Obscene riddles of the exeter book everything english. In many cases, answers are just provisional, and still the subject of some discussion. English british humour seems to be uncommonly fond of the risque double meaning. Exeter book riddle 45 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. 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. The double entendre has been slipping in and out of british culture since at least the 10th century. Several of the old english riddles are excellent examples of double entendre. Chapter 1 a general discussion on the exeter book and riddles. The exeter book contains six riddles with explicit sexual content.
Riddle hero play and poetry in the exeter book riddles andrew higl the author discusses the exeter book riddles, some of the earliest poems in english, specifically old english, as perfect examples of how play and poetry intersect. It certainly cannot fairly be described as a riposte to the original exeter book of riddles. Digan, laura 2011 aspects of vocabulary in selected old. Oct 07, 2015 riddle 45 is yet another example of a riddle thats simply throbbing with double entendre. 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. Some comments on anglosaxon attitudes toward sexuality in women based on four exeter book riddles, texas quarterly 181975, 4655. Apr 02, 2009 the exeter book contains a remarkable variety of old english verse, religious and secular, including the seafarer, the wanderer, the husbands message, the wifes lament, widsith and, of course, the riddles. Some of them are double entendres, such as riddle 25 below.
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. Riddle hero play and poetry in the exeter book riddles. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary and. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative poetry. Exeter book riddle 74 and the play of the text john d. Riddle 63 in the exeter book is a companion onion riddle without the bawdy overtones. Oct 17, 2019 the double entendre has been slipping in and out of british culture since at least the 10th century. To me, the exeter book riddles show early english culture in an attractive light.
Many of the riddles are double entendres, meaning that they could be interpreted as sexual in nature. Im a strange creature, for i satisfy women, a service to the neighbors. May 07, 2018 the double entendre is a robust cultural fixture, having endured since at least the 10th century. The exeter book riddles in context the british library.
Riddles 25, 44, and 45 are classified as double entendres, for they seem to be depicting sexual images but are actually referring to regular household items such as, respectively, an onion, a key, and dough. Some of them have been dated as far back as the 7 th century. Is there room for the double entendre in modern day society. These double entendre clues find a notable parallel in exeter riddle 63, which handles the personification of the glass beaker in a similar way.
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. The exeter book is believed to be the one large book in english verse about various subjects which was bequeathed to the exeter cathedral library by leofric, first bishop of exeter, in 1072. The date of authorship of many of the riddles is unclear. Its a staple of seaside postcards, carry on films, frankie howerd scripts, and innumerable other sitcoms, not to mention shakespeare thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit, wilt thou not juliet. The riddle is frequently compared with exeter book riddle 25, also on the onion, but noted for its double entendre, since in that riddle what to many readers will come first to mind as the obvious solution to the riddle is penis. I grow very tall, erect in a bed, im hairy underneath. Exeter book riddles anglosaxon narrative poetry project. The present discussion will not address the double entendre riddles, but.
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. Its rather nice to see proof that this hasnt changed in a thousand years. It seems likely they were composed in the 700s when riddles were popular in english monasteries. Some of the earliest double entendres are found in the exeter book, or codex exoniensis, at exeter cathedral in england. It may work as a book of contemporary poetry where the poems have a double purpose i. Exeter book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. For more on the bawdy old english riddles, see edith williams, whats so new about the sexual revolution. The double entendre is a robust cultural fixture, having endured since at least the 10th century. From time to time a goodlooking girl, the doughty daughter. In addition to the various poems and stories found in the book, there are also numerous riddles. Performed by jefferson reardon produced by timmie vitz. The exeter book, circa ad990, includes several phallicoriented riddles.
