75 - 102 Flashcards
(20 cards)
What happens in this passage?
In this passage the narration switches from a description of the crucifixion to to an explanation of the complex theological consequences of Christ’s redemption. This conveys a homiletic message imploring the reader to turn to Christ for their salvation
me þær Dryhtnes þegnas // freondas / gefrunon?
the lord’s thanes / friends found me
Variation on friends of Christ
Suggests that Christianity is compatible with a social structure
Saint Helena and Saint Cyriac, who discovered the Cross are presented as retainers
gyredon me gold ond seofre?
Adorned me with gold and silver
Idea of redemption and the bloody cross ahs transitioned to wealthy presentation
Visual imagery demonstrates restoration
Nu þu miht gehyran?
Now you might hear
transition to explanation of the complex theological consequences of the crucifixion marked by direct address and switch to the present tense
hæleð min se leofa?
my beloved hero
loving epithet consolidates heroic ideals and belief in Christianity. 78 is an almost identical repetition to line 95
bealuwara?
evil doers
Hapax legomenon + compound contrasts loving description of Christ
Compound is derived from wara, suggesting they are actively choosing not the believe in Christ
sarra sorga?
painful sorrows
variation on their sins
Sibilance and short syntax conveys the bitterness toward their evil nature
me weorðiað wide ond side
I will be honoured / far and wide
The internal rhyme, and image of breadth, conveys the significance of the Cross for mankind, whilst the assertive use of the future tense positions faith in Christianity as an inevitable outcome
þeos mære gesceaft?
all this excellent creation
deixis highlights both the significance of the dream and the relationship between the audience
forþan Ic þrymfæst nu?
for that I am glorious now
The poet makes it clear that it is ‘forþan’ Christ’s suffering that the Cross has become transformed from a torture mechanism to a sanctified symbol, and the temporal contrast between ‘hwile’ and ‘nu’ consolidates this distinction
þrowode hwile?
Suffered for a while
It is periphrastic and understates the depictions of intense suffering seen in earlier passages of the poem
Bearn Godes?
son of God
83 and 150 are the onyl times in this poem that Christ is referred to as the son of god
Poem has switched to present tense, suggests that Christ continues to live through his followers
hlifige under heofenum?
towering under the heavens
he Cross’ connection with ‘heofenum’ is reminiscent of the repeated epithet of Christ as ‘heofona Hlaford’ (45a) and ‘heofones Dryhten’ (64a)
‘wita heardost’ (87b) and ‘leodum laðost’ (88a)?
hardest of punishments + the most hateful to the people
These superlative descriptions of the Cross emphasise its previously fearsome nature, and their juxtaposition with the image of the Cross as a Christ-like figure in its healing abilities ‘hælan mæg’ strengthens its portrayal of the sanctifying transformation of the Cross
reordberendum?
speech-bearer
Poetic word is used in line 3 to describe humanity
Latent irony as it is the cross who is able to convey the sanctifying power of Christ
ofer eall wifa cynn?
over all women kind
Specific emphasis on God saving both men and women
haeled min se leofa?
my beloved man
Partial repetition of line 78 forms an envelope pattern
þas gesyhðe secge mannum?
tell men about this sight
Direct address and imperative means that the poem becomes didactic
Emphasised by deixis of ‘nu’
ealdegewyrhtum
ancient deeds
Poetic compound refers to original sin and only occurs elsewhere in line 2657 of Beowulf
Used to describe unique sacrifice made by Christ, as mankind has been tainted from the start
Deað he þær byrigde?
He tasted death
Gustatory imagery - poetic technique conveys complex theological argument which evokes Adam eating the apple
