The Dream of the Rood

As with Caedmon’s Hymn, the narrator is visited by the Rood in his dreams. There is on parallel between the Rood and the narrator that really seem to stand out; the narrator describes himself as “…and I stained with sins, wounded with wrongdoings,” whereas the Rood states “…I had endured the work of evildoers, grievous sorrows” (27-28). Both see themselves and stained by sin and sorrow, having no hope of salvation. The man, however, sees his salvation in the vision of the Rood:

And every day I look forward to when the Lord’s Cross that I beheld here on earth will fetch me from this short life and bring me then where joy is great, delight in the heavens… (29)

Yet the Rood sees its deliverance in the baring of Christ, almost willing itself not to bend, break – “I might have felled all foes, but I stood fast.” – and to not fail its Lord. Its salvation came in becoming the tree of glory and one of the most important religious symbols:

Now the time has come that men far and wide upon earth honor me – and all this glorious creation – and pray to this beacon. (28)

Though it may seem that this particular blog is a little quote-heavy, it is just very awe inspiring that both the man and this cross felt that they were stained by sin – whether it be through deeds or baring the blood of men – and both were able to find their salvation; they were linked in their desire to reach the delight of heaven and the warmth of their Christ.