`Frige hwaet ic hatte': `The Wife's Lament' as riddle.

An essay is presented which interprets the genre of the Old English poem known as "The Wife's Lament." Noting that it is traditionally considered an elegy, the author instead suggests that it is a riddle poem that reveals cultural details. Particular attention is given to Riddle 69, which the author states reveals the importance of swords in the society of the poem's era.