Dream of the Rood dream vision convention analysis
Dream of the Rood dream vision convention analysis
Anglo-Saxon values: kingship, kinship and treasure, do not mirror Christian values of love and the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do to you. The Bible does not portray Christ’s death as that of a warrior’s death. “The Dream of the Rood” makes this connection. Christ the king does not give his subjects treasure for their loyalty or bravery, but the Rood is seen covered in gold and jewels. Christ struggles under the weight of carrying the cross, but in the poem he marches proudly as if preparing for battle. The purpose of this essay is to show how the author of “The Dream of the Rood” links older, pagan values to newer, Christian values. The Rood was not portrayed as the criminal execution system it actually was. Crucifixion was brutal. Convicted criminals hung on a cross for hours. History paints a picture of a horrific execution system. Adorning a cross with precious metals or stones would not only glorify the cross, but the criminal hanging on it. The cross was not only functional, but also a message meant to intimidate. Dying on a beautifully decorated cross might suggest the man on it was somehow worth something. The narrator, speaking in the first person, describes the Rood as “…garnished with grandeur…all plated with gold…” and “…precious gemstones”. (Rood 15-16) The dreamer sees the cross as something beautiful, like that of a warrior that has been given golden armor encrusted with jewels. “Clearly this was no criminal’s gallows”. (Rood 10) Christ was not the modern day sacrificial lamb. Nor was he a criminal being led to his execution. No one, criminal or otherwise, would have been willing to embrace the cross. Those sentenced to the cross understood they were destined to suffer terribly. The Christian today understands this; understands that he did go reluctantly, yet willingly. Christ “…stripped himself…strong and courageous…brave in the sight of many”. (Rood 39-41) He came
Anglo-Saxon values: kingship, kinship and treasure, do not mirror Christian values of love and the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do to you. The Bible does not portray Christ’s death as that of a warrior’s death. “The Dream of the Rood” makes this connection. Christ the king does not give his subjects treasure for their loyalty or bravery, but the Rood is seen covered in gold and jewels. Christ struggles under the weight of carrying the cross, but in the poem he marches proudly as if preparing for battle. The purpose of this essay is to show how the author of “The Dream of the Rood” links older, pagan values to newer, Christian values. The Rood was not portrayed as the criminal execution system it actually was. Crucifixion was brutal. Convicted criminals hung on a cross for hours. History paints a picture of a horrific execution system. Adorning a cross with precious metals or stones would not only glorify the cross, but the criminal hanging on it. The cross was not only functional, but also a message meant to intimidate. Dying on a beautifully decorated cross might suggest the man on it was somehow worth something. The narrator, speaking in the first person, describes the Rood as “…garnished with grandeur…all plated with gold…” and “…precious gemstones”. (Rood 15-16) The dreamer sees the cross as something beautiful, like that of a warrior that has been given golden armor encrusted with jewels. “Clearly this was no criminal’s gallows”. (Rood 10) Christ was not the modern day sacrificial lamb. Nor was he a criminal being led to his execution. No one, criminal or otherwise, would have been willing to embrace the cross. Those sentenced to the cross understood they were destined to suffer terribly. The Christian today understands this; understands that he did go reluctantly, yet willingly. Christ “…stripped himself…strong and courageous…brave in the sight of many”. (Rood 39-41) He came