It is, of course, true that riddling is an ancient and al most universal folk custom, among the oldest of literary. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the free. In the exeter book we find the socalled sexual riddles,1 whose classification as. Two historical riddles of the old english exeter book iowa state. May 17, 2011 exeter riddle 35, a translation of aldhelms enigma 33, lorica, has attracted much attention from scholars interested in anglosaxon practices of translation. If multiple possibilities are possible, ill give the best or most likely. Karl youngs modern english translation of riddles 93, 51, 26, 60, and 47, with notes and solutions. Also includes a number of latin riddles, each of which has the latin text, modern english translation, and commentary. The exeter book varied collection of old english poetry authorship and dating of the riddles unclear. This is a translation of the 96 anglosaxon poems from the 11thcentury exeter book. Shielded behind glass it will be a little hard to place ones pint of guinness on its covers once more. Far from being idle brainteasers to divert people for half an hour during their lunch break or provide a topic of conversation at christmas dinner, the riddle, to the anglosaxons, was a serious and enigmatic poetic form, designed to defamiliarise and alienate by depriving a thing of its name or giving an animal a voice with which to. Thus, the answers in this book are not necessarily what the anglosaxons intended, but just accepted answers. Jan 04, 2021 though some of the best have been translated in scattered places, and there is a prose lineforline translation in the e.
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. The exeter book riddles of the four surviving old english poetic codices, only the exeter book contains anglosaxon riddles, 95 in all. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book numbering of the translations and the krappdobbie edition. 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 best anglosaxon riddles interesting literature. Your riddle is so skillfully crafted, and it was a pleasure to see the original and the plain translation the real bookworm is a bit ugly but thats just me. Incidentally, it seems to me that the answer to this riddle is not contra williamson, the old english riddles, pp. In apollonius of tyre, which was translated into old english in the eleventh century, the wicked king antiochus requires his daughters. Aldhelms poem is distinguished by its elegant structure, but also by its debt to isidores etymologies, a debt that has not yet been recognized by the poems modern readers. The riddle is one of a number to include runes as clues. Nocturne english translation from the french by charles cros. Contains old english texts, parallel modern english translations, and commentaries on the riddles of the exeter book. Pdf the texts of the old english riddle 30 roy liuzza. Beyond tolkien using them in the hobbit, riddles in verse are an ancient literary game. There has, therefore, been little debate about the solution. It is one of the four major anglosaxon literature codices, along with the vercelli book, nowell codex and the c. Mother tongue wrung exeter book riddle translation.
Full text of the riddles of the exeter book internet archive. 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. Krapp and dobbies edition treats the first line as riddle 79 and the remainder of the poem. Leo spitzer, charade, philological quarterly 23 194. Obscene riddles of the exeter book everything english. Exeter book riddles old english poetry project rutgers. The exeter book, an important collection of anglosaxon poetry from the 10 th century, includes a fair number of them. 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. Some of them have been dated as far back as the 7 th century. A list of answers to the riddles as numbered in aaron hostetters exeter book riddles.
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. Riddle hero play and poetry in the exeter book riddles eric. It is very unlikely that it was the words that stumped him here, since he even. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some. Originals and analogues xxix in editions of lactantius. In cases where his numbering differs from that in the anglosaxon poetic records, the. Below are links to texts of the riddles accompanied by translations. There are ninetyfive riddle poems in the exeter book.
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. The author discusses the exeter book riddles, some of the earliest poems in english, specifically. Aug 03, 2016 1 the exeter book is the largest stillexisting collection of old english poetry and riddles. The isidorian context of aldhems lorica and exeter riddle. In some very few instances, my idea of the solution differs from the generally accepted range. Though some of the best have been translated in scattered places, and there is a prose lineforline translation in the e. 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. The old english riddles of the exeter book magdalena gracka. The old english riddles of the exeter book magdalena. 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.
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. The answer is bellows, but the second meaning is unmistakable. Jan 12, 2017 this riddle appears on folios 114r114v of the exeter book. 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. Tupper, the riddles of the exeter book boston, 1910, 152. Krapp and dobbie 1936, 205 the exeter book, aspr 3 new york. 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. Williamson chapel hill, nc, 1977 hencefort, h w in short citations. The riddle is usually solved as reed pen, although such pens were not in use in anglosaxon times, rather being roman technology. Anglosaxon exeter book old english riddle 79 riddle 80riddles solutions. Encoded references in exeter book bird riddles medieval studies research blog. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum.
