The natural world in the Exeter Book riddles

Resource Information

The work The natural world in the Exeter Book riddles represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Missouri Libraries. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

The natural world in the Exeter Book riddles

Statement of responsibility

Corinne Dale

Creator

• Dale, Corinne

Author

• Dale, Corinne

Subject

• 450-1100
• Riddles in literature
• Nature in literature
• Criticism, interpretation, etc
• Nature in literature
• Riddles, English (Old)
• Riddles in literature
• English poetry -- Old English
• Exeter book
• Nature in literature
• Exeter book
• English poetry -- Old English
• Exeter book
• Riddles in literature
• Criticism, interpretation, etc
• English poetry -- Old English, ca. 450-1100 -- History and criticism
• Riddles, English (Old)
• Riddles, English (Old) -- History and criticism

Genre

• Criticism, interpretation, etc

Language

eng

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

Member of

• Nature and environment in the Middle Ages,
• Nature and environment in the Middle Ages

Cataloging source

YDX

Dewey number

829/.1009

Index

index present

LC call number

PR1764

LC item number

.D35 2017

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography

Series statement

Nature and environment in the Middle Ages,