Exeter Book Riddle 30 facts for kids

Exeter Book Riddle 30 is a super cool mystery poem from a really old book called the Exeter Book. This book was written way back in the late 900s! People who study these old poems usually agree that Riddle 30 has a clever answer: the Old English word bēam. This word means two things at once: a 'tree' and a 'cross'. It's like a riddle with a double meaning!

This riddle is extra special because it actually shows up twice in the Exeter Book. One copy is on page 108 (called 30a), and the other is on page 122 (called 30b). Sadly, parts of 30b are missing because the old book got a bit burned. Having two copies of the same poem from the same writer is very rare for Old English poems. The two copies are quite different, which shows how scribes (the people who copied books by hand) might change things a little as they wrote. Some experts even think that version 30b feels stronger and more exciting than 30a!

What the Riddle Says

Here's what Riddle 30a says in modern English. It's a bit like the riddle is talking about itself!

I am busy with fire, I fight with the wind, wrapped in glory, joined with the storm,

eager for the journey, bothered by fire;

I am a blooming grove, a burning ember.

Very often friends pass me from hand to hand so that proud men and women kiss me.

When I lift myself up and they bow to me, many with respect, there I will bring more happiness to people.

How the Two Versions Differ

While Riddle 30a and 30b are mostly the same, they have some small but interesting differences. For example, in 30b, the riddle says it is "consumed by fire" instead of "agitated by fire." Also, the part about people bowing to the riddle is slightly different in how it's phrased. These small changes show how even when copying the same poem, writers might use different words or phrases.