CHARACTERISTICS OF RIDDLES.

• Riddles are brief /Brevity.
• Riddles are Invariable. i.e. don’t change in meaning and structure.
• Riddles are Compact i.e. convey a great deal of information using few words.
• The aspect of informality/Riddles are informal
• Riddles are puzzles posed to be unraveled.
• Riddles require at least two people who test each other’s wits.
• Riddles involve allusions, symbols and images.
• Riddles normally have a specific formula.
• Most riddles are metaphors e.g.

         Mwarabu kava kilobit (Swahili)

         An Arab wearing a turban.

         Answer: kigunzi

                       A maize cob

          Here, the maize cob is presented as if it were an Arab. It also ascribes the cob to the aspect of being dressed hence making the reference a personification.

          Another image in riddles is apostrophe whereby an object that is absent is addressed as if it were present e.g.

          Muthungu kumerera (kikuyu)

          Whiteman crawl

Answer: ndogo

              Smoke

• Most riddles exist in balancing parts e.g.

Challenge: endi hano khandi endi yilia (Batsoso)

                   I am here and I am there

Response:  eshiinini

                  The shadow

 As can be seen, the first part “I am here” balances with “I am there”. This structural aspect of existing in balancing parts is called parallelism.