The "Exeter Book" contains a quarter of all surviving Old English poetry. Here are presented fourteen pieces in critical edition with facing page translations. Anderson also presents an argument for an overall design in what was previously considered a miscellaneous collection of poems.
Author(s): James Edward Anderson
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Year: 1986
Language: English
Pages: XXII+282
City: Norman
Preface xi
About the Old English Texts and the Translations xvii
Abbreviations Used in This Book xxi
Introduction. The Journey to Wisdom: On Riddling and the Riddle Sequence 3
PART ONE. "Riddle 1": A Grim Opening Lesson 17
Introduction 19
"Deor" and "Wulf and Eadwacer": Fatal Marriage on Earth 19
"The Soul's Address": Bad Marriage as Spiritual Death 44
The Texts 57
"The Soul's Address" 58
"Deor" 68
"Wulf and Eadwacer" 72
PART TWO. "The Easter Riddle": Journey from Exile to Glory 75
Introduction 77
"The Wife's Lament": The Riddle of Exile 84
"Judgment Day I": A Riddlic Rejoinder 99
"Resignation": A Change of Heart and Voice 108
"The Descent into Hell": Out of Exile 116
"Almsgiving": To Prepare the Heart 126
"Pharaoh": Typological Destruction 129
"The Lord's Prayer I": Eternal Bread 134
"Homiletic Fragment II": Toward the Light 136
"Riddle 30b": The Journey of Light 138
"The Husband's Message": Runes and "Geryne" 144
"The Ruin": Wondrous Destruction 163
The Texts 183
"The Wife's Lament" 184
"Judgment Day I" 190
"Resignation" 200
"The Descent into Hell" 210
"Almsgiving" 224
"Pharaoh" 226
"The Lord's Prayer I" 228
"Homiletic Fragment II" 230
"Riddle 30b" 234
"The Husband's Message" 236
"The Ruin" 246
Works Cited 255
Index 268
