A riddle is a statement or question or phrase having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved. Riddles are of two types: enigmas, which are problems generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that require ingenuity and careful thinking for their solution, and conundrum, which are questions relying for their effects on punning in either the question or the answer.1
One of the oldest known riddles was written in ancient Greece by Sophocles. In his play, Oedipus Rex. The king solves the riddle of the Sphinx and hence saves himself from been eaten by the monster. The riddle was:
Q: "Which creature walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?"
A: A man
Have you heard of
The Riddler? The DC Comic's character who first appeared in the
Batman series?
The Riddler is typically portrayed as a smooth-talking yet quirky character, motivated by a neurotic compulsion to commit crimes based on riddles and puzzles. He delights in forewarning both Batman and the police of his capers by sending them complex clues. With this self-conscious use of a gimmick, Riddler's crimes are flamboyant and ostentatious.
One of his riddles went like this:
Q: "I have billions of eyes, yet I live in darkness. I have millions of ears, yet only four lobes. I have no muscle, yet I rule two hemispheres. What am I?"
A: The human brain
Here are some other riddles, can you solve them?
1) Brothers and sisters I have none but this man's father is my father's son.
Who is the man?
2) What is greater than God,
the poor have it,
more evil than the devil,
the rich need it,
and if you eat it, you'll die?
3) Who makes it, has no need of it.
Who buys it, has no use for it.
Who uses it can neither see nor feel it.
What is it?
4) What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?
Answers:
1) Answer to this riddle is simple - the man is my son.
2) Nothing
3) A coffin
4) A postage stamp
1.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddle
Passing Second in a Race
