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. Riddle 74 is a good test case for larger arguments because it is short and com. Straight from the inappropriate touching of root vegetables to animal martyrs and religious bookmaking in one fell swoopno one ever said the exeter book compiler was a person of limited interests. Riddle numbers are taken from muirs exeter anthology 1994, though i follow. 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. Riddle 27 by anglosaxon riddles translated by bertha rogers. Some comments on anglosaxon attitudes toward sexuality in women based on four exeter book riddles, texas quarterly 181975, 4655. Riddle 1 translation and commentary riddle 2 translation and commentary riddle 3 translation and commentary riddle 4 translation and commentary riddle 5 translation and commentary riddle 6 translation and commentary riddle 7 translation and commentary riddle 8 translation and commentary riddle 9.
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. Below are links to texts of the riddles accompanied by translations. According to the author, many scholars take the liberty of changing the order. The somewhat enigmatic character of this poem has given rise to various conjectures. In some very few instances, my idea of the solution differs from the generally accepted range. From wikisource exeter book riddle translation parody. Conquest with illustrative translations, oxford university press, 1943, p. She has provided us with a poetic translation and a few notes, as well as a prose translation. This is a translation of the 96 anglosaxon poems from the 11thcentury exeter book. Nocturne english translation from the french by charles cros nocturne. 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.
But why, oh why, are you so sure were dealing with religious bookmaking. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some discussion. I i have adopted the numbering of the riddles of the exeter book, ed. Jan 09, 20 in working with the old english text of the exeter book, it is important to pay attention to all the riddles and read them as a whole collection. Emphasis on this aspect exceeds even its treatment in the previous riddle. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book, 1963 online. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary. Riddle 63 in the exeter book is a companion onion riddle without the bawdy overtones. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book21 wikisource. Youll have to scroll all the way down to find the possible solutions. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the. Murphy unriddling the exeter riddles is a stimulating and engaging study that is sure to be invaluable in the study of the enigmatic exeter 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 which of you heroes is so sharpwitted. May 12, 2016 pause the video each time the screen fades to black to try to guess the answers to the riddles.
Chapel hill, nc, 1977, henceforth w in short citations. 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. Though some of the best have been translated in scattered places, and there is a prose lineforline translation in the e. 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 83 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter bookindex of solutions.
May 01, 2011 riddle 23 is one of the rare riddles of the exeter book that gives its answer. Exeter book riddles anglosaxon narrative poetry project. 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. Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text cambridge core. Columbia university press, 1936, since this numbering has become standard.
Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the free. Encoded references in exeter book birdriddles medieval. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book21 wikisource, the. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative poetry. Thorpe, the first editor of the exeter book, recognizing the similarity between the opening of the poem and many of the riddles, interpreted the first portion to l. The isidorian context of aldhems lorica and exeter. The riddler pokes fun at the pedantic worm, transformed into wordwolf or midnight marauder, who devours the substance without the spirit.
I am worthied by men, found widely, brought from the groves and from. Aug 26, 2014 this weeks riddle comes to us from wendy hennequin you may remember wendy from riddle 17. The ninetyodd riddles in anglosaxon which have come down to us in a. The command of material and the riddlesense are the two things needful. Use the buttons on the right to navigate to each set of riddles.
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. The original exeter book resides in you guessed it exeter castle in the united kingdom. Riddle 7 the exeter book anthony wilson september 7, 20 october 5, 2017 education, kevin crossleyholland. There may have been an attempt to assemble 100 riddles in the exeter book like in some latin collections. Its interpretation has occasioned a range of scholarly investigations, but it is taken to mean oregoldmetal, with most commentators preferring precious metal or gold, and john d.
Exeter book riddle 45 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. Click on the links below to travel to each riddles translation and commentary. Or this may be first line of a riddle, of which the rest is lost. Jul 01, 2008 the ninetysix anglosaxon riddles in the eleventhcentury exeter book are poems of great charm, zest, and subtlety. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some. Jennifer neville is a reader in anglosaxon literature at the royal holloway university of london. It seems likely they were composed in the 700s when riddles were popular in english monasteries. Two historical riddles of the old english exeter book by john donald hosler a thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts major. Heres wendy hennequins followup to her translation.
