Research Catalog

The natural world in the Exeter Book riddles / Corinne Dale.

Title
The natural world in the Exeter Book riddles / Corinne Dale.
Author
Dale, Corinne
Publication
Cambridge : D.S. Brewer, 2017.

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TextRequest in advance PR1764 .D35 2017Off-site

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Description
viii, 217 pages; 24 cm
Summary
This book examines the depiction of the non-human world in the Exeter Book Riddle Collection, investigating humanity's action with, and attitudes towards, the rest of creation using the fields of eco-criticism and eco-theology. While much scholarly attention has been given to what the riddles have to say abuot human society and culture, about heroism, service, sex and war, little has been said about the natural world. The author argues that there is a programme of resistance to anthropocentrism at work in the riddles, whereby the riddles challenge human-centred ways of depicting and interpreting the created world: depictions of the marginalised perspectives of sentient and non-sentient beings such as trees and animals are not just a characteristic of the riddle genre, but are actively used to explore the point of view of the natural world and the impact humanity has on its non-human inhabitants. She also draws on eco-theology to deepen our understanding of the depiction of the natural world in the riddles, via the main themes of place, labour, creation, transformation, accountability, mastery and wisdom.0.
Series Statement
Nature and environment in the Middle Ages, 2399-3804
Uniform Title
Nature and environment in the Middle Ages
Subject
  • Exeter book
  • Exeter book
  • 450-1100
  • Riddles, English (Old) > History and criticism
  • English poetry > Old English, ca. 450-1100 > History and criticism
  • Riddles in literature
  • Nature in literature
  • Devinettes et énigmes vieil-anglaises > Histoire et critique
  • Poésie anglaise > ca 450-1100 (Vieil anglais) > Histoire et critique
  • Nature dans la littérature
  • English poetry > Old English
  • Riddles, English (Old)
  • Riddles in literature
Genre/Form
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references (pages 199-213) and index.
Processing Action (note)
  • committed to retain
Contents
Machine generated contents note: 1. Be sonde, sæwealle neah -- Locating Non-Human Subjects in an Anthropocentric World -- 2. Earfoda dæl -- The Groan of Travail in the Ox Riddles -- 3. Wrætlic weorc smipa -- Inverting the Colophon in Riddle 26 -- 4. Deope Gedolgod -- Wounding and Shaping in Riddles 53 and 73 -- 5. Fruman Agette Eall Of Earde -- The Principle of Accountability in Riddle 83 -- 6. Mægene binumen -- The Failure of Human Mastery in the Wine and Mead Riddles -- 7. Swa ne wenap men -- The Limits of Wisdom in Riddle 84 and the Storm Riddles.
ISBN
  • 1843844648
  • 9781843844648
LCCN
2017295345
OCLC
  • 960277154
  • SCSB-11658874
Owning Institutions
Harvard Library