The best anglosaxon riddles and kennings kenning definition, history and examples riddle definition, history and examples this page collects some of the very best anglosaxon riddles and kennings. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative poetry. Encoded references in exeter book birdriddles medieval. Exeter book riddle 27 is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. Niles riddle 74 is one of a handful of old english riddles of the exeter book that have stubbornly resisted a solution. Thats right, folks, its the one youve been waiting for. The lack of riddles in the beowulf, junius, or vercelli.
The riddle or, as they are sometimes called by academics, enigmatica is a developed form in anglosaxon poetry, the most important collection of riddles being the exeter book. Straight from the inappropriate touching of root vegetables to animal martyrs and religious book making in one fell swoopno one ever said the exeter book compiler was a person of limited interests. May 01, 2011 riddle 23 is one of the rare riddles of the exeter book that gives its answer. Jump to navigation jump to search riddle 27 riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum. The exeter book, an important collection of anglosaxon poetry from the 10 th century, includes a fair number of them. I accept the old english solution swon swan as the poems solution based.
The riddle is one of a number to include runes as clues. Riddle 23 is one of the rare riddles of the exeter book that gives its answer. Aug 03, 2016 here are ten things you should know about the exeter book. Scholars often refer to riddles 1, 2, and 3 as the storm riddles because they depict natural phenomena like thunderstorms, wind, and other atmospheric occurrences. Two historical riddles of the old english exeter book. I am worthied by men, found widely, brought from the groves and from the hillsides, from the valleys and the peaks. I should also say that the line has close approximations in juliana 120 gif. Exeter book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Riddle numbers are taken from muirs exeter anthology 1994, though i follow williamson in considering the first three as parts of a single riddle. Two historical riddles of the old english exeter book iowa state. The riddle 7 of the exeter book portrays a swans life through its movements using verbal variations, antithesis and various other literary devices. Or this may be first line of a riddle, of which the rest is lost. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book27 wikisource, the free.
Of course, this is not a carousing drinking party of early medieval boisterousness. Dec 27, 2017 in dialogue with the recent movement toward more ecomaterialist analyses of environment in early medieval literature, the following essay engages with the methodology of actor network theory to explore the network of interactions constructed in exeter book riddle 27, usually solved as mead. Shielded behind glass it will be a little hard to place ones pint of guinness on its covers once more. Walz, notes on the anglosaxon riddles, stud, and notes 5 1 896, 2667. Exeter book riddle 47 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the most famous of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. The bachelorwarrior of exeter book riddle 20 by tanke. The 17 lines of riddle 60 do not contain the contradictions that are found in the other riddles of the exeter book which are seemingly meant to confound the reader. Riddlesare generally thought to end once a solution has been found, but exeter book riddle 9, although apparently straightforward and only twelve lines long, has more to offer than a disguised description of a cuckoo. There may have been an attempt to assemble 100 riddles in the exeter book like in some latin collections. There is much to be gained from interpreting the tenthcentury exeter book riddles as a characteristically biographical group of texts. The exeter book, a late tenthcentury manuscript of early old english poetry, is an anthology of religious homiletic verse, elegiac poetry, and ninetyone lyric riddles.
Every time a work is analyzed or interpreted, we get a little closer to figuring it out simply by producing new ideas and applying different lenses. The article on the exeter book focuses on its origin, time of production, and contents, providing basic background information for audiences of all ages and education levels. Riddle 55 of the exeter book i saw in the hall, where heroes drank, carried onto the floor a wondrous woodtree of four kinds and wound gold, cunningly fastened treasure, and part of silver 5 and the sign of the cross, which he raised the ladder for us to heaven before he stormed the city of the inhabitants of hell. Exeter book riddle 7 medieval studies research blog. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book28 wikisource. 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 anglosaxon poetry. Well, here comes the alcohol riddle and not the only one at that. Exeter book riddles riddle numbers are taken from muirs exeter anthology 1994, though i follow williamson in considering the first three as parts of a single riddle riddle songs of the storm. Emphasis on this aspect exceeds even its treatment in the previous riddle. Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text john d. Importance of exeter book the exeter book riddles 1 1 5 organization and goals of ths study 7 chapter 2. Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text gist,8 gathering materials from various sources and making an effort to put like things together, but what these principles of likeness were is not altogether clear, nor were they necessarily followed consistently. Here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. The damage to the manuscript offers several possible reconstructions of the riddles final lines.
