Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2289-1882
Date of Award
8-11-2020
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
English
First Advisor
Dr. Edward J. Christie
Second Advisor
Dr. John Burrison
Third Advisor
Dr. Tanya Caldwell
Abstract
Within the Anglo-Saxon corpus, birds play a prominent role in religious poetry, acting as characters that reflect the values of the author as they pertain to God and Christianity. In the Exeter Book Riddles and Aldhelm’s Enigmata, birds act as metaphors, guiding readers in living a Christian life through a variety of folkloric and Biblical ways, though the descriptions and meanings inherent within each collection vary immensely. Aldhelm’s riddles celebrate God and his power of creation, using birds as a vehicle for expressing a valuation of nature even while educating readers on the key points of living a heaven-facing life. I argue herein the Exeter Riddle Poet expresses the same value for nature and creation, but superimposes clothing language on select birds, which suggests a fascination with humanity’s creative power as a gift from God.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/17968430
Recommended Citation
Colwell, Bridgitte I., ""Say What I Wear": A Study of Clothing and Animal Language within Aldhelm's Enigmata and the Exeter Riddles." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2020.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/17968430
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