"The Dream of the Rood" An Analysis of Pagan Elements
This three-page undergraduate essay analyzes the Old English poem, "The Dream of the Rood" and examines the overshadowing of Christian elements by pagan elements. The author notes that this can be explained by the historical context of the poem, for the author felt compelled to include pagan elements as a co-opting tool in order to convert them to Christianity. Since the thematic focus of the poem is the victory won by Christ over sin, the tactical use of pagan elements that perhaps overshadow Christian elements is justified by the strategic goal of converting pagans to Christianity.
