The Controversy Behind The Anglo-Saxon Harp and The Exeter Book Riddles

Oxford, Bodleian Librar, MS Junius 11, pg. 54

     The Exeter Book Riddles, translated by Kevin Crossley-Holland, allows for many interpretations for each riddle’s solution. More specifically, riddles  28, 31, 55, and 70 can all be solved with the Anglo-Saxon harp. The most common evidence discovered through research to prove the harp to be a substantial solution in these riddles is its popularity during the Anglo-Saxon era as well as its shape.

  Using the information from The Anglo-Saxon Harp written by Robert Boenig and Lewis Anderson’s The Anglo Saxon Scop, one can compare and contrast the harp’s creation and appearance to the riddles. A physical description of the Anglo-Saxon harp includes it being triangular, with four sound holes, and it has twelve strings (Boenig 295). The image above shows an illustration of the Anglo-Saxon harp being triangular in shape as well as having four holes. Anderson also describes the harp as having “a form approximating to that of a right-angled triangle” (Anderson, 37). Riddle 70 in the Exeter Book Riddles also describes the solution as having “pointed shoulders”. 

While Boenig and Anderson focus on the construction of the Anglo-Saxon harp, there are also references made in the riddles about the instruments sounds and purposes. Two Anglo Saxon Harps, written by CL Wrenn, connects how the harp was used and who played it to the riddles. Wrenn states that the harp tends to bring happiness to people even in their darkest moments. This would explain the illustration of the harp in Riddle 28. The riddle states that “a quickening delight lies in this treasure, lingers and lasts” as well as “after death, it begins to gab, to gossip recklessly”. 

  Riddle’s 55 and 31 are much more controversial then the previously talked about riddles. Some possible solutions to Riddle 55 include a sword rack, shield, and harp. The first line of the riddle states “I saw in the hall (where visitors were drinking) a wondrous tree”, it is also referred to as “a treasure in the hall” (Crossley-Holland, 58). During the Anglo-Saxon era, the music of harps filled the halls of banquets during feasts. It was common for people to take turns playing the instrument at events that took place in halls.

  On the hand Riddle 31 uses words like “bird-like” and “creature” add to the confusion. For both riddles the only string instruments of the Anglo-Saxon time period that could be a solution are either a harp, harp-lyre, cithara, or kithara. Evidence points to the solution being a harp because of its popularity. The riddle states “often and again she goes the rounds at gatherings of men, she sits at the feast and awaits her turn” (Crossley-Holland, 31). Harps were the most popular instruments to be passed around events during that time period.