The Dream Of The Rood Sacrifice Essay

When given the chance to sacrifice all for the Lord, the Rood selflessly obliges. Allowing men to use the Rood’s original material, the Rood physically supported the Lord’s crucifixion. Although the Rood believes in the Lord’s mission, the challenge creates physical and mental difficulties, in which the Rood surpasses. During the Rood’s struggle, the use of war imagery parallels their sacrifice with a battle. In which, the victorious end of the sacrificial battle allowed the Rood to become honored above all. In The Dream of the Rood, the Rood’s transformation parallels a battle by personifying the Rood as a warrior, describing the character’s death as a victory, and celebrating their life after death. While the Cross retells the story of Christ’s crucifixion, war imagery characterizes the Rood as a warrior in battle. When beginning their journey for the Lord, men capture the Rood for it’s precious material: “On shoulders men bore me there, then fixed on hill; fiends enough fastened me.” Propped upon a hill, the Rood “saw I mankind’s Lord come with great courage when he would mount on me.”
The Rood places all of their trust into the Lord, knowing He also will sacrifice for mankind. As two warriors fighting for the same cause, both Christ and the Rood endure punishing pain, while men pounded nails into their tender flesh. Surviving through the unbearable pain, the Rood rises up as a hero. By sacrificing their life for the Lord, the Rood’s remarkable forfeit of safety gains them the right to be honored above all. As a monument of honor, respect, and glory, the Rood stands tall upon a hill, earning their gem-covered appearance. By using war imagery to personify the Rood, gaining great glory from their sacrifice, and living a beautiful life after death, the Rood’s transformation for the Lord parallels a successful war hero’s journey during and after a victorious