Lorica the 95 riddles of the exeter book, assembled in a manner reminiscent of the great latin riddle collections, provide a strong lure for scholars interested in the latin background of old english poetry. Sep 01, 2016 the language of the anglosaxon riddles is often difficult, and even those who are fairly familiar with old english cannot read them readily. 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 riddles in the exeter book were probably authored by multiple people and are difficult to date. Here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. This riddle is from the exeter book, circa 960990 a. The old english translation of aldhelms riddle lorica. Exeter book riddle 8, exeter cathedral library ms3051, f. She is currently working on a book focused solely on the riddles of the exeter book. This is a riddle from the year old exeter book manuscript in exeter cathedral in devonshire. Experts have dated the book itself it to around 970 to 990 a. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative.
See, for example, williamsons argument that the decoded runic letters in riddle 19 hors, mon, wega, haofoc are to be further interpreted to yield the solution ship the old english riddles of the exeter book chapel hill, 1977, 1867. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary and. The exeter book was a handwritten manuscript bequeathed to the exeter cathedral library by a bishop named leofric who died in 1072 a. Aug, 2014 anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum. The damage to the manuscript offers several possible reconstructions of the riddles final lines. Two historical riddles of the old english exeter book.
Mother tongue wrung exeter book riddle translation. Definition of riddle with in the idioms dictionary. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book27 wikisource, the free. Variae collectiones aenigmatum merovingicae aetatis. Exeter book riddle 27 is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenth century exeter book.
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. If multiple possibilities are possible, ill give the best or most likely. Shielded behind glass it will be a little hard to place ones pint of guinness on its covers once more. Exeter book riddle 27 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. 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. A better edition is the old english riddles of the exeter book, ed.
Having recently translated riddle 9 from the exeter book exeter cathedral library ms 3501 in my recent blog on esotericism in a sequence of old english riddles encoded references in exeter book birdriddles, i have decided to add my translation and recitation of this poetic enigma for our ongoing medieval poetry translation and recitation project. The old english riddles of the exeter book chapel hill. The article provides information on the runes of riddle 19 of the exeter book. It provides both an excellent foundation for undergraduates and nonspecialists in the old english to study these murky texts, and an important if rousing contribution to scholarly analysis of. The language of the anglosaxon riddles is often difficult, and even those who are fairly familiar with old english cannot read them readily. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum.
A gourmand moth by night, unheard, had guzzled the words by day enlightened man might wr. Apr 12, 2017 the verse riddles of the tenthcentury exeter book, around ninety in number, have on occasion been recognized as tending toward a form of biography. As edited by krapp and dobbie in the anglosaxon poetic records series, riddle 27 runs. A hard edged knife cut me and ground me clean from all grime, fingers folded me, a fine birds clothing with swift. And lofty air and gear at times above mens towns will lift me.
Had professor trautmann possessed the one, he would not have insisted upon his erroneous analysis and rosenbutz solution of e. Brisk breezes bear me far and then my frettings loudly rush and ring above the people and most clearly sing when i forthfare on air and. Performed by jefferson reardon produced by timmie vitz. In addition, it is important to recognize when the author is playing with the reader as in riddles 74 and 75 versus taking a straightforward approach in riddles 39 and 33. Mark griffiths more elaborate interpretation riddle 19 of the exeter book.
Jan 30, 2017 the old english riddles of the exeter book chapel hill. 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. The riddle is one of a number to include runes as clues. Old english riddles swarthmore home swarthmore college. Appetite for deconstruction in exeter book riddle 12.
The command of material and the riddle sense are the two things needful. The ninetysix anglosaxon riddles in the eleventhcentury exeter book are poems of great charm, zest, and subtlety. New york, 1936, aspr 3 henceforth cited as kd, and i shall follow common practice in referring to it by that number. It states that the riddle has been controversial and caused disputes to various scholars. D clothes make no sound when i tread ground or dwell in dwellings or disturb the flow. Only a few of the exeter book riddles have been examined extensively beyond the. Obscene riddles of the exeter book everything english. Riddle 23 is one of the rare riddles of the exeter book that gives its answer. Like riddle 7, the speaker of exeter book riddle 8 is clearly also some kind of songbird. Mother tongue wrung exeter book riddle translation parody. This book is about the ninetyodd literary riddles, all but one composed in old english, included in exeter, cathedral library ms.