Dream of the Rood Response

In “The Dream of the Rood” written by an unknown author in the eighth century, the crucifixion of Jesus is told through the words of the cross in a man’s dreams. The narrator illustrates Christ as a heroic figure who is feared, but loved by many. The poet begins with narration in the poem, but the narration switches to the cross early on to tell the story of crucifixion. This personification of the cross maybe grants the audience a closer feeling to Christ, since the cross is where Jesus died for their sins. Even though it is not a true first-person account of the crucifixion, the cross gives the audience that feeling, making the possible Anglo-Saxon pagan converts closer to God and Jesus.

As well as the personification of the cross bringing in more Anglo-Saxon pagan converts, the depiction of Christ does so as well. With Anglo-Saxon pagan culture valuing heroes and valiant warriors, this depiction of Jesus as “the young hero” shapes Christianity to please their culture. The Cross also makes itself into a hero since it is “able to heal each of those who is in awe of me” which means that the Cross or Christ can heal the souls of those who praise them.

The brutal diction of the poem also helps convert the Anglo-Saxon pagans. With phrases such as “they drove dark nails”, “drenched with blood”, and “cruelly stretched out,” Christ is shaped to be a man who has endured battle just as the Anglo-Saxon pagans have. Throughout the poem, the two narrators depict Christ in a way that will fit into the Anglo-Saxon pagan culture to convert their peoples. Looking back now, this attempt to convert worked wonders for Christianity’s rise to power.