Concept in Definition ABC

A riddle is called a riddle expressed in the form of a rhyme, generally aimed at a child audience. Like all riddles, the riddle presents an enigma to be solved, putting into play the intelligence of the questioned. They generally lack a Author known to whom to award them. They have a varied shape, although those of the octosyllabic meter tend to abound in Spanish,

There are riddles that have been recorded in Western culture in a distinctive way. A clear example of this are the riddles that the sphinx He throws Oedipus and that he manages to resolve According to the myth, Thebes was devastated by the work of the sphinx, who proposed the resolution riddles to cease his work; many showed up accepting, the challenge, being devoured by the monster when failing. However, Oedipus finally came forward to answer that the answer to the enigma about "the living being that he walks on all fours at dawn, two at noon and three at dusk ”was“ the man ”; As a consequence of this lucid trait, the sphinx decides to commit suicide.

Another conspicuous example of riddles recorded in Western culture can be offered by the opera "Turandot", by Giacomo Puccini.. In this, we are presented with three enigmas that must be solved to marry a Princess; all suitors fail and this failure she is penalized with death; Finally, a prince solves the riddles and acquires the right to marry the princess. Despite the prince's victory, the princess refuses to marry so the young man poses an enigma to rid her of the obligation to get married.

In the mass culture the riddle is also present sometimes. An example can be offered by the fictional character "the Riddler", Batman's enemy. He presents his misdeeds with riddles whose resolution means the possibility of predicting and avoiding them.