Old English Poetry : Dream of the Rood and The Ruin Analysis

Dream of the Rood

Within the poem Dream of the Rood, there are several comparisons, juxtapositions, and dichotomies. These are where two opposing descriptions or ideas are used for the same object. It may not at first make much sense until put together to enhance the meaning of what the author is trying to express. In this case, how normal or unremarkable people and things can become far greater than outward appearances.

The poet starts by describing a tree like any other, but far greater than at first thought. The tree is not only an object of wonder, but the greatest tree that has ever existed. What makes the tree so great at first sight is how it is covered in brilliant light and precious gems of magnificent quality. Angels also watch over its existence. This hides the original ominous and horrible use of the tree. In fact, without that terrible history there would be no reason for the current veneration and glory.

The author himself is not the most worthy of people to witness the tree. He claims to be full of sin and unrighteousness. Despite that, like the unremarkable tree, he is chosen to have a holy dream explaining why the tree is so important. Most likely the poet is describing a reliquary that houses a relic or holy object. A simple piece of wood, fabric, or human remains is placed in a special highly decorated container for religious practitioners to gaze upon as they worship.

As with any dream, there are unrealistic elements that otherwise would be dismissed as nonsense. In this case the great tree starts to speak. The inanimate tree becomes personified with a human voice. There is no hesitation of acceptance or questioning how the tree is talking. Like any otherwise absurdity in a dream the talking is perfectly natural. What the tree talks about is how it transformed from a normal tree to the greatest in history so far as the poem is concerned.

Within the poem is the idea that despite its dream qualities, the objects and events depicted are very much real. The tree might as well be able to talk because of the grand story behind the vision. Although happening far in the past, the dream progresses as if the events were unfolding in real time. Raw emotions of the tree and visionary spill out for all readers to feel.

Strong men, Romans to specific, tore the tree down in a violent act in preparation for a violent purpose. The most retched criminals were, by Romans standards of punishment, to be crucified on the tree. This proposed act horrified the tree, but who was to be crucified on it changed the perspective. A hero in the form of Jesus, known as the Christ or Savior, was placed on the tree as a sacrifice. Even while wanting to either bow to the holy figure or falling on the Roman soldiers it did not move. The importance of who is about to die forces the tree to reconsider its own actions and play the part fate has given it.

The tree’s fate becomes so intertwined with the suffering and death of Jesus, that they become in the mind of the poet practically one and the same. Both of them have the marks of nails pounded into them. Blood covers Jesus and the tree that he hangs upon. It is a terrible vision with a victorious outcome when they suffer and are glorified together.

Before they are glorified, Jesus body is put into a tomb and the tree buried in the ground to be forgotten. Early followers mourn and cry at the loss and then quietly leave after the burials. As anyone who knows the Christian religion can explain, Jesus Christ rises out of the tomb and saves humanity from sin and permanent death. The Rood, another word for the cross, also is found and raised from the ground. Jesus Christ becomes the Salvation of the World and the remnants of the Rood, or cross, to be Venerated.

No matter how real life might be, it is seen by believers and this poet as nothing compared to the eternal rewards for those who worship Jesus as the Christ. The dreamer, having seen the cross decked in finery and glory, decides to search for his eternal reward of living forever with Jesus who returns to Heaven from whence he came. Theologically, Jesus Christ is considered both a man and a God similar to how the tree is both a piece of wood and a holy object. The instrument of death becomes the inspiration for living a holy life.

The Ruin

The other poem, The Ruin, is a look back at a glorious time in history when Rome was at its most splendid. The poet has visited the now gone physical remnants of the once powerful Empire and is awe inspired. The writer is amazed by the forms of buildings that once represented a rich nation filled with promise and delights.

He goes on to say that the marvels he sees are mostly in crumbles. A terrible event transpired to bring down the buildings and the people who lived among the sprawling metropolis. The men in the city had gold, silver, and many other kinds of wealth, but they too are gone. What remains are, presumably, piles and heaps of stone and tile as a testament to the grandness that once was. Interesting enough, the poem itself is fragmented. Part of the middle and what was the end have been lost. A few words can be pieced together in the missing sections, but nothing completely coherent. Despite that, the text mostly can be read and understood.

