Riddles are extended kennings. A kenning is one of many literary devises employed by Anglo-Saxons. A kenning is a metaphor, in other words, a construction to give a name, in which one of the elements is not stated. This is clearly presented in many AS texts, for instance, Beowulf is also called “the Weather-Great prince”. Different kennings for the wanderer are the “wayfarer” and the “world-strider”. In The Ruins, the Romans are referred as the “Giants”. Anglo-Saxon riddles focused on everyday’s life experiences. The depiction of simple objects was taken to a poetic level. In addition, these objects were given human attributes. Notice how in Riddles 5, 16, 21, 47, 68 and 80, the personal pronounce of the first person singular “I” is employed as if the object acquired a life on its own. Thus, it is the object that describes itself by using human qualities. For example, in Riddle 5, the shield is described as “wounded”, “weary with fighting”, “sick of battle-work” and “doomed to bear the brunt”. All the clues to decode a riddle are given within it. The reader just has to pay attention to the signs.
By Cinthya Cervantes
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