The riddle was a major, prestigious literary genre in anglosaxon england, and riddles were written both in latin and old english verse. Its solution is quill pen and three fingers, whose figurative journey leaves a dark track of letters and words on the page and it stands accordingly as an important literary example of the international riddle type, the. They attempt to entertain and stimulate their listeners imagination, asking them to look beyond the surface and discern the answer to the question posed. When discussing the double entendre of these coarse texts, he states. Apr 24, 2017 do you find anglosaxon mens fashions particularly risque. Old english riddles a thousand years of double entendre. Murphy unriddling the exeter riddles is a stimulating and engaging study that is sure to be invaluable in the study of the enigmatic exeter riddles. Their charm is in the use of doubleentendre, whereby one answer is. Niles riddle 74 is one of a handful of old english riddles of the exeter book that have stubbornly resisted a solution.
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. Making this distinction early seems to eliminate the double entendre of a sexual reading. The solution to riddle 61 hasnt proved as problematic as some of the other exeter book. The exeter book riddles occupy a unique place in old english literary history. Contemplating the evolution of medieval doubleentendre literature. Aug 03, 2016 here are ten things you should know about the exeter book. The interpretation most widely accepted is that the riddle refers to bread dough oe dag. Englishbritish humour seems to be uncommonly fond of the risque double meaning. Whereas the subject matter of most of the extant verse derives from traditions of christian latinity and germanic legend, many of the riddles refer us to the social body of anglosaxon england.
Even if these cases are clearly not as explicit and as crude as the examples found in the exeter counterparts, the presence of sexual imagery and innuendo is worth examining in aldhelms enigmata. 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. Making this distinction early seems to eliminate the double entendre of a. In the exeter book we find the socalled sexual riddles, 1 whose classification as such has traditionally relied on the presence of two essential components. Riddle 72 possibly refers to the sun, but has been the subject.
It provides both an excellent foundation for undergraduates and nonspecialists in the old english to study these murky texts, and an important if rousing contribution to scholarly analysis of them. Exeter book riddles solutions here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. 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. 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. Most of the editors have been shy about their double meanings. 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 exeter book contains almost 100 riddles and several saints lives. The author discusses the exeter book riddles, some of the earliest poems in english, specifically old english, as perfect examples of how play and. Here are two of these anglosaxon riddles, both in old english and translated into modern english. The answer is an ornamented shirt, which the man pulls over his head. They are written in the style of anglosaxon poetry and range in topics from the religious to the mundane. Yes, were continuing the double entendres from riddle 61 and theres more to come in riddle 63. In some very few instances, my idea of the solution differs from the generally accepted range. Although the riddles were probably intended for a learned audience, they convey popular folk wisdom. The combination of everyday object with sexy subtext is one weve seen more than a few times in the exeter book, and this riddle pulls no punches with the suggestive imagery.
The book that is considered the beginning of english literature is a medieval manuscript known as the exeter book. The sexual riddle type in aldhelms enigmata, the exeter book. The sexual riddle type in aldhelms enigmata, the exeter. Even if these cases are clearly not as explicit and as crude as the examples found in the exeter counterparts, the. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book78 wikisource. If multiple possibilities are possible, ill give the best or most likely. These word puzzles form the majority of the riddles in the collection. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book21 wikisource.
I became a translator of anglosaxon riddles and kennings after falling in love with wulf and eadwacer, a stunning ancient poem from the exeter. The sexual riddles of the exeter book simon fraser university. In english, it seems, any entendre can be double d. Jump to navigation jump to search riddle 20 riddles of the exeter book 1963 translated by paull franklin baum.
Anglosaxon riddles are part of anglosaxon literature. The double entendre riddles explicitly relate narratives that most anglosaxons would not have mentioned in polite company. As well as the double entendre humorous riddles, the exeter book contains riddles that have more of the character of a cryptic crossword. Definition of double entendre in the idioms dictionary. 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. The bachelorwarrior of exeter book riddle 20 by tanke. Anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book21 wikisource, the. Weve decided to do both versions of riddle 30 at the same time, and for these we have a guest translator. Riddles are often defined as a piece of literature or poetry that describes something yet to be named. On this basis, at least fourteen pieces have generally been labeled as sexual or. The riddles in the exeter book were probably authored by multiple people and are difficult to date. Among the other texts in the exeter book, there are over ninety riddles. Exeter book riddles 1, 2, 3, 25, 44, 45, 47, 72 summary. Suggested solutions have included hemp, leek, onion, rosehip, mustard and phallus, but the consensus is that the solution is onion.
