The Exeter Book is a very old and important book from the 900s. It's like a special collection of Old English poems. It is one of only four main books that contain lots of Anglo-Saxon writings.
The Exeter Book is a very old and important collection of poems.
This book was given to the Exeter Cathedral library in 1072 by Bishop Leofric. He was the first bishop of Exeter. The Exeter Book is the biggest collection of Old English literature we still have today.
In 2016, UNESCO said the book was one of the "world's principal cultural artifacts." This means it's a super important part of human culture!
What's Inside the Exeter Book?
The Exeter Book is full of different kinds of poems. It has religious poems, stories, and even riddles! Here are some of the famous poems you can find inside:
- Christ I, II, III: These are long poems about the life of Jesus.
- Guthlac A and B: These poems tell the story of Saint Guthlac.
- The Phoenix: This poem is about a mythical bird that rises from ashes.
- Juliana: This poem tells the story of a Christian saint.
- The Wanderer: This poem is about a lonely person thinking about the past.
- The Seafarer: This poem describes a sailor's difficult life at sea.
- Deor: This poem talks about overcoming sadness and hardship.
- The Wife's Lament: This poem is from the point of view of a sad woman.
- The Ruin: This poem describes an old, broken-down city.
There are many other poems too, covering different topics.
Fun with Riddles
One of the most exciting parts of the Exeter Book is its collection of over ninety riddles! These riddles are written in the style of Anglo-Saxon poetry. They cover all sorts of topics, from everyday objects to religious ideas. Some of them are even a bit tricky and have a double meaning.
Here are two of these old riddles. Can you guess the answers? First, you'll see the original Old English, then the modern English translation. The answers are below the riddles!
Ic eom wunderlicu wiht wifum on hyhte
neahbuendum nyt; nægum sceþþe
burgsittendra nymthe bonan anum.
Staþol min is steapheah stonde ic on bedde
neoðan ruh nathwær. Neþeð hwilum
ful cyrtenu ceorles dohtor
modwlonc meowle þæt heo on mec gripe
ræseð mec on reodne reafath min heafod
fegeð mec on fæsten. Feleþ sona
mines gemotes seo þe mec nearwað
wif wundenlocc. Wæt bið þæt eage.
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I am a wondrous creature for women in expectation,
a service for neighbours. I harm none of the citizens
except my slayer alone.
My stem is erect, I stand up in bed,
hairy somewhere down below. A very comely
peasant's daughter, dares sometimes,
proud maiden, that she grips at me,
attacks me in my redness, plunders my head,
confines me in a stronghold, feels my
encounter directly,
woman with braided hair. Wet be that eye.
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—Riddle 25 |
- Answer: an onion
Mec feonda sum feore besnyþede,
woruldstrenga binom, wætte siþþan,
dyfde on wætre, dyde eft þonan,
sette on sunnan þær ic swiþe beleas
herum þam þe ic hæfde. Heard mec siþþan
snað seaxses ecg, sindrum begrunden;
fingras feoldan, ond mec fugles wyn
geond speddropum spyrede geneahhe,
ofer brunne brerd, beamtelge swealg,
streames dæle, stop eft on mec,
siþade sweartlast. Mec siþþan wrah
hæleð hleobordum, hyde beþenede,
gierede mec mid golde; forþon me gliwedon
wrætlic weorc smiþa, wire bifongen.
Nu þa gereno ond se reada telg
ond þa wuldorgesteald wide mære
dryhtfolca helm— nales dol wite.
Gif min bearn wera brucan willað,
hy beoð þy gesundran ond þy sigefæstran,
heortum þy hwætran ond þy hygebliþran,
ferþe þy frodran, habbaþ freonda þy ma,
swæsra ond gesibbra, soþra ond godra,
tilra ond getreowra, þa hyra tyr ond ead
estum ycað ond hy arstafum
lissum bilecgað ond hi lufan fæþmum
fæste clyppað. Frige hwæt ic hatte,
niþum to nytte. Nama min is mære,
hæleþum gifre ond halig sylf.
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Some fiend robbed me from life,
deprived me of worldly strengths, wetted next,
dipped in water, took out again,
set in the sun, deprived violently
of the hair that I had, after, the hard
knife's edge cut me, ground from impurities,
fingers folded and a bird's
delight spread useful drops over me,
swallowed tree-ink over the ruddy rim,
portion of liquid, stepped on me again,
travelled with black track. After, a man clad
me with protective boards, covered with hide,
adorned me with gold. Forthwith adorned me
in ornamental works of smiths, encased with wire
Now the trappings and the red dye
and the wondrous setting widely make known
the helm of the lord's folk, never again guard fools.
If children of men want to use me
they will be by that the safer and the more sure of victory
the bolder in heart and the happier in mind,
in spirit the wiser. They will have friends the more
dearer and closer, righteous and more virtuous,
more good and more loyal, those whose glory and happiness
will gladly increase, and them with benefits and kindnesses,
and they of love will clasp tightly with embraces.
Ask what I am called as a service to people.
My name is famous,
bountiful to men and my self holy.
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—Riddle 26 |
- Answer: Bible
Poems of Sadness and Reflection: The Elegies
The Exeter Book also contains a group of poems known as the 'Elegies'. These include The Wanderer, The Seafarer, Deor, Wulf and Eadwacer, The Wife's Lament, The Husband's Message, and The Ruin.
An elegy is a poem that often expresses feelings of sadness or deep thought. These poems in the Exeter Book share common themes. They talk about longing for what's lost, feeling lonely, experiencing pain, and how time passes. They make you think about life's changes.
See also
In Spanish: Libro de Exeter para niños
