I don’t mean to change the flow of the conversation here, and don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a healthy dose of Beowulf as much as the next person, but what has really struck a chord for me personally in this class thus far, is some of the Anglo-Saxon poetry. “The Dream of the Rood” in particular stood out to me for its vivid imagery that evokes a specific emotion in the readers, as all good poetic imagery should. As a Christian, the themes and ethics presented are poignant enough that it leads me to view the crucifixion of Christ from a different perspective, not to mention the anthropomorphic method of storytelling. Even the small phrase “I trembled when the warrior embraced me” contains a powerful image that leaves the reader in awe of the effect that Christ can have on even a seemingly insignificant piece of wood.

I suppose I will connect this dramatic piece of Anglo-Saxon writing to Beowulf by identifying the key theme of sacrificing life and limb in order to achieve something more meaningful in the end. Christ dies upon the “rood” to save mankind from the effects of sin, and in the end, he is the victor. Similarly, Beowulf enters into perilous circumstances to battle with evil itself to save a kingdom from desecration, which also has triumphant results. I’m sure the two pieces of literature can be connected in other ways as well, or contrasted for that matter, but this is a similarity that stands out to me the most.