E211: British Literature to 1760

Dream of the Rood Study Questions

Alfred J. Drake. Office: Hum. 520 | W 3-4 | ajdrake@ajdrake.com

1. Personification—the bestowal of human capacities upon animals or objects—seems to have been a fairly common poetic device in medieval times. What special perspective on Christ’s sacrifice does that device offer in this short meditative poem?

2. What lesson about life and faith does the dreamer-poet draw from his vision?

Edition: Abrams, M.H. et al. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vols. 1A, 1B, 1C. 7th. edition. New York: Norton, 2000. ISBN #'s: 1A = 0393975657, 1B = 0393975665, 1C = 0393975673.