Exeter Book Riddle 61 (according to the numbering of the Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records)[1] is one of the Old English riddles found in the later tenth-century Exeter Book. The riddle is usually solved as 'shirt', 'mailcoat' or 'helmet'. It is noted as one of a number of Old English riddles with sexual connotations[2] and as a source for gender-relations in early medieval England.[3]
Textedit
As edited by Krapp and Dobbie in the Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records series (with the addition of marking of long vowels), and translated by Megan Cavell, Riddle 61 runs:
Oft mec fæste bilēac frēolicu mēowle, ides on earce, hwīlum up atēah folmum sīnum ond frēan sealde, holdum þēodne, swā hīo hāten wæs. Siðþan mē on hreþre heafod sticade, nioþan upweardne, on nearo fēgde. Gif þæs ondfengan ellen dohte, mec frætwedne fyllan sceolde rūwes nāthwæt. Rǣd hwæt ic mǣne.[4]
Often a noble woman, a lady, locked me fast in a chest, sometimes she drew me up with her hands and gave me to her husband, her loyal lord, as she was bid. Then he stuck his head in the heart of me, upward from beneath, fitted it in the tight space. If the strength of the receiver was suitable, something shaggy had to fill me, the adorned one. Determine what I mean.[5]
Referencesedit
^George Philip Krapp and Elliott Van Kirk Dobbie (eds), The Exeter Book, The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records, 3 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1936).
^Jacqueline Fay, ‘Becoming an Onion: The Extra-Human Nature of Genital Difference in the Old English Riddling and Medical Traditions’, English Studies, 101 (2020), 60-78 (p. 64); doi:10.1080/0013838X.2020.1708083.
^Melanie Heyworth, 'Perceptions of Marriage in Exeter Book Riddles 20 and 61', Studia Neophilologica, 79 (2007), 171-84.
^George Philip Krapp and Elliott Van Kirk Dobbie (eds), The Exeter Book, The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records, 3 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1936), p. 229, accessed from http://ota.ox.ac.uk/desc/3009 2018-12-06 at the Wayback Machine.
^'Riddle 25 (or 23)', trans. by Megan Cavell, The Riddle Ages (10 April 2017).
March 13, 2024
exeter, book, riddle, according, numbering, anglo, saxon, poetic, records, english, riddles, found, later, tenth, century, exeter, book, riddle, usually, solved, shirt, mailcoat, helmet, noted, number, english, riddles, with, sexual, connotations, source, gend. Exeter Book Riddle 61 according to the numbering of the Anglo Saxon Poetic Records 1 is one of the Old English riddles found in the later tenth century Exeter Book The riddle is usually solved as shirt mailcoat or helmet It is noted as one of a number of Old English riddles with sexual connotations 2 and as a source for gender relations in early medieval England 3 Text editAs edited by Krapp and Dobbie in the Anglo Saxon Poetic Records series with the addition of marking of long vowels and translated by Megan Cavell Riddle 61 runs Oft mec faeste bileac freolicu meowle ides on earce hwilum up ateah folmum sinum ond frean sealde holdum theodne swa hio haten waes Sidthan me on hrethre heafod sticade niothan upweardne on nearo fegde Gif thaes ondfengan ellen dohte mec fraetwedne fyllan sceolde ruwes nathwaet Rǣd hwaet ic mǣne 4 Often a noble woman a lady locked me fast in a chest sometimes she drew me up with her hands and gave me to her husband her loyal lord as she was bid Then he stuck his head in the heart of me upward from beneath fitted it in the tight space If the strength of the receiver was suitable something shaggy had to fill me the adorned one Determine what I mean 5 References edit George Philip Krapp and Elliott Van Kirk Dobbie eds The Exeter Book The Anglo Saxon Poetic Records 3 New York Columbia University Press 1936 Jacqueline Fay Becoming an Onion The Extra Human Nature of Genital Difference in the Old English Riddling and Medical Traditions English Studies 101 2020 60 78 p 64 doi 10 1080 0013838X 2020 1708083 Melanie Heyworth Perceptions of Marriage in Exeter Book Riddles 20 and 61 Studia Neophilologica 79 2007 171 84 George Philip Krapp and Elliott Van Kirk Dobbie eds The Exeter Book The Anglo Saxon Poetic Records 3 New York Columbia University Press 1936 p 229 accessed from http ota ox ac uk desc 3009 Archived 2018 12 06 at the Wayback Machine Riddle 25 or 23 trans by Megan Cavell The Riddle Ages 10 April 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Exeter Book Riddle 61 amp oldid 1197235759, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
