The poem dream of the rood /theme /summary/analysis

The Dream of the Rood poem Analysis

The Dream of the Rood poem Analysis

Introduction to Dream of the Rood

            Dream of the rood  is one of the few surviving Christian poems in the corpus of old English Literature, and an example of the genre of dream poetry. The book is preserved in 10^th century Vercelli Book and it is considered one of the oldest work of Old English Literature.

        The Poem may be as old as the 8^th century Ruthwell  Cross which was an 18 feet and the tree standing Anglo-Saxon cross that was perhaps called as conversion tool. As each side of the cross there is an excerption that was written in runes along with the scenes from the Gospels, lives of saints, images of Jesus healing the blind, the story of Egypt etc. The book (Dream of the Rood) describes the blended culture , moral code religions values of that contemporary solicty. In this poem the narrator recalls a vision which he received in his dream where he saw a rood on which Christ was crufied that also describes the both pagan and chritian culture. That implies subordinate relationship with Christ as that of a lord and thane. The contradictyr conept of Christ as a self sacrificing victim and fearless warrior king with the references to pagan and christian culture described the clash between newly emerging society of ecclesiastical ethics and pagan tradition of heroism.

AutHor of the poem

       The author of this famous work is unknown but according to some critics regarding the approximate date of the ruth well cross suggested some possible authors, including the Anglo saxon poets caedman and cynewuf

Caedmon

        A famous author in the middle age of 7^th century comes of bade’s –Ecclesiastical history of the English people.According to Bede he was an illiterate herdsman who dreamt one night how to praise god by singing beautiful christian verses. After that he became of famous poet.

Cynewulf

        An another famous author in the middle age, lived probably c.770- 840AD, and very little is known about his life. But some informations of the scholar had discovered about Cynewulf's life from his poetry. There were some poems signed by Cynewulf discovered in the vercelli Book which includes cyunewulf's Elene as well as Dream of the Rood. In Elene and his other poems Cynewulf usually speaks of himself which makes a quite possibility that the dreamer in Dream of the Rood is none other than The Cynewulf himself.

What is the theme of the poem Dream of the Rood?

        In this poem the narrator had a dream on which he is speaking to the Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The poem is divided up in to three sections. 

The 1st Part - [1-27 lines]

The 2nd Part - [ 28 - 121 lines]

The 3rd Part - [ 122 - 156 lines]

                            In the 1st section the narrator had a vision of the cross and when he saw the cross , he noticed that it was covered with gems. He observed that how glorious the tree is. But suddenly he saw amidst the beautiful stones it is stained with blood.

                        In the section two the cross describes the moment of Jesus's death. The story begun when the enemy came and cut down the tree and carried it away. The tree realised that it was not be the bearer of a criminal but a holy person who is crucified . It was honoured above all trees just as Jesus is honoured above all men.

                          and his In Section three, the author gave his refrection aboiut his vision when the vision ends the author left with his thoughls. He proaised the god what he has seen is his vision. And he wanted ot once again to be near the glor cross.

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Analysis of the poem Dream of the Rood

         The Dream of the Rood is regarded as one of the great religious poems in the history of English Literature. Some critics assume that the poem was written in the late seven or early eight century. In the eight century the poem was first discovered on a Ruthwell cross or runic The word Rood translated from old English to English as crucifix or cross.

        The entire poem has been translated from old English to English by Charles kennedy According to same scholars, In this poem Pegan elements were included to entice the Anglo saxon pagans to convert to Christianity.

        The poem is written three parts and considered as first dream poem in the English Literature Dreamer  sees a beautiful tree in the sky. With jewels and gold. But he noticed it bleeds from the right side and he became fearful and throubled when he came ot know on this cross Jesus was crucified.

        The tree as borne on men’s shoulders up to a his and he realized he was to bear the body of the lord of men. The son of god, along with the rood Acted with courage and great bravery. The cross also suffered wound with the Christ But when the Jessus went to Heaven, the cross was thrown in a ditch. Later Christians found the Cross and reveres the cross and covered it with silver and gold. Man now prays to the cross. In this poem the dreamer almighty of god who do not know or do not believe on God.