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Mar 2024
42m 43s

Medieval LOLs: Old English Riddles

London Review of Books
About this episode
Riddles are an ancient and universal form, but few people seem to have enjoyed them more than English Benedictine monks. The Exeter Book, a tenth century monastic collection of Old English verse, builds on the riddle tradition in two striking ways: first, the riddles don’t come with answers; second, they are sexually suggestive. Were they intended to test th ... Show More
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