As for the city the poem describes, it lasted for a very long time. Houses were built, elaborate baths of luxury were used, and great walls constructed to keep it safe. Only after years of survival did the place become abandoned and fell apart. It is hard to say if the poet believed the end of the city happened all at once or over a long cycle of events. The poem could be interpreted to either use the word “fail” implying a quick loss and the word “days” a far longer period of time. They don’t have to necessarily have an opposite meaning. One can have a slow failure, but the abandonment seems all at once. Whatever the poet might have thought of the ruins now sitting dormant, it has a very tragic feeling to the dilapidated structures.

Both The Ruin and The Dream of the Rood take a look back at history that even at the time they were written was ancient. The former saw terrible events and consider them to have been leading up to a glorious future. The latter saw a glorious past and despaired at a tragic loss that can never return. Early English literature is filled with looking back in awe and wonder of what came before, with hope to return to such a condition either in the world or heaven. The world may have always been harsh, but war, poverty, and disease of their time seemed excruciating.  They sought to remember, rebuild, and repeat what they saw as a golden age lost in time.

What we can learn from these poems today is that no matter how far apart history might be, there is always a looking back at what came before and a hope for the future. The past may be glorious and it might be filled with destruction and horror. We can be both horrified and impressed by events and places from what seems like long ago. Think of it as the half filled and half empty glass of water. To someone who is thirsty it might not be very impressive and perhaps full of worry. On the other hand, they might be happy that there was any water to drink. Perspective is a very powerful source of human opinion and decision making. Where a door closes, another might be open. It is the oppositions in life that make it interesting. To be honest, the current era seems more like the pessimistic Ruin poem than the optimistic Dream of the Rood even if that poem deals with something far more horrible than crumbling buildings.

A final note on the poems as written. They are Old English Anglo Saxon, and do not read like the English we have today. For modern English speakers and readers it seems like a completely different language, but it is linguistically the same.

A Science Fiction Book to Read

The publishing world can be hard, and most people today go with self-publishing their work. The following book "Icarus Falling" followed that path. From the blog site Parking Orbit Publishing, here are few statements about the process:

This last week the book proof for Icarus Falling  arrived for preview. . . Most of the edits are word choices, grammar errors, and missed paragraph indention. After the book proof has been read and adjusted then a more solid date of publication can be announced. 

 Layout is complete and with final editing still to be done.

After the book proof has been read and adjusted then a more solid date of publication can be announced. 

Because of unforeseen circumstances the release date has been temporarily postponed. This is to give a chance to improve on the customer satisfaction in the ordering processes. Changes will include how the product can be obtained, an easier check out process, and improvement to the text for an even better reading experience. An online book trailer and added online content is also in the works.

Icarus Falling was prepared almost entirely with open source software. . . Open Office . . . Scribus  . . . Gimp . . . Inkscape . . .  PDF Shuffler . . . In any event Amazon makes the process look very simple and it isn't really. At least if you want something that looks good and is easy to read.

 Of Course, that last statement is where NDM Writing Service can come in to help with the publishing process. Having already had experience getting a book ready for publication, it is a job that we can do for those needing the help.

You can also order the book at the Parking Orbit Publishing website or click the book cover to order directly at Amazon.



A simple video Youtube trailer was made for the book's release, but it is dated. Another one was created to update the feel and the acceptable quality:

Keep watching the skies! Don't forget to ask for NDM Writing Service for help with your writing and editing needs.

Online Reading and Comprehension Series

A new online learning series by NDM Writingservice is now available to follow. Enjoy the readings of classic English-language literature, and then listen to brief analysis. Each era and period of the literature will be explored over time, so make sure not to miss any installments.

