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The vibrant and enigmatic Exeter Riddles (ca. 960-980) are among the most compelling texts in the field of medieval studies, in part because they lack textually supplied solutions. Indeed, these ninety-five Old English riddles have become so popular that they have even been featured on posters for the London Underground and have inspired a sculpture in downtown Exeter. Modern scholars have responded enthusiastically to the challenge of solving the Riddles, but have generally examined them individually. Few have considered the collection as a whole or in a broader context.
In this book, Patrick Murphy takes an innovative approach, arguing that in order to understand the Riddles more fully, we must step back from the individual puzzles and consider the group in light of the textual and oral traditions from which they emerged. He offers fresh insights into the nature of the Exeter Riddles' complexity, their intellectual foundations, and their lively use of metaphor.
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unriddling the exeter riddles
the pennsylvania state university press university park, pennsylvania
patrick j. murphy
UNRIDDLING THE
EXETER RIDDLES
Portions of this work have appeared in Patrick J. Murphy, ‘‘Bocstafas: A Literal Reading of Exeter Book Riddle 57,’’ Philological Quarterly 84, no. 2 (2005): 139–60; ‘‘The Riders of the Celestial Wain in Exeter Book Riddle 22,’’ Notes and Queries 251, no. 4 (2006): 401–7; and ‘‘Leo ond Beo: Exeter Book Riddle 17 as Samson’s Lion,’’ English Studies 88, no. 4 (2007): 371–87 (reprinted by permission of the publisher, Taylor & Francis Ltd., http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals).
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Murphy, Patrick J. Unriddling the exeter riddles / Patrick J. Murphy. p. cm. Summary: ‘‘Examines the Old English riddles found in the tenth-century Exeter Book manuscript, with particular attention to their relationship to larger traditions of literary and traditional riddling’’—Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-271-04841-3 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Exeter book. 2. Riddles, English (Old)—History and criticism. 3. English poetry—Old English, ca. 450–1100—History and criticism. 4. Riddles in literature. I. Title. pr1764.m75 2011 829⬘.109—dc22 2010044080 Copyright 䉷 2011 The Pennsylvania State University All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Published by The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, PA 16802–1003 It is the policy of The Pennsylvania State University Press to use acid-free paper. Publications on uncoated stock satisfy the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Material, ansi z39.48–1992. This book is printed on Natures Natural, which contains 50% post-consumer waste.
for Nora and Nicole
contents
acknowledgments
ix
Introduction 1 Chapter One Unriddling the Riddles
27
Chapter Two A Literal Reading of Riddle 57
79
Chapter Three Transformation and Textual Culture Chapter Four Riddle 17 as Samson’s Lion
153
Chapter Five Innuendo and Oral Tradition Chapter Six The Roots of Riddle 25
afterword bibliography index
259
235 239
175
221
109
ac k n ow l e d g m e n t s
I would like to thank all those who supported and advised me during the writing of this book. I am very grateful to John D. Niles, at the University of Wisconsin, for his guidance at every stage of this project. At Wisconsin I was also fortunate to study under A. N. Doane, whose advice and insight have improved this book. I am likewise grateful to Sherry L. Reames and Carole E. Newlands, who provided me with generous help from my earliest drafts to