The 10th century Exeter Book (from Exeter Cathedral) contains a number of Old English texts which include more than 90 riddles. There may originally have been 100.
The riddles are mostly fairly short poems and are playful in tone. The object described often talks to us directly, even if it is in fact inanimate, such as a book or a weathercock or a butter churn. They vary in style: some are fairly simple descriptions, others may notoriously be rather rude double-entendres, while yet others have never been solved for certain. This was entirely deliberate by the creator(s) and would have provided entertainment at feasts as the guests argued over the solution before it was revealed. Many continue to be argued over and be open to different solutions today.
Here is an example of one of the riddles for you to try and solve. There is an agreed answer to this riddle, which is offered at the end, but be inventive and argue your case!
Old English
Oft ic sceal wiþ wæge winnan ond wiþ winde feohtan, somod wið þam sæcce, þonne ic secan gewite eorþan yþum þeaht; me biþ se eþel fremde. Ic beom strong þæs gewinnes, gif ic stille weorþe; gif me þæs tosæleð, hi beoð swiþran þonne ic, ond mec slitende sona flymað, willað oþfergan þæt ic friþian sceal. Ic him þæt forstonde, gif min steort þolað ond mec stiþne wiþ stanas moton fæste gehabban. Frige hwæt ic hatte.
| Modern English Oft I must with water battle and with wind fight; together, against them contend; then I depart to seek earth swallowed by waves; from me the homeland is estranged. I am strong in that contest, if I fixed become; if I fail at that, they are greater than I, and rend me, soon drive me to flight, will bear off that which I must protect; I resist that from them, if my hold endures and resolutely with me stones might hold fast. Ask what I am called. |
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Answer: An anchor