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Research draft

riddle

vr.tr.riddle · INF.MED

Let an agent explain riddles and their kinds, relay traditions, structure and study from folklore and literary sources, describe games and uses, and distinguish riddles from puzzles, jokes, proverbs and mysteries.

Thing Registry Information and virtual systems

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent explain riddles and their kinds, relay traditions, structure and study from folklore and literary sources, describe games and uses, and distinguish riddles from puzzles, jokes, proverbs and mysteries.

A statement, question or phrase with a hidden meaning to be guessed, one of the oldest verbal art forms found in nearly every culture, from enigmas and conundrums in Hebrew and Malay traditions and the Petorke of Ukrainian folk tradition to charades acted out, situation puzzles solved by yes-or-no questions and riddle jokes with punning answers; riddles appear in folklore, scripture, literature and games and are studied by folklorists and linguists.

What it is for: Entertainment, teaching and verbal play.

It can be explain kinds and structure; relay traditions and study; describe games and uses; distinguish related forms.

Distinguishing features

Hidden answer

Metaphor and ambiguity

Universal form

Oral and literary

What it looks like

Not a visible object; a verbal puzzle.

Physical character

oldest recorded: Sumerian note - about 4000 years ago

Aarne-Thompson: riddle tales type 851 note

How it is recognised

Verbal puzzle with a hidden answer

Enigmas, conundrums, Hebrew riddles, Malay riddles, Petorke, charades, situation puzzles, riddle jokes

A puzzle may be non-verbal; a joke need not be guessed; a proverb states wisdom

Related models

is a kind of - in registry terms

puzzle

is a kind of - in registry terms

word game

is studied in - as verbal art

folklore studies

is contrasted with - which need not be solved

joke

In practice

Families and kinds

true riddles or enigmas describing an object metaphorically

conundrums and riddle jokes based on puns

charades and acted riddles

situation puzzles

riddles in Hebrew, Malay, Ukrainian and other traditions such as Petorke

riddles in literature and scripture

Standards and regulation

No regulation

Failure modes and hazards

Confusing riddles with puzzles or jokes

Loss of context in translation

Registry aliases naming national traditions and subtypes

Also called

Hebrew riddlePetorkeMalay riddlecharadesituation puzzleriddle jokeArabic riddleFinnic riddlesGreek riddlesPersian riddleslantern riddleAnglo-Saxon riddleswriting-riddlerebusSouth Asian riddlesTelephone Puzzle

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Source repository Registry entry point

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Understand What a riddle is.

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

  1. What is a riddle, and how does it differ from puzzles, jokes and proverbs? definition
  2. Is the question about riddles in general, a kind, a tradition or a specific riddle? boundary

Kinds

Kinds.

Kinds

Kinds.

  1. What are enigmas, conundrums, charades, situation puzzles and riddle jokes? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific kind? action
Traditions Traditions.

Sources.

Cultures

Cultural traditions.

Cultures

Cultures.

  1. How do Hebrew, Malay, Ukrainian and other traditions such as Petorke use riddles? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

Literature

Literature and scripture.

Literature

Literature.

  1. How do riddles appear in scripture, epic, Anglo-Saxon poetry and modern fiction? provenance
  2. Which sources are cited? provenance
Play Playing and using.

Practice.

Games

Games.

Games

Games.

  1. How are riddle games and situation puzzles played? action
  2. Which entry fits parlour game? action

Education

Education.

Education

Education.

  1. How are riddles used in teaching language and thinking? provenance
  2. Which entry fits language teaching? action
Context Study and history.

Context.

Study

Scholarship.

Study

Study.

  1. How do folklorists and linguists analyse riddle structure and function, with positions attributed? provenance
  2. Which entry fits folkloristics? action

History

History.

History

History.

  1. How have riddles been recorded from Sumer to riddle collections and the internet? provenance
  2. Which entry fits the history of riddles? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should charade and situation puzzle be separate entries?
  • How should folklore sources be linked?
  • The registry entry has merged aliases naming traditions and subtypes; should they be split off?
Draft as JSON