Beowulf: Symbols Of Cross And Christian

The author develops the theme of triumph achieved through suffering as both the cross and christ undergo a transformation through defeat and victory. The word rood basically means a cross as, a crusifix. The poem represents a merging of two differnt cultures, Christianity which survived the Roman Empire into the Barbarian Britian, and then the Anglo-Saxon era. Cynewulf was aiming towards both religous and warrior like audiences. The natural physical objects played a heavy role in the pagan worship, many of the themes in the poem are seen as worship of the tree as it is transformed into the cross. The Pagan religion is said to have relied heavily on the tree, as in worshiping it and giving it spiritual value. In the Christian culture the tree

In many religions ways, the tree is seen as a primary symbol of worship. Such as the the Tree of Life, the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Death. The Anglo-Saxon Pagan religion is said to have relied heavily on tree worship and giving it spiritual value. In the Anglo-Saxon culture, the tree that is transformed into a cross is the symbol of Christianity while Christ simply is on the cross, but in modern Christianity Jesus is the symbol of Christianity as he hangs on the cross. In the story the sacred tree is depictated as the main character and God-like

The relationship is subtlety suggested when the dreamer witnesses the rood began to bleed on the right side as Christ had, implying the inseparable connection between lord and thane. This bond is later solidified when the rood and Christ are depicted in battle together and the rood obediently follows the desires of his lord, recalling that he did "not dare, against the word of the Lord/ bow or break, when I saw the/ corners of the earth tremble" (35-38). The act of the nails piercing Christ and literally fastening him to the rood serves as a subtle symbolic reference to the unbreakable loyalty of a thane to his lord. This lord/thane relationship is later expanded to the bond between the Christians and Christ, where in a kenning Christ's followers are referred to as "the Lord's thanes" (75). At the conclusion of the poem, the narrator himself accepts this lord/thane relationship with Christ. Just as the lords of ancient times presented thanes with treasures for their service, the poet regards this vision of the gold-enameled cross as a gift from God and is thus bound by the Anglo-Saxon code of conduct to serve