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(22 cards)
What happens in this passage?
This passage marks the beginning of the homiletic poem in which the cross which Christ died upon narrates his death and advises the dreamer to tell religious stories and live a pious life. the opening begins with the frame narrative, in which a dreamer is presented with an image of the beautiful cross which alternates between ordained with gold and bleeding
Hwaet, ic swefna cyst?
Listen, I will tell thee
The imperative is a characteristic opening of the poem - listen sets up that it was originally told in the oral tradition
This call to attention is present in poems like Beowulf and Fates of the Apostles and should be taken as outside the regular metre of the line
secgan wylle?
the best of dreams
the superlative gives the narrative a sense of grandeur
reordberend?
speech-bearer
compound which occurs in Elene, Andreas and several times in Christ, suggesting that the context is definitely Christian
This is usually used to describe humans but it is ironic that this poem is about a speaking cross
on lyft laeden?
lifted in the air
symbolism of proxemics as the cross is in the air, like it is descending from heaven in order to impart this message
This emphasises the divine nature of the poem’s message
leohte bewunden / beama beorhtost?
Enveloped in light / brightest tree
Variation on light connotes heaven
Emphatic superlative
begoten mid golde ; gimmas stodon?
covered with gold , the gems shone
begoten is a verb used specifically with liquids - this creates a connection between the cross covered with gold and then blood
faegere aet foldan sceatum?
beautiful at the earth’s corners
this creates an image of the four arms of the cross, each ending with a jewel stretching from horizon to horizon
fife?
specifying five symbolises the five wounds of Christ, in the hands, feet and side, foreshadowing his fate
eaxlegespanne?
cross beam
Unique compound marks the transition to hypermetric lines, which suggests the awe of the dreamer by giving him more room to describe the cross
Shoulders humanise the cross somewhat
ne waes daer huru fracodes gealga?
There were certainly no gallows for the wicked ones
hypermetric lines slows pace
Since crucifixion is not an Anglo-Saxon punishment, the cross is treated as the same as the native gallows
Foreshadows Christ’s death
men ofer moldan / and eall peos maere gesceaft.?
men over the earth and all this glorious creation
Emphasises the extent of power of god and the way Christ saved all of us by dying for his sins
sigebeam?
victory tree
This compound refers to Christ’s victory over sin, death and Satan. This compound is used seven times in Elene. Can also describe victory in secular battle, alluding to the later depiction of Christ as a heroic warrior
ic synnum fah?
I stained with sins
Emphasises glory of the tree
Chiastic line AB:BA emphasises contrast
gegyred mid golde; / gimmas haefdon?
adorned with gold; gems had
Opulence of tree emphasised
eamra aergewin?
ancient strife of the wretched one
The unique compound is ambiguous
It is unclear whether the phrase refers to the agony of those who were crucified or the hostility of those wretches who crucified Christ.
swaetan on pa swidran healfe
to bleed on the right side
This is the only context where the verb is translated as bleed - ambiguous verb captures symbolism of blood which represents the water of life
Christ was pierced on his right side
mid sorgum gedrefed?
afflicted with sorrows
Clear affect on the dreamer - alliteratively linked with bleed so suggests the dreamer suffers like the cross
Switch to hypermetric lines
fuse?
Meaning of word is unclear - could be taken as eager or shining. There is a strong connection between the word and movement toward death so may suggest some meaning that it eagerly desired death
wendan waedum and bleorn?
change its garments and colours
double alliteration emphasises the kaleidoscopic nature of the poem
swates gange + since gegyrwed?
flowing blood
range of meanings such as path - the crucifixion creates a path for man through Christ’s blood
adorned with treasure
Alliteratively linked to show that cross changes
ongan pa word sprecan?
it began to speak words
variation on speaking with the previous line - the prosopopoeic narrator is one of the most striking images of the poem
