Exeter book riddles old english poetry project rutgers. Exeter book riddle 8 medieval studies research blog. Tupper, the riddles of the exeter book boston, 1910, 152. Riddle hero play and poetry in the exeter book riddles eric. The obscene riddles riddle 79 riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum riddle 81. The verse riddles of the tenthcentury exeter book, around ninety in number. Elliott van kirk dobbie and george philip krapp, eds, the exeter book, anglosaxon poetic records 3 new.
Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum. The exeter book riddles in context the british library. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary and. Exeter book riddle 3 in old english anglosaxon youtube the. Translating a medieval riddle can be especially tricky because these poetic projects double as verbal puzzles, and therefore coded. 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. If multiple possibilities are possible, ill give the best or most likely. Suggested solutions have included onion, leek, and chives, but the consensus is that the solution is onion. Jan 04, 2021 though some of the best have been translated in scattered places, and there is a prose lineforline translation in the e. I thought it acurious chance, when i heard of that wonder,that the worm devoured some mans song,the t. Dec 16, 2020 the answer is bellows, but the second meaning is unmistakable. This riddle appears on folio 101r of the exeter book.
The sexual riddle type in aldhelms enigmata, the exeter book. Wifes lament, even noting the use of the word giedd, which can translate as. Dec 16, 2020 i am hard and sharp, strong in entering, bold in coming out, good and true to my lord. This riddle appears on folio 102v of the exeter book. The riddles in the exeter book were probably authored by multiple people and are difficult to date. Exeter book riddle 44 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. Its solution is accepted to be oxoxhide though variations on this theme, focusing on leather objects, have been proposed. 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. The folded stainless steel triangular sculpture has wings and is quite tall. I shall first give my own reading and translation of riddle 95 section 2 and discuss. Riddle 7 the exeter book anthony wilson september 7, 20 october 5, 2017 education, kevin crossleyholland. Also includes a number of latin riddles, each of which has the latin text, modern english translation, and commentary. In some very few instances, my idea of the solution differs from the generally accepted range.
Dec 17, 2020 riddle 8 kd 50 an annotated version of this text is available. Exeter book riddle 65 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. 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. Translating exeter book riddles medieval studies research. This riddle is notably the only puzzle in the exeter book in which the entire passage is written in the third person, except for the final sentence where it changes to first.
The text can be found online within the internet sacred text archive. The damage to the manuscript offers several possible reconstructions of the riddles final lines. The exeter book, an important collection of anglosaxon poetry from the 10 th century, includes a fair number of them. Exeter book riddle 33 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. Note that this edition takes this riddle together with the following two, dubbing them all riddle 1. At times my apparel and this high air lift me over the dwellings of heroes, and then the strength of clouds carries me far over the people. 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. Exeter book riddle 8, exeter cathedral library ms3051, f. Below are links to texts of the riddles accompanied by translations. Exeter book riddles anglosaxon poetry old english poetry project. Pdf the texts of the old english riddle 30 roy liuzza. Unlike the exeter book riddles, the anglosaxon enigmata are presented in.
The old english riddles of the exeter book works swarthmore. Symphosius 73 begins with an interesting, and innocent, parallel. Their interpretation has occasioned a range of scholarly investigations, but clearly has something to do with ice and one or both of the riddles are likely indeed to have the solution ice. In craig williamson, the old english riddles of the exeter book chapel hill, nc, 1977, krapp and dobbies first three riddles are combined into one, and the rest are then numbered two in advance. 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 discussion. Exeter book riddle 60 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. Most of the riddles are written in the first person, ic, which represents either the speaking subject or the solution. Only four predominantly poetical old english manuscripts survive, and the exeter book is notable for the sheer number and variety of works it includes within its 123. The exeter book varied collection of old english poetry authorship and dating of the riddles unclear. In the exeter book we find the socalled sexual riddles,1 whose classification as. Busy by turns, i must obey my servant zeal fettered with rings.
