Speaking of “The Dream of the Rood”, my personal take was that this poem was very humbling. I can understand the emotions felt from someone who saw Christ die on the cross, but reading about His death from the Cross’ perspective was unique. Initially, I thought that the Rood would feel disgraced by having Christ mounted on him. But the Rood was humiliated when he was changed from a tree and had his pride restored as he held up Christ. As I read the lines that described the Cross being “stained with sins” and “wounded with wrongdoing”, my body shivered thinking of how that would physically feel . Most trees held up men who were criminals but this specific Rood was chosen to uphold Christ. This Cross lifted the Mighty King and now is a symbol not only for Christianity, but a remembrance of the suffering endured and the cycle of sacrifice.
In Anglo-Saxon writing, the Cross is presented as the Shoppe and is recited in first person. The Cross is identified as the one who held Jesus up, displaying honor and faithfulness. In Anglo-Saxon tradition, warriors are to fight till death and not give up. The Cross said he dared not bend for he lifted up the Mighty King. The Cross served his King, the Lord of Heavens, just as Beowulf served his king, in honor.
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