ABSTRACT
The Dream of the Rood is one of the most studied Anglo-Saxon texts. Nevertheless, few scholars have analysed it specifically as a contemplative text. Tim Flight discusses this crucial aspect of the poem, with reference to some of the possible influences on the text, such as Pseudo-Dionysius and Gregory the Great. After analyzing the poem’s visionary nature and contemplative structure, Flight argues that the text should be interpreted not so much as the description of a mystical event, but rather as a textual device to allow readers to participate in theosis through catharsis and theoria.
