Stylistic Disjunctions

Hwæt, iċ swefna cyst     secgan wylle

Opening of the Poem l.1 - Behold I wish to tell of choicest dream

Þæt wæs ġeāra iū     (iċ þæt ġȳta ġeman)

þæt iċ wæs āhēawen     holtes on ende,

Shift from dreamer to cross (it begins to narrate its history) l.27 - it was long ago - I still remember it - that I was cut down at the edge of a wood

Nū ðū miht ġehȳran,     hæleð mīn se lēofa,

þæt iċ bealuwara weorc     ġebiden hæbbe,

sārra sorga. 

Shift from narration to explanation in cross’ speech l.78 - Now, my dear man, you can hear that I have suffered at the hands of men steeped in evil, that pain of bitter sorrows

Ġebæd iċ mē þā tō þan bēame     blīðe mōde

Dreamer becomes speaker again (reacts to cross’ experience) l. 121 - Then I prayed to that tree with a cheerful spirit

Hē ūs onlȳsde     ond ūs līf forġeaf

heofonlicne hām. 

Shift to impersonal magnification of Christ l.147 - He sets us free and gave us life, a heavenly home