Jan17-2019-TheDreamOfTheRood

“The Dream of the Rood” is a poem that explains a man’s dream of the tree that was used for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. However, this poem contains more than just a discussion of that tree but rather emphasizes the continual faith that has filled Christians since the day of the crucifixion. Early on in this work, the author states, from the perspective of the tree, “I beheld the sign rapidly changing clothing and colors. Now it was covered in moisture, drenched with streaming blood, now decked in treasure.” (33). The author emphasizes the reward of the crucifixion despite the blood and mockery of the event while reminding the reader that the great end result of that suffering was the salvation of mankind. As the poem continues, it tells of aspects of the crucifixion but then talks about the time after that event. The tree is talked about in a more respected way than when it was used for the death of Christ, “Long ago I became the most cruel punishment, most hated by men, until I made open the right way of life to language-bearers.” (34). This passage is a reminder about Christians and their hope-filled religion. They continue to have a strong faith by changing their perspective of the crucifixion to something positive; they take the object that wounded their God and begin to appreciate it more so as the method in which God saved their souls. Near the end of the poem, after the man has dreamed of the tree, he is overcome with joy, “... I have suffered much longing since. Now I live in hope venturing after that victory-tree, alone more often than all other men, to worship it well.” (35). This again refers to and focuses on the trust that early Christians possessed about their religion and how it would continue on after various sufferings they would endure throughout history. This is a different approach to Anglo-Saxon poetry because those types of works often possess themes of torment, death, and hopelessness. Even though this poem does start with those ideas it then changes near the end to a more joyful tone which interestingly parallels the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as understood in Christianity.



Greenblatt, Stephen. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: the Major Authors. W.W. Norton & Company, 2013.

Comments

  1. Haley WilliardJanuary 17, 2019 at 3:11 PM

    This blog possesses a very good interpretation of the history of the poem, relating back to the Anglo-Saxon time period. You skillfully captured the sequence of the poem and the worship aspect as well.

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