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. 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. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary and. And depending on who in the scholarly world you talk to, the numbers of riddles, and the translation of those riddles is quite different.
Two historical riddles of the old english exeter book. Exeter book riddles anglosaxon narrative poetry project. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative. An srune, called sigel sun, appears after the riddle. 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. Having recently translated exeter book riddle 7 in my recent blog on esotericism in a sequence of old english riddles encoded. And its the exeter book that yields a whole host of smaller masterpieces of old english verse, from the dream of the rood to the battle of maldon to the ruin to the wanderer and the seafarer and the celebrated riddles. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the. It seems likely they were composed in the 700s when riddles were popular in english monasteries. Oct 08, 2012 medieval book manufacture is a timeconsuming, arduous, and expert business, at every stage of the process. The book was donated to the library of exeter cathedral by leofric, the first. That leaves the cotton manuscript whose anglosaxon poetry comprises beowulf and nothing more and the exeter book. Obscene riddles of the exeter book everything english.
The project will deliver a complete digital copy of the exeter book. While the riddles of the exeter book show the influence of these latin models, that are in no sense mere imitations, but are full of fresh and close observation of life. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative poetry. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book, 1963 online research. Exeter book riddle 7 medieval studies research blog. But this is not to say that some of the riddles arent, quite frankly, bawdy and rude.
In some very few instances, my idea of the solution differs from the generally accepted range. And throughout my twenties, while my peers were getting high, and tuning into the beatles, i applied myself to translating the shorter anglosaxon poems, beginning with the playful metaphorical riddles, the exeter book riddles reissued by enitharmon press, autumn 2008 continuing with the anglosaxon world oup worlds classic, february 2009. Sep 01, 2016 though some of the best have been translated in scattered places, and there is a prose lineforline translation in the e. In his book, bitterli analyzes the riddles from the exeter book in the lens of the latin riddles, comparing and contrasting the elements that he believes inspired some of the riddles. Two dumb creatures make him grow bright between them. Exeter book study guide contains literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis of the poems in the anthology. 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. Heres a fun party game for the meadhall that gives you a sense of anglosaxon hilarity. Many of the riddles in the exeter book bear this out and i am indebted to michael alexander, and his excellent pocket translation of anglosaxon verse, the earliest english poems penguin classics, for this observation. 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. Exeter book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
I accept the old english solution swon swan as the poems solution based. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The poets care over each stage of this bookmaking is admiring and affirmative. 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. The old english riddles of the exeter book magdalena gracka, janmichael stube. 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 original exeter book resides in you guessed it exeter castle in the united kingdom. Exeter book riddle 8 medieval studies research blog. Thus, the answers in this book are not necessarily what the anglosaxons intended, but just accepted answers.
For the whole subject of riddle literature, and the problems raised by the old english riddles, see professor tuppers excellent introduction to his edition of the riddles of the exeter book albion series, ginn and co. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter booknumbering of the. The exeter book is a cultural artefact that matters to us all in the city, the region, and the wider world and the cathedral and the university are determined to make it accessible for all, using the latest technology. The riddles in the exeter book were probably authored by multiple people and are difficult to date. The best anglosaxon riddles interesting literature. Experts have dated the book itself it to around 970 to 990 a. 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. 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. There has, therefore, been little debate about the solution.
Aug 23, 2012 anglosaxon riddles of the exeter booknumbering of the translations and the krappdobbie edition. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book numbering of the translations and the krappdobbie edition. The exeter book project college of humanities university. 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. Who is so clever and quickwitted as to guess who goads me on my journey when i get up, angry, at times awesome. May 01, 2011 riddle 23 is one of the rare riddles of the exeter book that gives its answer. The translations are mine, so that the clunky literalism is preserved. Riddle 55s translation is by franziska wenzel from ruhruniversitat bochum. Here are two of these anglosaxon riddles, both in old english and translated into modern english. Variae collectiones aenigmatum merovingicae aetatis. The lack of riddles in the beowulf, junius, or vercelli manuscripts makes the interpretation of the riddles in. Reading the exeter book riddles as lifewriting the. Among those who have sought to undo the gates of the treasurehouses of the exeter book riddles e. The exeter books riddles were never published with the answers.
In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some discussion. Jan 31, 2018 in his 1842 edition and translation of the exeter book, for example, benjamin thorpe deemed it advisable to include only the original text of a handful of riddles, which he claimed were too difficult to translate into modern english codex exoniensis, p. Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text cambridge core. 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 birdriddles, i have decided to add my translation and recitation of this poetic enigma for our ongoing medieval poetry translation and recitation project. 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. The english riddles, unlike those in the latin collections, are not supplied with answers, hence their solution has long exercised the ingenuity of students of old english. 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. The ninetysix anglosaxon riddles in the eleventhcentury exeter book are poems of great charm, zest, and subtlety. Shielded behind glass it will be a little hard to place ones pint of guinness on its covers once more. It is one of the four major anglosaxon literature codices, along with the vercelli book, nowell codex and the c.
The riddle is one of a number to include runes as clues. In addition, the exeter book preserves 95 riddles, a genre that would. This is a translation of the 96 anglosaxon poems from the 11thcentury exeter book. Though some of the best have been translated in scattered places, and there is a prose lineforline translation in the e. Jun 05, 2017 the four strange beings, if you were wondering, are a pen and the three fingers which hold it. 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. The exeter book riddles in context the british library. Sir arthur bliss and william mathias set some of them to music, ralph steadman has. Having recently translated riddle 8 from the exeter book exeter cathedral library ms 3501 in my recent blog on esotericism in a sequence of old english.
The exeter book was a handwritten manuscript bequeathed to the exeter cathedral library by a bishop named leofric who died in 1072 a. The somewhat enigmatic character of this poem has given rise to various conjectures. If multiple possibilities are possible, ill give the best or most likely. Here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. Translating a medieval riddle can be especially tricky because these poetic projects double as verbal puzzles, and therefore coded language is crucial to their. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book, 1963 online.
The old english riddles of the exeter book and the anglolatin riddle tradition. There may have been an attempt to assemble 100 riddles in the exeter book like in some latin collections. In his 1842 edition and translation of the exeter book, for example, benjamin thorpe deemed it advisable to include only the original text of a. From wikisource translation of anglosaxon verse, the earliest english poems penguin classics, for this observation. Riddle numbers are taken from muirs exeter anthology 1994, though i follow. 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. Two important figures from anglosaxon literature are at work in this translation of the riddle. There is no list of upsidedown answers at the end of the exeter book where these riddles are found. These translations are very widely anthologised in britain and the usa. Use the buttons on the right to navigate to each set of riddles. Chapel hill, nc, 1977, henceforth w in short citations. This is one of the 95 riddles found in the exeter book exeter, cathedral library ms 3501, a book of old english poetry which was given to exeter cathedral by bishop leofric in the eleventh century and has remained there ever since.
New york, 1936, aspr 3 henceforth cited as kd, and i shall follow common practice in referring to it by that number. Copied upon the following web pages are those riddles translated from the anglo saxon. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary. Translating exeter book riddles medieval studies research. 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. Interpreting natural history allegorically has clear precedents, both within and without the exeter book, and the idea of continuing the interpretive process past an initial answer can be seen both to underlie the enigmata of the anglolatin tradition and to play an important role in current understanding of the runic riddles of the exeter book. Franziska is currently writing a phd on the exeter book riddles, their latin counterparts and narratological theory.
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