Exeter book riddles anglosaxon narrative poetry project. Although the riddle form in general as well as the anglosaxon riddles in particular can he identified with broadly understood didactic functions, several of the exeter riddles appear to be especially interested in the nature of wisdom and in the intellectual. The book was donated to the library of exeter cathedral by leofric, the first bishop of exeter. At the end of the exeter book, there are almost a hundred riddles or enigmata. Ranging from natural phenomena such as icebergs and storms at sea to animal and bird life, from the christian concept of the creation to prosaic domestic objects such as a rake and a pair of bellows, and from weaponry to the peaceful pursuits of music and writing, they are. There is no list of upsidedown answers at the end of the exeter book where these riddles are found. Among the collections of riddles we have are those made by aldhelm d. Experts have dated the book itself it to around 970 to 990 a. This is an uncurated book entry from our extended bookshelves, readable online now but without a stable link here. The main text of this volume contains kevin crossleyhollands newlyrevised. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the free. The ninetysix anglosaxon riddles in the eleventhcentury exeter book are.
The ninetysix anglosaxon riddles in the eleventhcentury exeter book are poems of great charm, zest, and subtlety. Exeter book, the largest extant collection of old english poetry. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter bookintroduction wikisource. The first stage of this part of the angosaxonriddles provides the anglosaxon texts of all the riddles in the exeter book, accompanied by translations, as those appear in craig williamsons two important books. Publication date 1910 topics riddles, english old publisher boston ginn collection robarts. The original exeter book resides in you guessed it exeter castle in the united kingdom. The anglosaxon riddles contained in the exeter book were probably written in the early eighth century. Anglosaxon riddlesuse personification as the answer to the riddlecontains alliteration. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book, 1963 online. The exeter book medieval studies oxford bibliographies. Riddle numbers are taken from muirs exeter anthology 1994, though i follow. Although the riddle form in general as well as the anglosaxon riddles in particular can he identified with broadly understood didactic functions, several of the exeter riddles appear to be especially interested in the nature of wisdom and in the. The language of the anglosaxon riddles is often difficult, and even those who are fairly familiar with old english cannot read them readily. Several solutions have been suggested, but only three have received critical consideration.
The two dumb creatures in the second line are two sticks rubbed together to make a flame or two stones struck together to make a spark. Ranging from natural phenomena to animal and bird life, from the christian concept of creation to prosaic domestic objects, the riddles are full of sharp observation and earthy humour. The paper investigates the parallels between the old english wisdom poetry and a group of riddles contained in the exeter book. The old english riddles of the exeter book chapel hill. The exeter book, exeter cathedral library ms 3501, also known as the codex exoniensis, is a tenthcentury 1 book or codex which is an anthology of anglosaxon poetry. The most famous anglosaxon riddles are found in the exeter book. The most famous anglosaxon riddles are in old english and found in the tenthcentury exeter book, while the pre. Riddle numbers are taken from muirs exeter anthology 1994, though i follow williamson in considering the first three as parts of a single riddle. Mike bintley explores these poems, which include the wanderer and the wifes lament, and highlights the parallels between the elegies and the riddles in the exeter book. The exeter book contains the old english poems known as the elegies. The exeter book contains the largest collection of anglosaxon poetry and was given to the cathedral by leofric, exeters first bishop. It is believed originally to have contained 1 leaves, of which the first 8. Although we ended up selecting three riddles for the festival, i translated ten in total, and produced five finished translations, which are below.
Essays on medieval english language and literature, variations, 5 bern, 2004, 95114. The divine connection was likely how the anglosaxons dealt with the devastation they faced at natures hands. The bookworm riddle can be found in the exeter book, one of the greatest literary treasures to survive from anglosaxon england. The exeter book riddles in my anglosaxon literature recommendations blog post, i gave an overview of the exeter book riddles and included some of my favourites. Exeter booklargest collection of old english poetrydamaged by fire. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the. What are some of the themes of the riddles in the exeter book. Following these are a number of shorter religious verses intermingled with poems of. For convenience in crossreference a comparative table will be found on p. Edited with introduction, notes, and glossary, by frederick tupper by tupper, frederick, 18711950. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The verse riddles of the tenthcentury exeter book, around ninety in number, have. Riddle 66 from the exeter book, read in the original old english.
