The amusement of playing a game of riddles seems to be an uncommon pastime these days. In fact the traditional way of playing riddle games seems all but lost now.
In olden times asking and answering riddles was an art and a riddle competition was no easy challenge requiring cunning and creative skill. One's ability to solve riddles was once used to measure one's intelligence.
Like many other Traditional human activities the tradition of riddles is present in just about every culture from ancient China to Old Norse Scandinavia. Medieval and ancient literature has many accounts of riddles and riddle games such as the book of Exeter, The Saga of Hervör and Heidrek and One Thousand and One Nights.
Why modern man has lost this tradition of riddle games is uncertain but in my opinion it is due to our love of "gadgets" and our emphasis on the superiority of science. Though many Moderns will be astounded at my stating, it is my opinion that knowing about the existence of an atom does not make you superior to medieval and ancient man. Those in our modern age who claim medieval humanity to be backward are themselves quite ignorant about what true intelligence is; the ability to memorize facts out of a science book is far inferior to the ability to create. One need only quickly compare Modern to Medieval society to determine which was more creative.
For Traditionalists the tradition of riddle games should be important to keep alive. There are many times when one may incorporate this game in our live i.e. car rides, while waiting for someone etc. The Traditional way to play it however is not memorizing a bunch of riddles to ask someone but rather to make up your own quickly while playing the game. This compels you to be creative and will be difficult at first but over time you will learn to quickly make creative word puzzles and even make wagers with your friends (warning: don't wager you life unless absolutely necessary)
Remember it is more traditional to make riddles about nature or non modern things but if you want to make a riddle about a modern thing like a t.v. or something try to encrypt it in archaic metaphorical language.
" You heard me before, yet you hear me again, then I die, 'till you call me again, What am I?"
answer: an echo
Why modern man has lost this tradition of riddle games is uncertain but in my opinion it is due to our love of "gadgets" and our emphasis on the superiority of science. Though many Moderns will be astounded at my stating, it is my opinion that knowing about the existence of an atom does not make you superior to medieval and ancient man. Those in our modern age who claim medieval humanity to be backward are themselves quite ignorant about what true intelligence is; the ability to memorize facts out of a science book is far inferior to the ability to create. One need only quickly compare Modern to Medieval society to determine which was more creative.
For Traditionalists the tradition of riddle games should be important to keep alive. There are many times when one may incorporate this game in our live i.e. car rides, while waiting for someone etc. The Traditional way to play it however is not memorizing a bunch of riddles to ask someone but rather to make up your own quickly while playing the game. This compels you to be creative and will be difficult at first but over time you will learn to quickly make creative word puzzles and even make wagers with your friends (warning: don't wager you life unless absolutely necessary)
Remember it is more traditional to make riddles about nature or non modern things but if you want to make a riddle about a modern thing like a t.v. or something try to encrypt it in archaic metaphorical language.
" You heard me before, yet you hear me again, then I die, 'till you call me again, What am I?"
answer: an echo
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