Here are links to the first vidoes:

Youtube Channel Startup

The idea of starting a Youtube channel seems so easy in theory. All you need is a computer, a camera, and microphone. Turn them on, look forward and talk. All your thoughts will be presented in video form for the whole world to watch and be inspired. It can be that simple, but doesn't mean an audience will automatically form. A good Youtube channel takes time to grow and develop a following. For all those with a million views, there are a million other people who get anywhere from 100 to a few thousand on good days. According to some experts (and many will claim that title) there are ways to become successful.

Probably the number one suggestion they all can agree on is don't hesitate, just start. Almost all of the big names didn't know exactly what they were doing. They wanted to record themselves and place online for everyone to watch. Many look back at their first recordings and laugh at the embarrassing first efforts. What none of them do is wish they never tried. Take their mistakes and learn a few lessons. Be inspired by where the biggest Youtube stars are today. Be careful not to try and copy what many popular Youtubers are doing without finding a personal touch.

Becoming a Youtube sensation takes more than making a recording and slapping on the Internet for viewership. That is a sure recipe for disaster and limited interest for viewers. Casual research might make it seem that is what everyone is doing, but it isn't true. No matter what magnetic personality comes out when pressing record, there needs to be purpose. All the slick, professional, popular, and viral channels have a particular focus that relates to every created video. Some of the most common subjects are fashion, food, travel, and reviews of products. The voice can be serious to comedy, and anywhere in between.

Think small before hitting big. People are not going to suddenly drop by and subscribe. It takes work forming connections and building up a community. Go to other similar channels and write comments that engage the topics. Pick only a few large Youtubers because hundreds or thousands of other will be trying to get attention. A large portion of interactions should be a number of smaller and relatively unknown personalities. They might return the favor (but never ask to return the favor) by visiting your channel videos. Starting at rock bottom might require asking friends, family, and those from other social media platforms to watch what you have recorded. One of the biggest Youtube sensations, Rhett and Link, failed multiple times until Good Mythical Morning became a hit. The dub-step dancing violin artist Lindsey Stirling lost a nationally broadcast competition in humiliation. the self-made Crystallize video made her a huge star. Failure is part of the equation toward success.

Make sure your productions are consistently made and the channel maintained. Upload once a week at the least, and on a specific time table. Twice a week is common and once a day is best if there is enough to show and say. The more videos made, the greater chances people will find the content. Of course, the content needs to be interesting or it could be viewed and then forgotten. Algorithms count views if a person remains watching for at least three minutes, so it is best to have five to fifteen minutes for each video presentation. Any content on the channel should be named according to top search items when looking for similar topics. Don't forget to add as many labels for search engines as possible with related subjects. Most of all, don't worry about how well they actually do because the best videos are done with passion and fun.

Photo by Gianandrea Villa on Unsplash

How to Come Up With Story Ideas

Probably every successful writer gets the question from someone. The more creative the writer, the more insistent the question. Where does the idea(s) for a story originate? To those who don't write, it all seems like such a mystery. For them life is one day after another of the same boring experiences. They don't realize that story ideas can be found anywhere and in everyday circumstances. All it takes is putting unrelated things together to form a new combination. There are times when a concept doesn't work out and is abandoned, but when it does come together the results can be satisfying.

A fictionalized biography of J.K. Rowlings, Magic Beyond Words (2011), tried to portray the creative inspiration for her Harry Potter book. Despite an otherwise interesting movie, the situations that sparked her imagination felt false. The movie's representation of the creative process didn't come off as believable. Too many of the inspirations were over simplified coincidences. An object or person seen for the first time doesn't suddenly become a large part of the story, although they can have an impact. There is history behind creative ideas.

The truth is most creative ideas boil together and ferment over time, coalescing into a single narrative structure after lots of thought. Before that can happen, the writer must pay attention to their surroundings or look back on long lost memories. Consider that “creative work comes from noticing. You are being given a warning, an intimation of something, and that something is the creative urge, sometimes buried deep in your subconscious . . . material to uncover there, memories and associations to explore.” (Alice LaPlante, The Making of a Story. W.W. Norton & Co., 2007. pg 36). This can take conscious work. For instance, the movie scene where J.K. Rowling sits in a café with a writing pad presents too casual an instance of inspiration. She watches two people playing a chess match and then carefully writes a scene that would become famous. In real life she would feverishly be jotting down a spur of the moment idea. She wouldn't want to forget what came to mind, and it certainly wouldn't be seamlessly flowing from the previous text of the book on the same page.

