Keywords
editorial history
Old English
philology
manuscript study
How to Cite
Abstract
What riddle can be solved, but cannot be read? The Leiden Riddle, which survives on the last folio of Leiden, Leiden University Libraries, VLQ 106, stands out among the Old English riddles for having virtually no discussion about its solution. Instead, it is the Leiden Riddle’s exact reading that has continued to puzzle philologists for the past 180 years, owing to the damaged state of the manuscript. Following a brief introduction to the Leiden Riddle, this article traces the editorial history of the text, showing how the application of novel techniques over the years has gradually shed more light on the Leiden Riddle, while never quite stifling continued speculation on parts of the text. Appendices to this article provide an overview of suggested readings for the Old English text and a comprehensive bibliography of publications on the Leiden Riddle.
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