History of riddles - BASIC

Origin and Meaning of the Riddle The word ‘riddle’ [blank_start]describes[blank_end] a sentence or question, that [blank_start]needs[blank_end] a concrete answer or [blank_start]presents[blank_end] a puzzle to be deciphered. There [blank_start]are[blank_end] two kinds of riddles. First there [blank_start]is[blank_end] the enigma – a metaphorically expressed riddle – and second there [blank_start]is[blank_end] a conundrum – a very tricky problem usually including a pun in its question or answer. A pun [blank_start]is[blank_end] a form of word play using the different possible meanings of a word or the similarities in the pronunciation. For example, a horse [blank_start]is[blank_end] a very stable animal.

The word ‘riddle’ [blank_start]has[blank_end] the same origin as the word ‘read’. It is [blank_start]an[blank_end] Old English word that means interpret or guess. The oldest preserved riddle is [blank_start]from[blank_end] ancient Mesopotamia. Another Sumerian riddle asks to name a certain institution, maybe you [blank_start]can[blank_end] guess: “There is a house. One enters it blind and comes out seeing. What is it?” Ancient and medieval literature is full of riddles. They [blank_start]were[blank_end] used to bring suspense to the text and to pass on cultural tradition. One example would be the double meanings in [blank_start]the[blank_end] words. In that sense, riddles also had an educational purpose, because [blank_start]they[blank_end] people had to understand the many meanings a single word [blank_start]can[blank_end] have in any situation.

Types of Riddles The riddle survived the test of time and is still a popular medium for spending free [blank_start]time[blank_end] or improving mental abilities. Nowadays [blank_start]there are[blank_end] many kinds of word- or letter-based riddles [blank_start]next[blank_end] to the poetic ones. Here's a short collection: - Riddles as Poems or Prose: [blank_start]these[blank_end] riddles are small texts set in poetry or prose. - Anagrams are a small kind of riddle. [blank_start]They[blank_end] usually consist of one word, but can also be extended to sentences. [blank_start]Their[blank_end] letters can be reordered to form another word or sentence. - Crosswords: a [blank_start]very[blank_end] young type of riddle is the crossword, where questions and answers are arranged in grids. The answer words cross each other, which is how it got [blank_start]its[blank_end] name. The first modern crossword puzzle was produced by Arthur Wynne in the New York World [blank_start]in[blank_end] 1913. Of course there are [blank_start]many[blank_end] other types of riddles nowadays.