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An Anglo-Saxon mystery

2010/02/01 by Walter Nash · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · #Ambiguity #Anglo saxon #Art #Classics #Computer science #History #Interpretation (philosophy) #Linguistics #Literature #Philosophy #Poetry #Psychology #Subject (documents) #Translation Studies and Practices #Value (mathematics)

paper · doi:10.1177/0963947009356721

openalex publication_date 2010/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21

Abstract

The Anglo-Saxon poem called Wulf and Eadwacer, a text so deeply embedded in ambiguity as to have achieved canonic status on that account alone, is the subject of this exercise, which reviews briefly the progress of interpretation from the late 19th century to the present time. It then considers methods of study, as orientated from the source-text, which begets translations, or, conversely from various translations leading back to the source. The pedagogic implications of ‘teaching a poem’ arise out of this discussion, which consequently questions the purpose and value of translation as an instructional and imaginative exercise.

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