The author discusses the exeter book riddles, some of the earliest poems in english, specifically old. The riddle is usually solved as reed pen, although such pens were not in use in anglosaxon times, rather being roman technology. Riddle 8 from the exeter book i speak by one mouth a feast of tongues sing through modulations changing quick a heady voice crying out loud my tune carry my way resound without refrain as an old eveningbard to courtiers brings merriment to settlements when i alighting shout my voice to homes they quietly sit there nodding. Riddle hero play and poetry in the exeter book riddles. While many riddles exist in the anglosaxon exeter book containing female characters. Exeter book riddle 7 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. D clothes make no sound when i tread ground or dwell in dwellings or disturb the flow. Anglosaxon riddles are part of anglosaxon literature. 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. Emphasis on this aspect exceeds even its treatment in the previous riddle. Contains old english texts, parallel modern english translations, and commentaries on the riddles of the exeter book. Riddle 33 of the exeter book is also preserved in a.
The riddle sculpture was unveiled as part of the renovation. 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. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary. The answer is bellows, but the second meaning is unmistakable. Leo spitzer, charade, philological quarterly 23 1944. Unless the tool this man is wielding isnt really a poker at all, but a part of his own body, and he isnt really. The book was donated to the library of exeter cathedral by leofric, the first bishop. Riddle 12 is something of a peculiarity among its fellows and is consequently quite. She would have limited tools at her disposal, but her words and.
The riddles are of particular interest to students of old english poetry and anglosaxon culture, to archeologists, anthropologists, and folklorists. The exeter book riddles of the four surviving old english poetic codices, only the exeter book contains anglosaxon riddles, 95 in all. Gerritsen, exeter book riddle 35 and the leiden riddle, english studies, 35 1954, 25962. It should be noted that e mailcoat is a translation of aldhelms riddle 33 see lapidge and rosier 1985, p. There are about 95 riddles included in exeter book the number sometimes changes when translators group multiple riddles into one. Jennifer neville is a reader in anglosaxon literature at the royal holloway university of london. Two historical riddles of the old english exeter book iowa state. Riddle numbers are taken from muirs exeter anthology 1994, though i follow williamson in considering. Further in aldhelms collection, enigma 80 offers a sexu ally loaded. Southern is a literal translation, meaning perhaps a skilled workman as opposed to the cruder man from northern districts. Its solution is accepted to be iceberg though there have been other proposals along similar lines.
While most latin riddles of the period are preserved with their answers, no answers accompany the exeter book riddles, and many scholars have found it a pleasurable occupation to puzzle out the solutions to the more obscure ones. Most of the literature from its era has been lost to religious escapades, making it one of the few pieces left from this time period. Riddle 95, the last of the exeter book verse riddles and the final item of the codex in. In the past ten years, the exeter book s hitherto somewhat overlooked riddle 12 has become rather a cause celebre in the realm of old english poetic scholarship, thanks to the combination of its apparently sensational, and salacious, subject matter with critical issues of class, sex, and gender. The lack of riddles in the beowulf, junius, or vercelli manuscripts makes the interpretation of the riddles in codex exoniensis a unique challenge. Riddle 74 is a good test case for larger arguments because it is short and com. It is, of course, true that riddling is an ancient and al most universal folk custom, among the oldest of literary.
Finding a valkyrie in a riddle unt digital library. Aug 03, 2016 1 the exeter book is the largest stillexisting collection of old english poetry and riddles. Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text john d. Translating a medieval riddle can be especially tricky because these poetic projects double as verbal puzzles, and therefore coded language is crucial to their. The question is written back to front and you have to look at the reflection to read it. In apollonius of tyre, which was translated into old english in the eleventh century, the wicked king antiochus. The second chapter treats the translated riddles of the exeter book, riddles. Some of them have been dated as far back as the 7 th century. Riddle 86 in the exeter book is unusually difficult to solve. 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. It seems likely they were composed in the 700s when riddles were popular in english monasteries.
Obscene riddles of the exeter book everything english. Alfred the great, king alfreds old english prose translation of the first fifty psalms, ed. The fact that these latter poems are excellent might in itself prove the lieve, be found close at hand, within the exeter book riddles. It completes the bulk of surviving old english poetry along with three.
