The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory defines riddles as an ancient and universal form of literature commonly consisting of a puzzle question. There are collections of riddles in Sanskrit, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Greek and Latin literature. Well-known is the sphinx as riddling beast in Grecian mythology and literature. Western riddles collections begin with the Latin collections by Symphosius in the late antiquity followed by Aldhelm’s and Tatwine’s collections. The earliest known English riddles are recorded in the Exeter Book. They originate from the 10th century. These riddles have a very special character. Craig Williamson describes them as “a metaphoric and metamorphic celebration of the life in the eye of the Anglo-Saxon.”
The Exeter Riddles will be topic to this paper. First their history and transmission will the thematised by having a closer look at the Exeter Cathedral, its library and the Exeter Book. Then typical features of the riddles shall be discussed. Afterwards an example will illustrate these.
Outline:
1.Introduction
2.The Exeter Cathedral
3.The Exeter Book
4.The Exeter Book Riddles
5.Riddle Nr.33
6.Sources
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Exeter Cathedral
- 3. The Exeter Book
- 4. The Exeter Book Riddles
- 5. Riddle Nr.33
- 6. Sources
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the Exeter Book Riddles, a significant collection of Old English riddles from the 10th century. It begins by examining the historical context of the riddles, focusing on the Exeter Cathedral and the Exeter Book itself. The paper then delves into the characteristics of these riddles, providing an analysis of their structure, style, and themes. Finally, a detailed analysis of one specific riddle will serve as a case study to illustrate the key features discussed.
- Historical Context of the Exeter Book Riddles
- Characteristics of Old English Riddles
- Analysis of Riddle Structure and Style
- Themes and Motifs in the Exeter Book Riddles
- The Exeter Book's place within the broader tradition of riddle-making.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by defining riddles as an ancient and universal literary form, citing examples from various cultures and historical periods. It highlights the significance of the Exeter Book Riddles as the earliest known English collection, originating from the 10th century, and emphasizes their unique character as a "metaphoric and metamorphic celebration of life" within the Anglo-Saxon context. The chapter outlines the paper's structure, promising a historical overview of the Exeter Book and its riddles, followed by a discussion of typical features and an illustrative example.
2. The Exeter Cathedral: This chapter provides a historical overview of Exeter Cathedral, highlighting its importance as a significant religious and cultural center in England. It details the Cathedral's construction, noting its evolution from a Saxon minster to its present impressive Romanesque form. The chapter emphasizes the Cathedral's library and archives, rich with historical treasures, including the Exeter Book, and traces the library's development from its founding in the 11th century to its current status, emphasizing its role in preserving the Exeter Book and making it accessible to scholars and visitors.
3. The Exeter Book: This chapter focuses on the Exeter Book itself, the largest known collection of Old English literature. It describes the book's varied contents, including riddles, religious poems, and secular lyrics, and discusses the dating and possible origins of the manuscript, suggesting a West Saxon production in a center of learning such as Crediton or Exeter. The chapter also details the physical characteristics of the book, its dimensions, number of leaves, and the evidence of damage, including missing pages and burn marks that affected the riddle collection. It highlights the unique features of the manuscript, such as the scribe's limited use of abbreviations, and notes the book's importance in preserving a significant portion of surviving Old English verse.
4. The Exeter Book Riddles: This chapter delves specifically into the collection of 95 riddles within the Exeter Book. It addresses the inconsistencies in numbering across different editions and translations and discusses the ongoing debate on which texts in the Exeter Book should be classified as riddles. The chapter notes the damage to the manuscript and the resulting uncertainty regarding the original number of riddles, suggesting that it may have been a "century of riddles" following a common Latin tradition.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Exeter Book, Old English riddles, Anglo-Saxon literature, Exeter Cathedral, West Saxon dialect, literary history, manuscript studies, riddle typology, poetic language, metaphor, enigma.
Frequently Asked Questions: Exeter Book Riddles
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the Exeter Book Riddles, including its historical context, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It serves as a preview of a larger academic work analyzing these riddles.
What is the Exeter Book?
The Exeter Book is the largest surviving collection of Old English literature. It contains a variety of texts, including riddles, religious poems, and secular lyrics. This document focuses on the 95 riddles contained within it.
What is the historical context of the Exeter Book Riddles?
The riddles are found within the Exeter Book, a manuscript likely produced in the West Saxon region of England around the 10th century. The document explores the historical context of the riddles, focusing on the Exeter Cathedral and its library, where the book has been preserved.
What are the key themes explored in the Exeter Book Riddles?
The document explores various themes within the riddles, including their structure, style, and the use of metaphor and enigma. It also examines the riddles' place within the broader tradition of riddle-making.
What is the structure of the document that this HTML is a preview of?
The full document includes an introduction, sections on the Exeter Cathedral and the Exeter Book itself, a detailed analysis of the riddles, and a case study focusing on a specific riddle. This HTML preview presents the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What kind of analysis is presented in this document?
The document provides a structured and professional analysis of the Exeter Book Riddles, examining their historical context, literary characteristics, and thematic elements. A detailed analysis of one riddle serves as a case study.
What are the main chapters covered in this document?
The document outlines chapters covering an introduction to the topic of riddles, the history of Exeter Cathedral, a detailed description of the Exeter Book manuscript, a specific discussion of the riddles contained within the book, and finally, a list of key sources.
What are the key words associated with the Exeter Book Riddles?
Key words associated with the topic include: Exeter Book, Old English riddles, Anglo-Saxon literature, Exeter Cathedral, West Saxon dialect, literary history, manuscript studies, riddle typology, poetic language, metaphor, and enigma.
What is the significance of the Exeter Book Riddles?
The Exeter Book Riddles represent the earliest known collection of English riddles, offering valuable insight into Anglo-Saxon culture, language, and literary traditions. Their analysis contributes to a broader understanding of Old English literature and the history of riddle-making.
Who is the intended audience of this document?
This document is intended for academic use, supporting the analysis of themes in a structured and professional manner.
- Quote paper
- Katharina Ochsenfahrt (Author), 2012, The Exeter Book Riddles, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/205771
