Jan 31, 2018 in addition to approximately 95 old english riddles from the exeter book, we have hundreds of latin poetic and prose enigmata by anglosaxon authors that survive in english and european manuscripts. The document seen in this video is a facsimile copy of the original 10th century. Humanity is a dominant presence in the exeter book riddle collection. Edited with introduction, notes, and glossary, by frederick tupper by tupper, frederick, 18711950. Robinson remark, scholars have suggested answersbut none satisfies all the conditions set forth in the poem. Most of the editors have been shy about their double meanings. The riddles survive through the exeter book, a manuscript dating back to the year, left to exeter cathedral by its first bishop, leofric. Among the other texts in the exeter book, there are over ninety riddles. The exeter book riddles and the place of sexual idiom.
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. 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. Here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. The exeter book riddles in context the british library. The book was donated to the library of exeter cathedral by leofric, the first bishop. The natural world in the exeter book riddles on jstor. Riddle 45 also sounds like it is referring to a mans genitals, but it is actually a description of bread dough. Pause the video each time the screen fades to black to try to guess the answers to the riddles. While the poetry of the exeter book is mainly anonymous, some of the authors composing latin riddles are named. Jan 09, 20 perhaps it is plausible i am merely reading these double entendres into the text. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book, 1963 online.
Sep 01, 2016 though some of the best have been translated in scattered places, and there is a prose lineforline translation in the e. Exeter book riddle 47 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic. It is one of the four major anglosaxon literature codices, along with the vercelli book, nowell codex and the c. In the riddles, humanity is seen taking from the natural world and using its resources to. The exeter book, compiled by 10thcentury clerics, contains a number of surprisingly euphemistic riddles. Unesco lists exeter book among worlds principal cultural. 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. Mar 31, 2016 peter thomas cathedral librarian gives a short introduction to ms 3501, more commonly known as the exeter book.
The new exeter book of riddles, compiled and edited by kevin crossleyholland and lawrence sail, is a lively and intriguing riposte to the famous collection of anglosaxon riddles in the original exeter book. Obscene is a troublesome word for both legal and lay minds, but there is nothing uncertain about these few anglosaxon riddles which go under that name. The riddles are one of the most wellknown works in the exeter book, and they focus on an eclectic mix of themes. 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. I used the numbering in craig williamsons feast of creatures, and his appendix does include solutions. Have a laugh and hone your wits with this quirky collection of riddles, puzzles and riddlestories from around the world. Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text anglosaxon. 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. Riddle 47, meanwhile, seems to have a simple answer a book moth but is actually quite complex and notoriously. If multiple possibilities are possible, ill give the best or most likely. They are written in the style of anglosaxon poetry and range in. In addition to approximately 95 old english riddles from the exeter book, we have hundreds of latin poetic and prose enigmata by anglosaxon authors that survive in english and european manuscripts. 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. Some editions do have an answer key, but remember that many of the riddles have only provisional solutions.
Performed by jefferson reardon produced by timmie vitz. 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. Riddle 26 is quite inscrutable to modern readers as well, but the answer is equally surprising. Several riddles taken separately in the aspr are combined, most notably riddles. 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. Yet the poems, drawn as they were from an earlier tradition, predate the exeter book perhaps by centuries. It seems likely they were composed in the 700s when riddles were popular in english monasteries. Obscene riddles from the book of exeter beachcombings. The books greatest contribution and proof of its authors profound knowledge of riddling in general is its comparative strategy, which urges us to look to. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary.
The exeter book riddles in my anglosaxon literature recommendations blog post, i gave an overview of the exeter book riddles and included some of my favourites. The bachelorwarrior of exeter book riddle 20 by tanke. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the. Books about riddles sorted by popularity project gutenberg. Riddle 74 is one of a handful of old english riddles of the exeter book that have stubbornly resisted a solution. A curiosity hangs by the thigh of a man, under its masters cloak. Riddle 7 the exeter book anthony wilson september 7, 20 october 5, 2017 education, kevin crossleyholland, lifesaving poems, poems, poetry, poets, riddles, the exeter book. 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. Oct 15, 2008 the ninetysix anglosaxon riddles in the eleventhcentury exeter book are poems of great charm, zest, and subtlety. There may have been an attempt to assemble 100 riddles in the exeter book like in some latin collections. Though some of the best have been translated in scattered places, and there is a prose lineforline translation in the e. The riddles depict master and craftsman and use the familiar human world as a point of orientatio. In some very few instances, my idea of the solution differs.
The new exeter book of riddles crossleyholland, kevin, sail, lawrence, drew, simon on. Its riddles, meanwhile, run from the everyday to the ribald, such as the following. It is frequently shown using, shaping and binding the physical world in which it lives. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary and. Exeter book riddles anglosaxon narrative poetry project. Thp5 sexual riddles of the exef er book the exeter book contains six riddles with explicit sexual content. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some discussion. So he tried to relax earlier today with a collection of anglosaxon riddles from the book of exeter a treasure that was used as a beer coaster for much of its history another day, another post. Natural world in the exeter book riddles boydell and brewer. The consensus of opinion is that these riddles use the language of double entendre. The original exeter book resides in you guessed it exeter castle in the united kingdom. The fairy goddess bellaria engages in a duel of wits with an evil king, a death match of one hundred riddles, with each riddle spoken as a rhyme and illustrated by. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the free.
Obscene riddles of the exeter book everything english. The riddles in the exeter book were probably authored by multiple people and are difficult to date. 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. Bennett cerfs book of riddles beginner books bennett cerf, roy mckie on. 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. May 12, 2016 pause the video each time the screen fades to black to try to guess the answers to the riddles. Shielded behind glass it will be a little hard to place ones pint of guinness on its covers once more. Jul 01, 2008 the ninetysix anglosaxon riddles in the eleventhcentury exeter book are poems of great charm, zest, and subtlety. 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. The book of one hundred riddles of the fairy bellaria university.
I imagine that solving riddle 43 would have been fairly easy for most anglosaxon readers of the exeter book, especially if were to picture this riddling taking place in a monastic. Book of riddles mazza, fabrice, lhullier, sylvain, sigg, ivan on. Beachcombing has been driven to the edge of sanity by term papers and 90 plus students this semester. The exeter book riddles occupy a unique place in old english literary history. With its depictions of ploughing, felling, shaping and refining, the exeter book riddle collection offers us an insight into the way the anglosaxons perceived their relationship with the rest of creation. The barefoot book of riddles ages 610 barefoot books. Use the buttons on the right to navigate to each set of riddles. Unriddling the exeter riddles is a dense and provocative read, saturated with ingenuity, offering new solutions for many riddles considered to have been properly solved.