Dream of Rood

My first reaction of Dream of the Rood was that of wonder and disbelief. I had to re-read several of the initial phrases of the story to make sure I was understanding correctly the narrator, which is in fact, the cross that Jesus Christ was crucified on. With human emotions, it was difficult to grasp at first the symbolism and personification of this non-living entity. The first paragraph of the story states, "I was all afflicted with sorrows, I was afraid for that fair sight" (Norton Anthology p. 27).

Exemplifying personification of emotions that I believe many individuals that were present at Christ's crucifixion; the cross becomes more human-like, and to the reader's mind, "real". As readers, we can relate to the emotions the cross shares. The words utilized to share emotions were weeping, mocked, rested, afflicted -- these are all words that really cut deep to the emotions that humans relate to.

At first, I wondered if the cross was prideful in nature, due to his boastfulness of the situation, however after completing the story, I felt that had I witnessed Christ's death, or been that close to the events, I surely would have felt deeply about the situation and probably would have even shared my experiences very similarly as the cross.

The most revealing phrase within the story that spoke to me was, "I was sore afflicted with griefs, yet I bowed to the men's hands, meekly, eagerly. Then they took Almighty God, lifted him up from his very heavy torment. The warriors left me standing, cove red with blood. I was all wounded with arrows." This phrase really embarks on the concept of this cross sharing emotions along with Christ and how close the cross was to the flesh and blood. It is remarkable that this story encapsulates so well the idea of a non-animate object sacrificing himself along with Jesus.

References

David, Alfred. (2006). The Norton Anthology, English Literature (Volume A.). New York: WW Norton and Company.