Isidorean Perceptions of Order: The Exeter Book Riddles and Medieval Latin Enigmata

This book discusses the considerable influence exerted by Isidore's Etymologiaeon upon the compilation of early medieval enigmata. Either in the form of thematic clusters or pairs, Isidorean encyclopedic patterns are observed not only in major Latin riddle collections in verse but can also be detected in the two vernacular assemblages contained in the Exeter Book. As with encyclopedias, the topic-centered arrangement of riddles was pursued by compilers as a strategy intended to optimize the dida…