The Dream of The Rood and The Crucifix

There seems to be a back and forth, two narrator situation in the story that feels almost, if not, parallel with one another. Both giving a message to many, but were they listening? It seems they wrote this purposefully in hopes to convince their listeners, or people they wanted to listen, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel as long as they believed in The Lord. They want people to listen and to do so they must get their attention and turn their heads by using their own language and what they knew. This story is told in a way that helps them get familiar with The Lord, I feel. One thing that helps them understand this is the way that the crucifix is depicted in the poem. Since this was written in the era of swords and treasure, things that they worshipped and craved, it was only smart to cater to that culture. “I saw that eager beacon change garments and colors-now it was drenched, stains with blood, now bedecked with treasure,” (20–22). These lines show who they were aiming towards when they wrote this and wanted to appeal to them with the attraction the audience felt towards their swords and weapons. Their culture was based upon war and gold and mentality of being a fighter, and the narrator took advantage of this. “They drove dark nails through me; the scars still visible, open wounds of hate; I dared not harm any of them,” (45–47). They continue to gravitate towards their culture of being a soldier and describing the crucifix as if it were one, too. With this language they were able to get through to their audience successfully and their message stayed strong within the Anglo-Saxon people, thus Christianity was embraced and talked about very highly.