Unriddling the Exeter Riddles

Unriddling the Exeter Riddles, Volume 1, provides a scholarly analysis of ninety-five Old English puzzles from the tenth century. These texts remain central to medieval studies and poetry due to their lack of provided solutions. While many researchers focus on individual puzzles, this work of literary criticism examines the collection as a cohesive whole.

Patrick J. Murphy explores the intellectual foundations and metaphors used within these ancient and classical works. By analyzing the oral and textual traditions of the European and English landscape, the author offers new perspectives on the complexity of these riddles. This study blends elements of humor and form to clarify the nature of these enigmatic medieval poems.