The Old English Riddles and the Riddlic Elements of Old English Poetry (Studies in English Medieval Language and Literature) - Softcover

Boryslawski, Rafat; Borysł Awski, Rafał

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0820465984 ISBN 13: 9780820465982

Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing, 2004

Synopsis

The art of posing riddles is possibly as old as mankind and spans two apparent extremes which, nevertheless, converge in the riddlic form: that of wisdom and that of play. With this perspective in mind, the author examines the poetic enigmas present in the culture of Anglo-Saxon England, exploring both the Anglo-Latin riddles of Aldhelm and those recorded in the Exeter Book. His study investigates the Old English riddlic texts from a variety of angles, arguing for the possibility of establishing patterns of Anglo-Saxon riddlic composition as such. Rafa Borys awski intends to prove that both the Exeter collection and the Aenigmata of Aldhelm are constructed on the grounds of an identifiable structure of interrelations and interdependencies. Additionally, he argues that the riddlic mode of literary representation is also visible in other Anglo-Saxon poetic compositions. The analysis of such an assumption leads to the conclusion that the predilection for the riddle form in Anglo-Latin and Anglo-Saxon poetry results from an Old English vision of the Christian world.

About this title

About the Author

Jacek Fisiak is a linguist and professor ordinarius of English at Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, an esteemed contributor to the development of linguistics and English studies in Poland and abroad. He is the author of numerous books and articles published internationally.

Edition details

• Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0820465984
• ISBN 13: 9780820465982
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 221
• Editor: Fisiak Jacek