CONTENTS Chapter 1: Religious Transformation in Anglo-Saxon Society 14 1.1. The Fusion of Pagan and Christian Worldviews in The Dream of the Rood 14 1.2 The Saxons in the early stages of the spread of Christianity in England. 17 1.3 Syncretism as a Literary Device in The Dream of the Rood. 22 Chapter 2: Syncretism of Christian and Pagan Symbols in the Poem.. 25 2.1 Evangelism through Poetic Structure. 25 2.2. Christ as the Heroic Warrior: A Reimagining of Heroism.. 28 2.3 Pagan Heroism and Christ as the Ultimate Hero. 30 Chapter 2. The complex cultural and religious shifts that took place in Anglo-Saxon England. 32 3.1 The familiar image of pagan heroism and sacrifice in Christian teachings. 32 3.2 The Power of Oral Tradition and Communal Memory. 34 3.3 Christ as the Pagan Warlord Redeemer. 35 CONCLUSION.. 38 BIBLIOGRAPHY.. 48