Riddles: Frustrating or Fun

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RiddlesFrustrating or Fun?
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Riddles--Definitions

• Riddles are traditional questions with unexpected
  (but traditional) answers.
• True riddles-are comparisons between the unstated
  answer and something else that is described in
  the question.
• (e.g. London Bridge and Jenny)

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Definitions (cont )

• Neck Riddles-are specialized true riddles that
  refer to prisoners posing a question (or riddle)
  to save their neck. The prisoner usually bases
  the riddle upon a scene that only he has seen and
  can identify from the given description. (e.g.
  Samsons riddle in Judges 1414)
• Pretended obscene riddle-a specialized true
  riddle in which the description suggests
  something risqué, usually sexual, but the answer
  is usually nothing of the sort.

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Definitions (cont )

• Riddling Question (also know as a clever
  question)-is a type of non-predictable riddle. A
  question is asked and the answer is usually so
  obvious that the listener does not even consider
  that an option.
• Conundrum-is a type of non-predictable riddle
  that is usually based on punning or word play.
  Listeners often dont get the answer because
  they focus on only one meaning of a certain word
  within the riddle definition.

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Definitions (cont )

• Puzzles and Problems-can also be considered a
  subtype of riddles. They often involve
  mathematical, biblical, or practical knowledge.
  (e.g. spokes and spaces in a wheel)
• Jokes-some jokes can also be considered riddles.
  These include the knock-knock jokes and other
  questioning jokes. (e.g. ethnic jokes).
• Initialisms-these are re-uses of acronyms with a
  different meaning than what is intended.

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Classification of True Riddles

• True Riddles can be divided into two (to six)
  parts Descriptions and Blocks (Archer Taylor
  created the scheme).
• True Riddles can be classified using seven
  categories
• I. Comparison to a Living Creature
• II. Comparisons to an Animal
• III. Comparisons to Several Animals
• IV. Comparisons to a Person
• V. Comparisons to Several Persons
• VI. Comparisons to Plants
• VII. Comparisons to Things.