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. 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. Pdf the erotic poetry of the exeter book chris bishop. Aug 12, 2019 the exeter books riddles were never published with the answers. Symphosius 73 begins with an interesting, and innocent, parallel. Gerritsen, exeter book riddle 35 and the leiden riddle, english studies, 35 1954, 25962. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book wikisource, the.
Exeter book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Elliott van kirk dobbie and george philip krapp, eds, the exeter book, anglosaxon poetic records 3 new york. They also composed gnomic verses and wisdom poetry, charming riddles, heroic poems, and even a major epic poem, beowulf. This poem closely resembles another work from the exeter book riddle 80. Exeter book riddle 7 medieval studies research blog. Old english riddles, translations and commentaries. The sexual riddle type in aldhelms enigmata, the exeter book. The book was donated to the library of exeter cathedral by leofric, the first bishop. 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. The isidorian context of aldhems lorica and exeter. 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. 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. Jennifer neville is a reader in anglosaxon literature at the royal holloway university of london. Exeter book study guide contains literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis of the poems in the anthology.
I i have adopted the numbering of the riddles of the exeter book, ed. In the ahalfline, secg in a meaningful way and should therefore not. Krapp and dobbie 1936, 238 the exeter book, aspr 3 new york. Further in aldhelms collection, enigma 80 offers a sexu ally loaded. The most famous anglosaxon riddles are in old english and found in the tenthcentury exeter book, while the preeminent anglosaxon composer of latin riddles was the seventh to eighthcentury scholar. There are about 95 riddles included in exeter book the number sometimes changes when translators group multiple riddles into one. 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. The original exeter book resides in you guessed it exeter castle in the united kingdom. A better edition is the old english riddles of the exeter book, ed. The exeter book riddles in context the british library. 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. Give or take a few short poems, whether or not theyre riddles is an open question. The old english translation of aldhelms riddle lorica.
Anglosaxon riddles are part of anglosaxon literature. The obscene riddles riddle 79 riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum riddle 81. The exeter riddles have been translated and published more than any other old. She is currently working on a book focused solely on the riddles of the exeter book. Oct 25, 2018 the old english riddles of the exeter book, ed. The subject of riddle 15 of the exeter book is an animal that lives with its cubs in a burrow where it is.
Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary. Exeter book riddle 25 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. Riddle 95, the last of the exeter book verse riddles and the final item of. Exeter book riddles solutions old english poetry project. 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 8 medieval studies research blog. The erotic poetry of the exeter book chris bishop australian national university as recently as 2003, r. This riddle appears on folio 112v of the exeter book. Here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text anglosaxon.
Columbia university press, 1936, since this numbering has become standard. In the sixteenth century the enigmas were translated into greek by joachim cam. Suggested solutions have included hemp, leek, onion, rosehip, mustard and phallus, but the consensus is that the solution is onion. 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. It should be noted that e mailcoat is a translation of aldhelms riddle 33 see lapidge and rosier 1985, p. The numbers of the riddles throughout this paper correspond to 195. Its solution is accepted to be oxoxhide though variations on this theme, focusing on leather objects, have been proposed. The most famous anglosaxon riddles are in old english riddles and found in the tenthcentury exeter book, while the preeminent composer of latin riddles was the seventh to eighthcentury scholar aldhelm. The old english riddles of the exeter book chapel hill.
Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter booknumbering of the. Use the buttons on the right to navigate to each set of riddles. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary and. This book contains an array of anglosaxon poetry including nearly a hundred riddles that have been prized for the intrigue they create.
Appetite for deconstruction in exeter book riddle 12. 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. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter bookannotated80 wikisource. The above old english text is based on this edition. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some discussion. Krapp and dobbies edition treats the first line as riddle 79 and the remainder of the poem as riddle 80. The lack of riddles in the beowulf, junius, or vercelli manuscripts makes the interpretation of the riddles in codex exoniensis a unique challenge. I shall first give my own reading and translation of riddle 95 section 2 and.
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