One of his works was the enigmata, which contained 100 riddles written in latin verse. What more appropriate image to illustrate the sexual nature of some anglosaxon riddles. The exeter book contains religious and secular poems, placed side by. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some discussion. John porters sparkling translations retain all the vigour and subtly of the original old english poems, transporting us back over a thousand years to the roots of our language and literature. Exeter book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Shielded behind glass it will be a little hard to place ones pint of guinness on its covers once more. The best anglosaxon riddles interesting literature. The riddle was a major, prestigious literary genre in anglosaxon england, and riddles were written both in latin and old english verse. Riddles were popular in the middle ages it was a tool to teach language, and a way to entertain friends. The exeter book is comprised solely of poetry excepting the contents of eight leaves added to the codex after it was written and, unlike the other anglosaxon manuscript containing poetry aloneoxford, bodleian library, ms junius 11, the junius manuscriptwhich is dedicated to biblically inspired items, the exeter book is noted for. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative. Thus the ancient custom of riddling was a popular entertainment among anglosaxons.
Here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. The riddles are one of the most wellknown works in the exeter book, and they focus on an eclectic mix of themes. The most famous anglosaxon riddles are in old english riddles and found in the tenthcentury exeter book, while the preeminent composer of latin riddles was the seventh to eighthcentury scholar aldhelm. The poems in the exeter book known as the old english elegies focus on loss, separation and the transience of earthly things. Heres a fun party game for the meadhall that gives you a sense of anglosaxon hilarity. The most famous anglosaxon riddles are in old english and found in the tenthcentury exeter book, while the preeminent anglosaxon composer of latin riddles was the seventh to eighthcentury scholar. Tupper, for example, puts the matter delicately, saying of 74 below, that the solution is not the chief concern of the jest. The exeter book, exeter cathedral library ms 3501, also known as the codex exoniensis, is a. One riddle in that manuscript provides a lesson about the dangers of consuming knowledge without understanding it.
Though some of the best have been translated in scattered places, and there is a prose lineforline translation in the e. The exeter book, exeter cathedral library ms 3501, also known as the codex exoniensis, is a tenthcentury book or codex which is an anthology of old english poetry. The book was donated to the library of exeter cathedral by leofric, the first. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum i. Obscene is a troublesome word for both legal and lay minds, but there is nothing uncertain about these few anglosaxon riddles which go under that name. The exeter book was a handwritten manuscript bequeathed to the exeter cathedral library by a bishop named leofric who died in 1072 a.
With all this time now on his hands he decided he would translate these anglosaxon riddles, known as the exeter book, and given to exeter cathedral library by bishop leofric in 1072. The tradition of writing riddles in anglosaxon england, as demonstrated by aldhelm around 700, was continued in the exeter book, made in the 10th century. Below, ive included some of the best anglosaxon riddles from the exeter book, followed by the most commonly proposed solutions. The elegies of the exeter book the british library. Those two versions appear in the vercelli book and in the same exeter book that contains the riddles. Reading the exeter book riddles as lifewriting the.
Most of the editors have been shy about their double meanings. Use the buttons on the right to navigate to each set of riddles. One that continues to elude a definitive answer, however, is riddle 55. Several of these poems and riddles can only be found in the exeter book. They comprise a rich source of information for the study of anglosaxon concepts of life courses and life stages, but have yet to be treated as such despite current enthusiasm surrounding the study of historical life cycles. She likens them to the charms, in particular, as well as to the. A couple of months ago, i mentioned that i had translated some riddles from the anglosaxon exeter book in order to publicise the anglian strand of the york festival of ideas. Dyer anglosaxon riddles translated by michael alexander while most of anglosaxon poetry is serious or even elegiac, the ninetyfive verse riddles found in the exeter book display their interest in cleverness with words. It is a tenthcentury1 book or codex which is an anthology of anglosaxon poetry. This is a translation of the 96 anglosaxon poems from the 11thcentury exeter book. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
If multiple possibilities are possible, ill give the best or most likely. There is much to be gained from interpreting the tenthcentury exeter book riddles as a characteristically biographical group of texts. The translations are mine, so that the clunky literalism is preserved. They were mysteriously never dated or signed by their author.
The riddles could contain the following literary devices. He had broken his leg, he told us, and needed to spend several months recuperating in hospital. The elements of anglosaxon wisdom poetry in the exeter. The issue of the souls control over the body was obviously very important to anglosaxon readers, as a longer soul and body poem exists in two versions, which is unusual for an oe text. Most of the riddles contained in the exeter book have been answered to the satisfaction of the majority anglosaxon scholars. Abstract the paper investigates the parallels between the old english wisdom poetry and a group of riddles contained in the exeter book. Many of the exeter book riddles, particularly the first three the storm riddles, god unleashes natures fury at his will, testing the mettle of his subjects on earth.
This book contains secular and religious poems and other writings, along with a collection of 94 riddles, although there is speculation that there may have been closer to 100 riddles in the book. Anglosaxon riddles are part of anglosaxon literature. The most famous anglosaxon riddles are in old english and found in the tenth century exeter book, while the pre. For further references in postanglosaxon literature, see d. It is one of the four major anglosaxon literature codices. In some very few instances, my idea of the solution differs from the generally accepted range.
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