28 - 49 Flashcards
(20 cards)
What happens in this extract?
This contains the first part of the titular object’s speech, and presents Christ as a lord and the cross as his retainer
ic paet gyta geman?
I remember it still
Sense of time gives personal and experiential suffering
this gives speech of the cross immediacy for the dreamer and the reader
Ic wæs aheawan / holtes on ende
I was cut down from the end of the wood
passive voice of the tree gives way to narration
the switch to hypermetric provides a more expansive narrative tone in support of the depersonalised nature of Christ’s enemies
genamanme?
seized
use of plural dynamic active verbs which are often stressed at the beginning of the next few half lines
Inverted position of the verb underlines the violence experienced by the tree, quickening the pace by starting with the action
feondas?
strong enemies
Those acting against Christ remain unspecified
This helps both to universalise the specific moment, prevent the sinful reader from distancing himself from Christ’s torturers ,and throw the active emphasis onto Christ and the Cross who become the subjects of the active verbs rather than the objects of the actions
geseah ic pa Frean mancynnes?
I saw the lord of mankind
This is the first appearance of Christ, who actively embraces his crucifixion. At no point in the poem does he speak
elne mycle?
great courage
this is repeated in lines 60 and 123 describing all three of its major participants, in this instance Christ as well as the cross and the dreamer.
His eagerness in performing his spiritual role is seen as something to be emulated
that he me wolde on gestigan?
that he wanted me to climb on
Christ is presented as active rather than a passive victim
bugan odde berstan?
bend or break
the cross is forced to go against his instincts to protect his lord. This reinforces Christ as a figure of emulation
Characterises the cross as a retainer - reluctance creates more complex relationship
eordan sceatus?
surface of the earth tremble
reaction of the earth creates a parallel to judgement day
haeled + paet waes God aelmihtig?
hero + that was God almighty
Variation on title of Christ - putting heroic and divine into a single figure
Christ is the subject of the verb and actively prepares himself
strang stidmod + modig on manigra?
strong and resolute + brave in the site of many
emphatic double alliteration, the latter placing the performative aspects of the crucifixion as a public display of religious sacrifice
þa he wolde mancyn lysan?
he wanted to redeem mankind
gives moment specific theological significance and aligns with Martin Irvine’s view of the poem as a specifically exegetical object placing itself firmly within the framework of broader Biblical literature
rod waes ic araered?
I was reared a cross
The shortening of lines from the hypermetric lines lends weight
The focus of the passage returns to the cross’s mental state the pronoun ‘ic’ is repeated five times between lines 42-44 as it expresses its unwavering loyalty to Christ
This line is chiastic (AB : BA) pattern and thus mirrors the nature of the cross
ricne Cyning + heofona Hlaford?
the powerful king + the lord of heaven
Variation on Christ’s title creates connection between leadership and divine identity
hyldan me ne dorste?
I do not dare to bend
shift to present tense ties image of a wounded cross to risen Christ
inwidhlemmas?
malicious wounds
Compound and hapax legomenon shows that this is a unique sacrifice that is being made by Christ and the cross
unc butu aetgaedere?
Us both together
Redundant tautology and dual pronoun and dual adjective unites the cross and christ
guman sidan?
Man’s side
The blood coming from the side of Christ reinforces his humanity - preaching texts shift to show that he is man and God
gast onsended?
He sent forth his soul
Active expression of his death reflects the gospel account of a voluntary death
