Abstract: A peculiar term appears in five Old English poems. The term is “reordberend,” which translates to “speech-bearers” in modern English. The reordberend are described in Dream of the Rood, Daniel, Andreas, the Christ poems, and Elene. Speech is the defining characteristic of humanity in these poems, an intrinsic part of what it is to be human. However, objects also speak in Old English poetry and therefore, the ability to express thoughts and feelings by articulating sounds is not a skill that belongs exclusively to humankind. Silence often surrounds the reordberend despite the significance of speech in each poem. The reordberend bear speech as an ability, as the potential to carry out speech in the future; this is quite different from actively speaking. The lack of conversation from the speech-bearers is ironic and paradoxical. Considering how speech occupies each poem and examining the moments in which the reordberend appear in apocalyptic and prophetic Anglo-Saxon poetry reveals a complicated message concerning humanity’s ability to participate in God’s activity in the world.

Keywords: Old English poetry, reordberend, speech, Dream of the Rood, silence