In Retrospect (or now that the school year is almost over)

Part One - Yes, indeed, I am finally posting on the books we have read this year. So...here is our year in review: (taken from my Book Journal)

Beowulf - An epic poem first composed in the 500's AD, but not written down till somewhere between 700-1000 AD. First written in Old English (which would be unrecognizable to us now) - the tale of a warrior-hero who slays a monster (Grendel), the monster's mother (a hag), and when he is much older, he slays a dragon, but dies afterwards. The style of writing has a very unique "feel", not like things written today. The sense of the time is early Christianity, with an underlying paganism. Very unique with a certain rhythm to the writing - it gave me a feeling for the people (Geats and Danes) and their culture.
"That was a good king!"

Dream of the Rood - "Rood" being the cross of Christ - a religious poem written in Old English sometime before 1000 AD. Some passages from that poem were carved in runes on a stone cross in the early 8th century in Scotland. In the poem, the narrator speaks of his dream of the cross, and then the cross also speaks. The style is so similar to Beowulf - Christ is called the "Warrior", the "Mighty King", "stout-hearted", all terms which could have been used for Beowulf. It seemed as if I could see into the hearts of these early Christians, living in Britain in the Dark Ages. You could feel how their pagan culture was being permeated with Christianity. I loved the part where the author says "May the Lord be my friend." God the Father is called "The High Father" and "Almighty Ruler". In the poem , the Cross (Rood) was venerated. And as Catholic Christians, we continue to venerate the cross. On Good Friday we sing "This is the wood of the cross, on whom hung the Savior of the World. Come, let us worship." How beautiful and appropriate! "Then he came with his multitude, and host of spirits, into God's kingdom, the Almighty Ruler; and the angels and all the saints who dwelt then in glory rejoiced when their ruler, Almighty God, came where his home was." Amen and Amen!