Exeter Book Riddle 4 has puzzled more than five generations of scholars and inspired more than a dozen different solutions, none of which has received consensus agreement. This paper is in support of the oldest solution ‘bell’, for which some new clues are presented. After discussing the most ambiguous words and expressions in the text, it is argued that the closing lines of the riddle allude to the widespread use of engraving a “speaking” inscription upon medieval bells. Medieval runic evidence from Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon epigraphic and manuscript sources offer very interesting analytical cues in this connection. At the end, the point is made that the 'þragbysig' tool, scil. 'bell', of Riddle 4 could “tell” its story (spel gesecgan, 12b) – possibly, its name or dedication to a saint, its date, its founder’s name or mark, its carver’s name, a special invocation or prayer, a protecting formula – like any other inscribed object, which the Old English riddlers made “speak” in the Exeter Book collection.
Wordum min spel gesecgan: Speaking voice and written words in the Exeter Book Riddle 4
Cucina, C.
2021-01-01
Abstract
Exeter Book Riddle 4 has puzzled more than five generations of scholars and inspired more than a dozen different solutions, none of which has received consensus agreement. This paper is in support of the oldest solution ‘bell’, for which some new clues are presented. After discussing the most ambiguous words and expressions in the text, it is argued that the closing lines of the riddle allude to the widespread use of engraving a “speaking” inscription upon medieval bells. Medieval runic evidence from Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon epigraphic and manuscript sources offer very interesting analytical cues in this connection. At the end, the point is made that the 'þragbysig' tool, scil. 'bell', of Riddle 4 could “tell” its story (spel gesecgan, 12b) – possibly, its name or dedication to a saint, its date, its founder’s name or mark, its carver’s name, a special invocation or prayer, a protecting formula – like any other inscribed object, which the Old English riddlers made “speak” in the Exeter Book collection.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
Cucina_Exeter-Riddle-4_2021.pdf
solo utenti autorizzati
Tipologia:
Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza:
Copyright dell'editore
Dimensione
856.71 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
856.71 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri Richiedi una copia |
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.