Search

The author proposes "plough team" as the solution for Riddle 4 in the Exeter Book. It reveals that the new solution depicts a yoke of oxen tied to a wheeled plough and that the ox is the speaker of poem. It notes that the poem focuses on the situation of the ox described by words and phrases such as bound to rings, plough, and wheel. It cites the figurative function of hlaford to represent ploughman as well as its relationship with a boy, who stands near the oxen to goad them on ploughing. It notes the division of lines 4-8 into three short sentences to describe the problems of the ox and on the interpretation of the broken plough. A number of Old English words are translated in support of this solution.