Dream of the Rood Essay

In the poem The Dream of the Rood, many parallels between a seemingly inanimate object directly correlates with the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Although, Christ is mentioned in the poem he is never the speaker, rather the Rood is personified and is the central speaker and theme of the poem. The poem begins with the dreamer’s account of what he experienced as he saw the rood â€Å"gloriously graced† then bleeding as the tree spoke directly to the dreamer. Like Christ has done in biblical stories, the â€Å"tree† speaks him in a dream, depicting the first parallel of the Rood and Christ. The rood tells of how soldiers were forced to carry â€Å"him† on their shoulders and set him up on a mountain, just as Christ was forced to do before his crucifixion. The rood continues to display his bravery as he stands steadfast even though the earth was trembling, for he â€Å"dare not act against the Lord’s word. † This depiction of bravery in the rood is to parallel the bravery Jesus showed and his experience as there was an earthquake during his crucifixion. He expresses how he was â€Å"pierced† just as Christ was pierced, and how he was mocked just as Christ was mocked by onlookers. The cross seems to physically suffer as it â€Å"raised up a mighty king, the heaven’s lord; I dared not bow in homage. † This scene represents all the suffering that Christ endured, yet his bravery prevailed. The rood continues his account as he illustrates his and Christ’s death; â€Å"Finally men brought axes to fell us to earth. That was a frightful destiny! They buried us in a deep pit. Although in the biblical account of Christ’s crucifixion the cross was not buried, the author choose to show a connection between Christ and cross by showing they both perished that day. In the same likeness as Christ, the rood is resurrected and adorned by â€Å"friends â€Å"who learned about him, just as Christ was adorned after his resurrection. The rood announces to the dreamer that he must tell others of his triumph â€Å"so that far and wide men worship me everywhere on earth, and all creation pray to this sign. This metaphor shows the correlation between the rood and Christ, and the reason for which Christ endured all the suffering, so that all those who worship him shall have everlasting life. The rood states: â€Å"On me the son of God suffered a time; therefore I now tower in glory under heaven, and I may heal any of those in awe of me. † The rood explains that he is adorned above all other trees, just as Christ was after his resurrection. He continues to tell the dreamer that he must let all know about Christ and use the rood as a tool to explain his second coming and mankind’s salvation. Although no biblical stories tell of Christ coming to one in a dream, this was to represent God’s plan in sending his Son to tell of God’s plan and their salvation through his crucifixion and resurrection. This idea is clearly displayed when the rood professes â€Å"And on this earth each soul that longs to exist with its savior forevermore must seek His kingdom through that cross. As the dialogue of the poem switches back to the dreamer, he states that he was renewed with hope and joy as he â€Å"prayed to that tree. † Again another depiction of a parallel between Christ and the rood, instead of being described as a rood or crucifix, it’s described as a tree, something unlikely for one to worship. Perhaps the tree is to symbolize Christ, as the tree of life who should be worshiped and adorned with â€Å"gold and gemstones† just as the tree gleamed at the opening of the poem.