Dream of the Rood

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. The Dream of the Rood is an Old English Christian poem, written by an anonymous author, that is considered one of the earliest and most significant works of English literature. The word "rood" means "cross," referring specifically to the cross on which Christ was crucified. Summary of the Poem The poem is structured as a dream vision, in which the narrator describes a dream he had during the night. In the dream, the narrator sees a majestic, bejeweled cross (the “rood”) that at times appears dazzling and adorned with gold and jewels, yet at other times it is stained with blood, a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. The cross begins to speak to the dreamer, telling its own story. The rood recounts how it was cut down and made into a cross, recalling the day it was forced to bear Christ during His crucifixion. The cross describes its sorrow and unwavering loyalty, refusing to bend or rebel, even as it witnessed Christ's death. The crucifixion is recounted, with the cross and Christ both depicted as heroic, suffering figures—the cross as a loyal retainer or thane, and Christ as a heroic warrior-king, a framing influenced by the Anglo-Saxon tradition. After Christ’s death, the rood reveals that it was buried and later rediscovered, becoming an object of veneration and hope for redemption. The poem ends with the dreamer awakening, inspired by the vision to seek salvation and eternal life through Christ and the cross.