Say What I Am: A Book of Old English Riddles

Say What I Am collects forty-nine of the best of the Old English riddles found in the Exeter Book, the largest surviving collection of Old English poetry, plus two more found in other manuscripts. Carefully translated by Ben Waggoner, these riddles provide a unique look into the Anglo-Saxon worldview. Through their poetry, common tools and household objects—a key, a plough, an oven, a butter churn—are shown to possess hidden beauty, humor, and wonder. Birds, bees, plants, beasts, men and women, and even stars are described in rich metaphor, often getting a chance to speak for themselves. These riddles make a witty and charming introduction to the culture and daily life of Anglo-Saxon England.