Symbolism In 'The Dream Of The Rood'

In The Dream of the Rood, an unknown poet dreams of an encounter with a beautiful tree of which this poet calls the “rood,” or cross, on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The rood tells the poet how it had been forced to be the instrument of Christ’s death, describing how it, too, experienced the nails and spear thrusts along with the savior. The poet describes many similar elements to the Crucifixion of Christ, triumph, and depicts with the wider Western tradition to medieval culture. The poem explains the rood as an instrument of torture and death and is now the dazzling sign of mankind’s redemption. It charges the poet to tell of his vision to all men, so that they too might be redeemed of sin. Most people view the cross on which Jesus was crucified as torture, death, and darkness. However, many also understand that the cross (rood) is a symbolism for the victorious redemption of Christ’s resurrection because of the suffering he endured for the human race. “Wondrous was that victor-tree, and I was stained with sin and wounded with my wickedness. I beheld the cross of glory shining in splendor, graced with hangings and adorned with gold. Worthily had jewels covered over all that

Dream of the Rood takes on many similar characteristics of Christ’s death and resurrection. The poet describes his feelings in the dream is similar how Jesus truly felt when he went up to the lofty gallows and was raised up three days later. Because of Jesus’ heroic deeds, the people rejoice at the triumph that He has won for us to destroy the burden of sin. The rood gives an understanding to the dreamer as he suffers throughout the poem until he discovers the true symbolism of the rood that would be a way to seek the kingdom of God as the wondrous tree of