Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text john d. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum. Exeter book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some discussion. 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 consensus of opinion is that these riddles use the language of double entendre. The question and answer section for exeter book is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Here are ten things you should know about the exeter book. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book74 wikisource, the. Two historical riddles of the old english exeter book.
Unlike the exeter book riddles, the anglosaxon enigmata are presented in manuscripts with their solutions as their. Exeter book, or the codex exoniensis, is a 10th century book, or codex, that contains most of the surviving anglosaxon poetry. Here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some. Edited with introduction, notes, and glossary, by frederick tupper by tupper, frederick, 18711950.
The original exeter book resides in you guessed it exeter castle in the united kingdom. I injure no one who lives in a village save only my slayer. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book74 wikisource. Symphosius composed in the fifth century a sequence of one hundred threeline latin enigmata, three of which serve as sources for the exeter book riddles.
Widsith, old english poem, probably from the 7th century, that is preserved in the exeter book, a 10thcentury collection of old english poetry. Read the fulltext online edition of anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963. The exeter books riddles were never published with the answers. 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. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book, 1963 online. 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. Feb 26, 2012 anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum 1190586 anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book paull franklin baum 1963 index of solutions. As with tolkiens moonletters, runes found in the exeter book riddles serve to both obscure and illuminate their riddle and its solution. Widsith is an idealized selfportrait of a scop minstrel of the germanic heroic age who wandered widely and was welcomed in many mead halls, where he. Jan 31, 2012 the survival of a partly analogous latin riddle has made possible a solution to the puzzle posed in riddle 86.
Mar 07, 2014 a selection of riddles from the exeter book riddles. Below, ive included some of the best anglosaxon riddles from the exeter book, followed by the most commonly proposed solutions. If not, the riddles solution is even further obscured from the solver. Thus, the answers in this book are not necessarily what the anglosaxons intended, but just accepted answers. The riddles from the exeter book are almost unique within the wider genre, because they are written in the vernacular in old english, rather than latin apart from one latin riddle, which sits towards the end of the book. At the end of the exeter book, there are almost a hundred riddles or enigmata, a dozen. Four social functions of the exeter book riddles difficult as it is to determine with certainty what some of them are about, the old english riddles of the exeter book seem, without much doubt, to have served at least three important social purposes. The representation of gold and good kingship the exeter book contains one of largest collection of old english literature and anglosaxon poetry written in the middle ages consisting of mainly poems, elegies and riddles. Aug 17, 2015 riddle 43s commentary is once again by the terribly clever james paz, lecturer in early medieval english literature at the university of manchester. 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 exeter book contains religious and secular poems, placed side by side with riddles written in double entendres that will make you blush.
Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative poetry. The question and answer section for exeter book is a great resource to ask. It is one of the four major anglosaxon literature codices, along with the vercelli book, nowell codex and the c. Reading runes in the exeter book riddles medieval studies. And depending on who in the scholarly world you talk to, the numbers of riddles, and the translation of those riddles is quite different. Leofric, the first bishop of exeter, originally donated it to the library of exeter cathedral. This is unsurprising considering the exeter book was donated to a. Riddle numbers are taken from muirs exeter anthology 1994, though i follow williamson in. The best anglosaxon riddles interesting literature.
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. Use the buttons on the right to navigate to each set of riddles. 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. The fun also comes from the fact that the riddles in the exeter book didnt come with their solutions printed or rather handwritten alongside the riddles themselves. Riddle 75 beings differently in the fact that this time the author describes the anticipated object rather than having it personified. While we also find runes in some of the old english riddles in the exeter book, what we do not find are accompanying solutions unlike in many. Exeter book study guide contains literature essays, quiz questions, major. It beings, wondrously it hangs by a mans thigh, under the masters garment. There has, therefore, been little debate about the solution.
Some of them have been dated as far back as the 7 th century. Great book, but i just wanted to clear up a few things that most people do not know. It was not feasible to arrange them by types, because the typical forms of the riddle are not clearly fixed and the anglosaxon riddles are too few to illustrate many types. 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. The riddle is one of a number to include runes as clues. Exeter book riddles anglosaxon narrative poetry project. This is to sayif you are literate and can read the runic alphabetyou have an important clue to solving the puzzle. The old english riddles of the exeter book magdalena gracka, janmichael stube. 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. If multiple possibilities are possible, ill give the best or most likely. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative.
This riddle is from the exeter book, circa 960990 a. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary. This book contains an array of anglosaxon poetry including nearly a hundred riddles that have been prized for the intrigue they create. 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. Niles riddle 74 is one of a handful of old english riddles of the exeter book that have stubbornly resisted a solution. Exeter riddle 17 10 explication and past solutions 10 vikings and their ships linguistic analysis 19 i am the protector. Jan 09, 20 perhaps it is plausible i am merely reading these double entendres into the text. Only four collections of old english verse exist, out of which the exeter book is the largest and most impressive.
In order to create a playlist on sporcle, you need to verify the email address you used during registration. So, this religious trend has resulted in the following solutions. 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. Aug 03, 2016 here are ten things you should know about the exeter book. Also, the riddles do not specify their answers in their titles or. The exeter book riddles in context the british library. A selection of riddles from the exeter book riddles. In some very few instances, my idea of the solution differs from the generally accepted range. Importance of exeter book the exeter book riddles 1 1 5 organization and goals of ths study 7 chapter 2. Their charm is in the use of doubleentendre, whereby one answer is. Exeter book, the largest extant collection of old english poetry.
This week in history in these videos, find out what happened this week. Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions. May 12, 2016 pause the video each time the screen fades to black to try to guess the answers to the riddles. I often travel under the waves where no one can see me. Obscene riddles of the exeter book everything english. Among those who have sought to undo the gates of the treasurehouses of the exeter book riddles. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary and. Book details, anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book. The book that is considered the beginning of english literature is a medieval manuscript known as the exeter book. Shielded behind glass it will be a little hard to place ones pint of guinness on its covers once more.
Aug, 2014 anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum. I became a translator of anglosaxon riddles and kennings after falling in love with wulf and eadwacer, a stunning ancient poem from the exeter. Riddle 43s commentary is once again by the terribly clever james paz, lecturer in early medieval english literature at the university of manchester. These are two very possible and rational answers to riddle 74. This may be the general character of anglosaxon humor, but fortunately its not the height. D clothes make no sound when i tread ground or dwell in dwellings or disturb the flow. Thp5 sexual riddles of the exef er book the exeter book contains six riddles with explicit sexual content. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum 1190586 anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book paull franklin baum 1963 index of solutions. Exeter book study guide contains literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis of the poems in the anthology. The riddle ages old english riddles, translations and commentaries. 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. Among those who have sought to undo the gates of the treasurehouses of the exeter book riddles e.