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    Anglo-Saxon Riddles - Handout

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    Jennifer
    This document contains summaries of 6 Anglo-Saxon riddles from the Exeter Book manuscript. The riddles describe various objects and creatures in poetic language, asking the reader to guess what is being referred to. Some of the riddles reference things that fly, travel over land and water, or perform services for humans.

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    Anglo-Saxon Riddles - Handout

    Uploaded by

    Jennifer
    287 views2 pages
    This document contains summaries of 6 Anglo-Saxon riddles from the Exeter Book manuscript. The riddles describe various objects and creatures in poetic language, asking the reader to guess what is being referred to. Some of the riddles reference things that fly, travel over land and water, or perform services for humans.

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    Anglo-Saxon riddles from the Exeter Book

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    This document contains summaries of 6 Anglo-Saxon riddles from the Exeter Book manuscript. The riddles describe various objects and creatures in poetic language, asking the reader to guess what is being referred to. Some of the riddles reference things that fly, travel over land and water, or perform services for humans.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    287 views2 pages

    Anglo-Saxon Riddles - Handout

    Uploaded by

    Jennifer
    This document contains summaries of 6 Anglo-Saxon riddles from the Exeter Book manuscript. The riddles describe various objects and creatures in poetic language, asking the reader to guess what is being referred to. Some of the riddles reference things that fly, travel over land and water, or perform services for humans.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Pace

    English 12CP

    Anglo-Saxon Riddles

    Image found at: http://www.celticsymbol.net/images/celt_knot.jpg

    Little of Anglo-Saxon literature survived the destruction of the Vikings and the
    burning of the monasteries by Henry the VIII. One work that did survive was the
    Exeter Book, a tenth century manuscript that includes several Old English works. In
    this are several riddles. These riddles were probably told to pass the time in mead
    halls across Britain. Riddles were a form of entertainment. See if you can figure out
    what the scops (or poets) were describing.

    Riddle 11

    My garb is ashen and in my garments


    bright jewels, garnet-coloured, gleam.
    I mislead muddlers, despatch the thoughtless
    on fool's errands, and thwart cautious men
    in their useful journeys. I can't think
    why, addled and led astray, robbed
    of their senses, men praise my ways
    to everyone. Woe betide addicts
    when they bring the dearest of hoards on high
    unless they've foregone their foolish habits.
    What am I? _________________________________

    Riddle 7

    Silent is my dress when I step across the earth,


    reside in my house, or ruffle the waters.
    Sometimes my adornments and this high windy air
    lift me over the living of men,
    the power of the clouds carries me far
    over all people. My white pinions
    resound very loudly, ring with a melody,
    sing out clearly, when I sleep not on
    the soil or settle on grey waters - a travelling spirit.
    What am I? _________________________________

    Riddle 32

    This world is adorned in diverse ways,


    decorated with rare ornaments.
    I saw a strange contraption, a fine traveler,
    grind against the grit and move, screaming.
    The strange creature couldn't see; it had
    no shoulders, arms or hands; this oddity
    has to move on one foot, travel fast
    over the salt-fields. IT had many ribs,
    and a mouth in its middle, useful to men.
    It carries food in plenty, performs a service,
    each yeat it yields men a gift used
    by rich and poor. Tell me if you can,
    O man of wise words, what this creature is.
    What am I? _________________________________

    Riddle 33

    A strange creature came floating over the waves,


    she cried her beauty from ship to shore,
    resounded loudly; her laughter was terrible
    and fearsome to all; her edges were sharp.
    She was so fierce - slow to engage,
    savage in the fight; she stove in ship's sides.
    She bound them with a baleful charm,
    and spoke with native cunning:
    'My mother, one of the beloved maidens,
    is my daughter also, swollen and strong,
    known by all people as she falls on the earth,
    she stands in joy in every land.'
    What am I? _________________________________

    Riddle 23

    Wob is my name, if you work it out;


    I'm a fair creature fashioned for battle.
    When I bend, and shoot a deadly shaft
    from my stomach, I'm very eager
    to send that evil as far away as I can.
    When my lord (he thought up this torment)
    releases my limbs, I become longer
    and, bent upon slaughter, spit out
    that deadly poison I swallowed before.
    No man's parted easily from the object
    I describe; if what flies from my stomach
    strikes him, he pays for its poison
    with his strength - speedy atonement for his life.
    I'll serve no master when unstrung, only when
    I'm cunningly notched. Now guess my name.
    What am I? _________________________________

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