Anglo Saxon Riddles

The Wanderer Anglo Saxon History, mythology, Folklore and religion

all of the Anglo-Saxon poetry that has survived is found in just four manuscripts which escaped the ravages of time, the pillaging of the Vikings, and the censorship of the Church. One thing that the Anglo-Saxon people were particularly fond of was telling (and trying to guess the answer of) riddles. It wasn't just children, who enjoyed riddles. Adults were very fond of them. People enjoyed trying to stump their friends and family with just how cleverly riddles could be worded.

Riddles are a quirky part of the Anglo-Saxon literature which survives to us today. They were written in both Old English and Latin, and the content can be religious, scholarly, comical or obscene.