Niles riddle 74 is one of a handful of old english riddles of the exeter book that have stubbornly resisted a solution. This riddle appears on folio 112v of the exeter book. The above old english text is based on this edition. Krapp and dobbie 1936, 238 the exeter book, aspr 3 new york.
Encoded references in exeter book birdriddles medieval. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book11 wikisource, the. Such a contention is attractive but unprovable, for apart from the leiden riddle which has, i note, no such formulae and is a close translation of a latin original, no verse riddles exist in old english outside the exeter book. The old english riddles of the exeter book magdalena. Download citation an alternative solution to exeter book riddle 77 this article proposes a secondary solution of flatfish for riddle 77 of the tenthcentury exeter book. All old english and latin translations are my own unless otherwise stated. Dec 06, 2019 like riddle 7, the speaker of exeter book riddle 8 is clearly also some kind of songbird. Incidentally, it seems to me that the answer to this riddle is not contra williamson, the old english riddles, pp. I suffer trouble wherever he moves me, he who thrums the forest. The exeter book, one of the four major manuscripts containing old english poems, includes 95 verse riddles. And lofty air and gear at times above mens towns will lift me.
Two historical riddles of the old english exeter book. The old english riddles of the exeter book magdalena gracka. 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. Wiht cwom gongan tar weras saeton monige on mae6le, mode snottre. The exeter books riddles were never published with the answers. In fact, the oxford english dictionary does not even acknowledge. Exeter book riddle 7 medieval studies research blog. 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 1. Elliott van kirk dobbie and george philip krapp, eds, the exeter book, anglosaxon poetic records 3 new york. Since hrsgl does not refer to a specific item and needs no inflection to be plural, i translate this word as. And depending on who in the scholarly world you talk to, the numbers of riddles, and the translation of those riddles is quite different.
The consensus of opinion is that these riddles use the language of double entendre. On each wing is a riddle taken from a very old exeter book. Karl youngs modern english translation of riddles 93, 51, 26, 60, and 47, with notes and solutions. Me standing there the rains beat me, the hardened hail. Highlight the box with your cursor to reveal the possible solutions.
Exeter book riddles solutions old english poetry project. It is very unlikely that it was the words that stumped him here, since he even. We added acute accents on long vowels and diphthongs. This is a translation of the 96 anglosaxon poems from the 11thcentury exeter book. There may have been an attempt to assemble 100 riddles in the exeter book like in some latin collections. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book annotated 80. This book contains an array of anglosaxon poetry including nearly a hundred riddles that have been prized for the intrigue they create. 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 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. 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. Today, unless one needs to examine the first folio of christ or the burnt section of the riddles, the manuscript is relatively unnecessary as a primary research tool. Note the metrical contrast between lines 80 and 81, the dactyli. The old english translation of aldhelms riddle lorica. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter bookannotated80 wikisource. Produced at some point in the late 10th century, the manuscript written mainly in old english and exclusively in verse brings together poems as.
Riddles 31 and 32 have exactly the same opening lines, which are. The old english riddles of the exeter book chapel hill. 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 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 now sits in the exeter cathedral library, enshrined in a protective casing next to the exon domesday, the second outstanding medieval manuscript in residence at exeter cathedral. This riddle appears on folios 106v107r of the exeter book. 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. I have a billowing chest, and bulging throat i have a head and a lofty tail, ears and eyes and a single foot, a spine and a tough bill, neck towering and two sides hollow in the middle, at home over humans. She is currently working on a book focused solely on the riddles of the exeter book.
Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the free. The bookworm riddle can be found in the exeter book, one of the greatest literary treasures to survive from anglosaxon england. Sep 07, 20 he had broken his leg, he told us, and needed to spend several months recuperating in hospital. 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 aloud about who impels me on this mission, when i mount up strong, sometimes ferocious. This riddle is from the exeter book, circa 960990 a. Jun 30, 2020 so in 2005 the exeter high street had an overhaul.
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