Scholars believe that a number were composed in the the exeter book riddles. Here is a list of solutions for the exeter book riddles as numbered in the translation. The best anglosaxon riddles and kennings kenning definition, history and examples riddle definition, history and examples this page collects some of the very best anglosaxon riddles and kennings. Scholars have decided that its either a helmet oe helm or a shirt though kirtletunic oe cyrtel tunece are less anachronistic and more in line with anglosaxon style. At the end of the exeter book, there are almost a hundred riddles or enigmata, a dozen. However, the description evokes a penis becoming erect. Old english riddles are commonly filled with double entendre. The consensus of opinion is that these riddles use the language of double entendre. Jan 31, 2018 frederick tupper jnrs 1910 edition is dripping with condescending judgements and moralisations.
Jan 09, 20 perhaps it is plausible i am merely reading these double entendres into the text. The first use of double entendres can be found in the exeter book, circa 990 ad. Meanwhile, its analogue in the lateantique latin riddles of symphosius is. Riddle 44 key in the exeter book, with its blunt description of the male genitalia plus the reference to the familiar hole, possibly stands out as the most explicit allusion to sex and sexual. The exeter book contains religious and secular poems, placed side by side with riddles written in double entendres that will make you blush. The exeter book was created by the first bishop of exeter in the eleventh century, when he collected poetry and riddles into a single tome. Jan 27, 2011 the most famous of the exeter book riddles are the socalled double entendre riddles. Riddle 12 is something of a peculiarity among its fellows and is consequently quite. Well, whoever composed riddle 61 sure seems to have done. Most of the editors have been shy about their double. Exeter book riddles solutions anglosaxon narrative.
May 12, 2016 pause the video each time the screen fades to black to try to guess the answers to the riddles. Sep 22, 2011 in the exeter book we find the socalled sexual riddles, 1 whose classification as such has traditionally relied on the presence of two essential components. Here are ten things you should know about the exeter book. Thp5 sexual riddles of the exef er book the exeter book contains six riddles with explicit sexual content. It is one of the four major anglosaxon literature codices, along with the vercelli book, nowell codex and the c. Aug, 2014 anglosaxon riddles of the exeter book 21. Up until now, the riddles have all appeared one after another in the exeter book, but there are two versions of riddle 30 one here, and one later in the manuscript, following homiletic fragment ii absolutely scintillating name. Riddle 30a and b or riddle 28a and b the riddle ages. Tupper, for example, puts the matter delicately, saying of 74 below, that the. The present discussion will not address the double. It should be noted that e mailcoat is a translation of aldhelms riddle 33 see lapidge and rosier 1985, p. Chapter 3 riddle 4 chapter 4 anglosaxon sexuality and the double entendre riddles chapter 5 conclusion bibliography. 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.
One of the oldest recorded riddles to remain in tact is featured on an ancient tablet from mesopotamia. Exeter book riddle 45 is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. There may have been an attempt to assemble 100 riddles in the exeter book like in some latin collections. Their playfulness, he claims, is most apparent in the origi. In this short riddle, the poet marvels at a worm that eats words. The most famous of the exeter book riddles are the socalled double entendre riddles.
Exeter book riddle 51 according to the numbering of the anglosaxon poetic records is one of the old english riddles found in the later tenthcentury exeter book. After it rises, the woman in the riddle kneads and shapes it and then puts a piece of cloth over. The solution to riddle 61 hasnt proved as problematic as some of the other exeter book poems. Almost any other answer will serve equally well as a grave and decent anticlimax to the smut and horselaughter of the riddle riddles of the exeter book, p.
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