The riddle is usually solved as reed pen, although such pens were not in use in anglosaxon times, rather being roman technology. Riddle numbers are taken from muirs exeter anthology 1994, though i. 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. Overing eds, class and gender in early english literature. Translation i saw a strange creature with booty between its horns, a shining airvessel adorned with skill, carrying the booty towards its home from this raid. This page collects some of the very best anglosaxon riddles and kennings. On riddle 12 see williamson, the old english riddles of the exeter book, 1667. The elegies of the exeter book the british library. 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. Having recently translated exeter book riddle 7 in my recent blog on esotericism in a sequence of old english riddles encoded references in exeter book bird riddles, i have decided to add my translation and recitation of this poetic enigma for our ongoing medieval poetry translation and recitation project.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Suggested solutions have included hemp, leek, onion, rosehip, mustard and phallus, but the consensus is. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book27 wikisource. The husbands message project gutenberg selfpublishing. Im sure youll agree with me that nothing helps pass the time like some honesttogoodness smut and when the anglosaxon church was responsible for collating it, you know youre onto something special. Were you starting to worry that popular conceptions of the anglosaxons were all made up.
Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book25 wikisource, the. Here are ten things you should know about the exeter book. Exeter riddle 17 10 explication and past solutions 10 vikings and their ships linguistic analysis 19 i am the protector. Riddle 74 is a good test case for larger arguments because it is short and com. Riddle 27 or 25 this weeks riddle comes to us from wendy hennequin you may remember wendy from riddle 17. Beyond tolkien using them in the hobbit, riddles in verse are an ancient literary game. Exeter book riddle 12 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. My worldly strength he stripped, then wet me, drowned me in water then drew me out, set me in sunshine, where soon i lost the hair i had.
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. The original exeter book resides in you guessed it exeter castle in the united kingdom. Exeter book riddle 47 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic. Riddle 27 anglosaxon poem is a translation of the original anglosaxon exeter book old english poetry by bertha rogers for able muse, volta issue v9. Use the buttons on the right to navigate to each set of riddles. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some discussion. Obscene riddles of the exeter book everything english. Exeter book riddles an open companion for british literature i. Riddle hero play and poetry in the exeter book riddles eric.
In some very few instances, my idea of the solution differs from the generally accepted range. Anglosaxon exeter book old english riddle 26 riddles solutions. Dec 06, 2019 like riddle 7, the speaker of exeter book riddle 8 is clearly also some kind of songbird. Exeter book riddles anglosaxon narrative poetry project.
Jul 01, 2008 the ninetysix anglosaxon riddles in the eleventhcentury exeter book are poems of great charm, zest, and subtlety. Exeter book riddle 27 is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenth century exeter book. The riddles in the exeter book were probably authored by multiple people and are difficult to date. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary and. While the answers to latin riddles were given by their titles the latin riddles being rhetorical word games rather than true enigmas, few of the old english riddles provide solutions. Thus, the answers in this book are not necessarily what the anglosaxons intended, but just accepted answers. Which of you heroes is so sharpwitted and so mindcrafty, who can speak. Its solution is accepted to be oxoxhide though variations on this theme, focusing on leather objects, have been proposed. Ive numbered them first, second, third, and so on, for the sake of matching riddle to solution, but in the exeter book they have different numbers. A hard edged knife cut me and ground me clean from all grime, fingers folded me, a. If multiple possibilities are possible, ill give the best or most likely. A selection of riddles from the exeter book riddles. She has provided us with a poetic translation and a few notes, as well as a prose translation.
Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary. 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. 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. Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text jstor. So prepare yourself to read the word phallus more times in one post than perhaps you would prefer. Jan 30, 2017 the old english riddles of the exeter book chapel hill. The ninetysix anglosaxon riddles in the eleventhcentury exeter book are poems of great charm, zest, and subtlety. The poems in the exeter book known as the old english elegies focus on loss, separation and the transience of earthly things. The author discusses the exeter book riddles, some of the earliest poems. Some of them have been dated as far back as the 7 th century. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book12 wikisource. Below, ive included some of the best anglosaxon riddles from the exeter book, followed by the most commonly proposed solutions.
It seems likely they were composed in the 700s when riddles were popular in english monasteries. I thought it a curious chance, when i heard of that wonder, that the worm devoured some mans song, the thief in the dark, mighty word and. Exeter book riddle 24 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. In analyzing riddle 12, i am hoping to contribute meaningfully to our understanding of anglosaxon england as a whole, the riddles in the exeter book, and the ox riddle itself. But why, oh why, are you so sure were dealing with religious book making. The exeter books riddles were never published with the answers. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book, 1963 online. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book27 wikisource, the. The text can be found online within the internet sacred text archive.
Exeter book riddle 8, exeter cathedral library ms3051, f. The verse riddles of the tenthcentury exeter book, around ninety in. From wikisource oct 08, 2012 the riddle or, as they are sometimes called by academics, enigmatica is a developed form in anglosaxon poetry, the most important collection of riddles being the exeter book. The best anglosaxon riddles interesting literature. I am worthied by men, found widely, brought from the groves and from the hillsides. Ideology and figuration in the sexual riddles of the exeter book in britton j. Dec 11, 20 anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 27. Little agreement has been reached about the authorship of the riddles or even the exeter book at large. Aug 20, 20 this line is repeated almost word for word at the end of riddle 27 spoiler alert, which is commonly solved as mead. The riddles are of particular interest to students of old english poetry and anglosaxon culture, to archeologists, anthropologists, and folklorists. Mar 07, 2014 a selection of riddles from the exeter book riddles.
I became a translator of anglosaxon riddles and kennings after falling in love with wulf and eadwacer, a stunning ancient poem from the exeter. I became a translator of anglosaxon riddles and kennings after falling in love with wulf and eadwacer, a stunning ancient poem from the exeter book. The anglosaxon riddle poems from the exeter book translated and illuminated by bertha rogers. Exeter book riddles solutions here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. Riddle 66 from the exeter book, read in the original old english. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book76 wikisource. I am worthied by men, found widely, brought from the groves and from the.
It is one of the four major anglosaxon literature codices, along with the vercelli book, nowell codex and the c. The exeter book riddles of the four surviving old english poetic codices, only the exeter book contains anglosaxon riddles, 95 in all. Jan 09, 20 perhaps it is plausible i am merely reading these double entendres into the text. While the riddle clearly presents the processes of mead making and consuming, the figure of the. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative. Riddle 27 by anglosaxon riddles translated by bertha rogers. Riddles 25, 44, and 45 are classified as double entendres, for they seem to be depicting sexual images but are actually referring to. Pause the video each time the screen fades to black to try to guess the answers to the riddles. Jul 04, 2008 buy the exeter book riddles revised ed. We do not have the names of any of these poets, though there is no reason to doubt that some may have cunningly hidden their names in the text. The book was donated to the library of exeter cathedral by leofric, the first bishop. If youve already read riddle 25s translation, youre probably aware that theres some pretty obvious body humour going on in this poem. Many of the exeter book riddles have problematic or very provisional solutions 1. And depending on who in the scholarly world you talk to, the numbers of riddles, and the translation of those riddles is quite different.
518 942 974 857 1471 330 211 152 451 947 1335 1122 1169 510 400 689 65 783 1161 681 935 594 1340 990 1165 287 1434 281 86