Metaphorical riddles.
Tests. · Tests of cleverness. · Riddles. · Metaphorical riddles. · view the constellation · filed as H720
Motif
Filed across the traditions
- Jewish *Neuman.
Within the index
19 finer motifs beneath it
Riddle of the year Riddle of the day and night. (Cf. H721.1, H721.2, H721.4.) Riddle of the course of the sun Riddle: who are the real travellers? The son and the moon Riddle of king and courtiers Riddle: what is the mother who devours her children when they grow up? (Ocean and rivers.) Riddle white field, black seed. (Paper with writing.) Riddle: two legs, three legs, four legs. (Man, three-legged stool dog.) Riddle: four hang, four walk, two show the road, one wags behind. (Cow's teats, feet, eyes, tail.) (Other answers: cat, dog, horse, hog, etc.) Riddle: six legs, four ears, two faces, etc. (Horse and rider.) Riddle: bill white, horns on feet, knob on head (cock) Riddle: who of fourfold beard is he, of azure foot and neck so ruddy? Arrow Riddle of the Sphinx: what is it that goes on four legs in the morning, on two at midday, and on three in the evening. (Man, who crawls as a child, walks in middle life, and walks with a stick in old age.) Riddle: what is the creature that is of all countries, that is loved by all the world, and that has no equal? (The sun.) Riddle: the father not yet born, the son already at the top of the house. (Flame and smoke.) Riddle: bird without feathers flies on tree without leaves. (Snow falls on bare tree.) From wooden spring iron bucket makes stones from which water flows. (Metal stick picks stone from eye. If you rub lids with it, tears come.) Allegorical riddles What house gives no hostages, cannot be burned, and cannot be harried? (The fairy stronghold [sídh] of brugh na Boinne.)
ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “metaphorical” · wander