house, paralleling his "his life on land" as "lingering death." Only when this "bird" roams where the "glorious tracts of glimmering foam" are found, is it free. Contrastingly, the warrior in Beowulf gloats of his triumphs in battle, especially in defeating his five foes and wrestling with nickers.

Imagery is another aspect that separates the two pieces. Both "The Seafarer" and Beowulf evoke images but "The Seafarer" seems to create more vivid ones. A bird serves his purpose as it wings her way "o'ver woodland and plain" and brings the persona to "God great sea." the careful choice of words, seen especially in "glisten Glorious tracts of glimmering foam," enhances this mental picture. Beowulf conjures images that are less potent because the author's choice of words are not as flowery. For example, imagery is seen in "crushed in my grip he grim sea monsters", but the author's use of words like "grim" as opposed to "green-eyed" makes "glimmering foam" in "The Seafarer" more intense an image.

Overall, it is the choice of words and the characters' attitude toward their subjects that distinguishes the two pieces. Similarities are more readily seen in the tone and the meter. Both pieces generally have four beats per line. The author's tone is praising toward his subject and characters and especially arrogant in Beowulf.