Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/455

 Reviews. 41 3

The Riddles of the Exeter Book. Ed. with Introduction, Notes, and Glossary by Frederick Tupper, Jr. Ginn & Co., 1910. 8vo, pp. cxi + 292. This very erudite work contains a print of the Riddles in the celebrated Exeter Book, with copious notes and a series of solu- tions approved by the author. The transcript, — though a glossary is appended, — will only be of service to persons who can read Anglo-Saxon, and the present reviewer, having unfortunately for- gotten most of what he once knew of that tongue, after puzzling out one or two riddles has now to content himself with the fervent hope that the learned writer will on some early day give to the world a short translation of these riddles for the use of folklorists. Even the folklorist who is ignorant of Anglo-Saxon will, however, find in the lengthy and admirable introduction a great deal to interest him, and the same may be said of the "Notes," though it is somewhat tantalising to get the answer without being able fully to grasp the meaning of the question.

In the introduction, dealing first of all with the nature of riddles, the author points out their connection with metaphors as originally indicated by Aristotle, and with poetry, which we approach at least when we find the reply to a riddle relating to "the heaven's tooth " to be " the wind." Also it is closely related to the myth, for "the riddle, like the myth, arises out of the desire to invest everyday things and thoughts with the garb of the unusual and the marvellous." The author further devotes some space to the distinction between kunstrdtsel and volksrdtsel^ or literary and popular problems, and discusses the manner in which the former may be derived from the latter. Two sections are devoted to " The originals and analogues of the Exeter Book riddles " and their authorship respectively. There is a full bibliography, and those who are interested in the study of riddles, now degenerated into one of the worst inflictions which we suffer from the most tiresome of bores, will find indicated for them the directions in which they may most fruitfully pursue their studies.

B. C. A. WiNDLE.