Week 12

Question 1

Important things about manuscripts

Answer 1

1. Very expensive
2. Hand-written
3. Monastic product
4. Unique
5. Very vulnerable

Question 2

What are the dangers to manuscripts?

Answer 2

1. Vikings would kidnap books
2. Cats would pee on them, they were allowed near because of mice
3. Mice
4. Worms
5. Fire, purposely or accidentally
6. Water to put out the fire

Question 3

Three main places for Anglo-Saxon manuscripts

Answer 3

1. Cambridge, Corpus Christi College
2. London, British Library
3. Oxford Bodleian Library

Question 4

Why are there manuscripts in Cambridge, Corpus Christi College?

Answer 4

Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury was a manuscript collector. He had over 400 manuscripts (Bible, homilies), and after his death these were donated.

Question 5

Why are there manuscripts in London, British Library?

Answer 5

Sir Robert Cotton had the largest collection of OE manuscripts in the world. His heirs donated the collection to the nation.

They were housed in Ashburnham house, where fire broke out. The manuscripts were damaged by fire and water, some were saved by being thrown out of the window.

Question 6

Why are there manuscripts in Oxford, Bodleian Library?

Answer 6

Thomas Bodley founded the library in 1602, felt like these works should not be in private possession. He asked for donations to his library.

Question 7

What are the most important poetic manuscripts?

Answer 7

1. Beowulf manuscript
2. Vercelli Book
3. Exeter Book (riddles)
4. Junius Book

Question 8

Beowulf manuscript (975-1025)

Answer 8

1. London, British Library
2. Edges are burnt
3. Most important text is Beowulf
4. Contents:
   • Judith
   • Marvels of the East
   • Life of Saint Christopher
   • Letter of Alexander to Aristotle
   • Beowulf

Question 9

Location Beowulf Manuscript

Answer 9

London, British Library, Cotton Vitelius, A XV

Question 10

Vercelli Book and its location

Answer 10

1. c. 975
2. Vercelli, Cathedral Library, MS CVII (north of Italy)
3. Contents:
   
   • Various homilies and Saint’s lives
   • The Dream of the Rood (crucifixion from perspective of cross)

Question 11

Exeter Book: location, contents

Answer 11

1. Big book of OE poems on various subjects
2. Exeter, Exeter Cathedral Library, MS 3501
3. Contents:
   • Wisdom poetry
   • Over 90 riddles
   • Elegies

Question 12

Junius Manuscript

Answer 12

1. Named after Franciscus Junius (one of the owners, Leiden theology student, pioneer of Germanic philology.
2. Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Junius 11
3. Contents:
   • Genesis
   • Exodus
   • Daniel
   • Christ and Satan
   Wrongly contributed to Caedmon!

Question 13

Interlinear glosses

Answer 13

Glosses (word for word translations) were added to the Latin original between the lines.

Question 14

Marginal gloss

Answer 14

Translations were put in the margin.

Question 15

What are paving letters in OE glosses?

Answer 15

They indicate a correct OE word-order since the Latin one is different. It could also be done with a number of dots or commas indicating connections.

Question 16

Scratched glosses

Answer 16

Probably indicated teaching methods, maybe a prompt for translation. Only visible at certain angles.

Question 17

Exodus and its storyline

Answer 17

Exodus is a biblical poem, not based on the whole Book of Exodus and shaped by elements of Genesis on Noah, Abraham and Isaac. The poet attempted to make the story accessible and more appealing to the Anglo-Saxons.

Storyline:
1. The Lord’s pact with Moses
2. The Israelites sail to the Red Sea
3. Moses puts heart into the Israelites: the Israelites are scared upon seeing the Pharaoh’s army, but Moses puts heart into them by recalling God’s covenant. His power is enacted through Moses’ hand.
4. The drowning of the Egyptians

Question 18

Two reasons why medieval manuscripts were illuminated

Answer 18

1. To explain the text (St. Augustine’s Gospel; he brought it with him to England; basically first comic book; explained with pictures).
2. To add prestige (Benedictional of St. Aethelwold).

Question 19

Why is the Junius Manuscript sometimes referred to as ‘the Caedmon manuscript’?

Answer 19

For a long time, scholars believed them to be the work of Cædmon, accordingly calling the book the Cædmon manuscript. This theory has been discarded due to the significant differences between the poems.

Because it was believed it was written by Caedmon.

Question 20

How did the poet of Exodus (story of the Israelites/Moses) try to make the poem accessible and more appealing to the Anglo-Saxons?

Answer 20

1. Uses imagery that is reminiscent of Old English poems (warriors, leading people to victory).
2. Features typical Anglo-Saxon imagery (such as ‘joys of hall’).
3. The beginning is like Beowulf.

Question 21

What imagery does the poet use to describe the journey of the Israelites through the desert and why?

Answer 21

The poet uses typical imagery from Old English poetry, which includes themes of “glory”, “courageous men”, “warriors” and “honour”. The text makes certain to mention “noble warriors” and “heroes”.

To make Exodus appealing and accessible to the Anglo-Saxons.

Question 22

How might the story of Exodus be read allegorically? What might the passage through the Red Sea stand for? What about the ‘Promised Land’?

Answer 22

In Exodus, the passage through the Red Sea can be seen as a symbol of liberation or a journey to salvation. The sea’s parting could represent overcoming obstacles or escaping from oppression. The Promised Land can be seen as a metaphor for a place of peace; the ultimate destination or goal.

Question 23

What is the difference between the punctuation used by writers of Modern English and that of Old English scribes? And what are features of Old English poetry punctuation in manuscripts?

Answer 23

Modern English punctuation is strict (for syntactic function), and Old English punctuation wasn’t; its usage varies.

Some scribes used it with fair reliability to mark clause- and sentence boundaries, though sometimes a work may be unpunctuated.

Half line • half line • (shows the way OE poetry was written).