Research

Riddles in Conversation

In 2022, we are hosting an online research series called "Riddles in Conversation." The Exeter Book riddles are often enlisted to illustrate what we think we know about early medieval culture, but the truth is that they are better at asking questions than giving answers. In this seminar series, therefore, we put the Exeter Book riddles in conversation with different kinds of knowing. Exploring in turn poetic translation, visual art, ornithology, and woodcraft, these four conversations will bring new insights to our understanding of early medieval culture. You can download the poster here. We will publish recordings below as they become available.

"Avant Garde Translation Techniques" with Judy Kendall

"Creative Communities" with Emma Molony, Jacob Polley, Chris Jones and Megan Cavell

You can read further about the lockdown project discussed in this seminar on Double Elephant's website here, and find a direct link to the interactive Riddle 57 here.

"Ornithological Insights" with Jim Reynolds

Early Medieval Identities

In 2021, we hosted an online research seminar series called "Early Medieval Identities," which looked at a range of contexts for studying identity (i.e. not just in the riddles!) in early medieval England and the world. We were joined by four experts who shared their research, and you can now watch the recordings below. Enjoy!

Series Introduction

"Early Medieval Collective Identity in the Context of the Longue Durée" by Susan Oosthuizen

"Intersections of Social Identity and Disability in Early Medieval England" by Marit Ronen

"The Other in Self: Embodied Medieval Trans/lation in Contemporary Practice" by Miller Oberman

"Riddles in the Dark: Hadrian's Lost Contributions to Early England" by Mary Rambaran-Olm