The structure of the poem “Dream of the Rood” has three parts. The parts are distinguished by both diction and imagery. The first part brings a more positive and hopeful vibe while the second part is more intense and melancholic. The last part concludes with more positivity and hopes again to rap up the personification of who Christ was and continues to be. This symbolizes the three parts of Jesus’ life. Those around him had hope when he was performing miracles. There was extreme sorrow and pain when He died on the cross, and hope brought up again with the concept of Eternal life in Heaven that we can one day obtain with Him. An example of such diction and symbolism includes comparing a lighthouse to Christ. Just as this lighthouse in the picture above creates light for the darkness brought around it, Jesus becomes a beacon of light for the darkness which we Christians call sin. In addition to the diction, there is also evident imagery within the poem in lines 20–64. More specifically, the imagery of the nails in how they are driven into the hands of Jesus and the image of the “streaming blood” that was all over His clothes along with the suffering that He went through prior to the crucifixion, including the mocking, spitting, and beating. This suffering during the crucifying is also involved due to struggling to breathe and the nails creating permanent scaring and more mocking during the punishment. In lines 126 to the end, His followers are “blossomed with bliss” meaning that we are fulfilled with a sense of great joy that can only be received by the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ. The poem as a whole creates this whole concept of hopefulness that is connected with the cross. This hope creates more positive thinking of what He had to go through because of the eternal life we are able to receive due to that pain, both physical and mental.