More likely she remembered playing or watching others play chess over several years. Seeing two people playing the game while concentrating on the next story idea probably brought back memories that inspired her to incorporate into the book. There is also, for those who know the scene, a hint of Alice Through the Looking Glass that came to her while devising the living chess game. The importance of one chess game are exaggerated for story telling, but distorts true genius.

The history goes that J.K. Rowling was sitting in a commuter train gazing out of the window. She came up with the idea of Harry Potter while delayed for four hours returning to London from a trip. Apparently there are those who doubt the book idea came to her while on a train, although no other credible alternative is put forward. Her explanation of when and how the book idea came to her is realistic. To be sure, it didn't come all at the moment in full bloom. The kernel probably existed floating around since childhood. Whatever set the spark to set fire on the accumulated debris, there is no reason to disbelieve a train ride set the creative blood flowing and brought the book series to life. Stephen King, another bestselling author, wrote, “good story ideas seem to come seem to come literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky; two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn't to find those ideas but to recognize them when when they show up.” (Stephen King, On Writing. Pocket Books, 2001. pg. 37). It is often during moments of reflection and boredom that daydreams can become projects given the right circumstances.

There is a common saying told to budding writers to “write what you know” as if it was a truism that could bring success. Whoever says this is either lazy in answering the concerns of new writers or deliberately wanting to avoid a deeper discussion. To become a good writer, a person should write about what they don't know. This might sound counter-intuitive, because if a writer doesn't know the topic then how can the information be accurate. Better advise would be write what you are interested in, and study if the topic is unfamiliar. The idea of fiction, for instance, is writing about not only something that we don't actually know but that is not real. Research is the busy and time consuming companion for any creative process. To write is self discovery for charting the unknown made knowable. The best words for generating story ideas is “what if” and then seeking to answer that question.

Getting at the heart of where story ideas come from; there is no magic formula. They can come from other books a writer enjoys, a dream that cannot be left alone ( like the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer), a conversation, a person's life, an experience to remember or reinterpret, a challenge accepted, new knowledge expanding old, and the list continues. A better question to ask an author, because it means having actually taken time with their work, is where did “that idea” or “that scene” come from. They will more than likely be happy to answer more specifics. Chances are there is going to be an illuminating description of the back story to the text. Still, don't be upset if the author responds a few times with “I don't know.” They probably don't. Sometimes the subconscious is a powerful tool in generating story ideas. All an artist can do is go with the creative flow. For those who are trying to come up with a story idea, it is best to ask themselves for what reason they want to write. Examine the details of past and present. Work with whatever comes comes from the answer, because that probably is the future story.

English Language Tutoring

Learning a new language, or even a familiar one to improve upon, takes time and patience. Reading books can be a step in the right direction, but a mentor puts it all into usable context. Even when taking classes a teacher doesn’t have time to attend to the needs of all the students. Sometimes a student needs more help than an educator has time. That is when a tutor can step in and give the one on one care that might otherwise be lacking. It can determine success for failure, or just an increased grade

School isn’t the only place or means of learning. Going to college can be expensive and if not an native English speaker a daunting task where that is the main language. Tutoring English as a Second Language can include the writing, editing, and resourcing all at once. A main goal is that a non-native English speaker can be taught enough to become independent and understood. Perhaps they need material read to them and explained in a way that they are able to use the information.
 
Every time literary and other courses become available to increase knowledge of English writing the books taught will be of historical importance or often taught in a school setting. Homeschoolers and their teachers might be interested in using them in their own lessons. Perhaps there are history, literary, science, or other English writing related topics that a teacher would like to have a lesson prepared for them. That is certainly an option for the busy teacher. Students can even request a topic to be developed for their learning. Just be aware it can be time consuming, depending on the required depth of the subject.