Riddles

Riddles are the oldest guessing game in the world.

Can you work out the riddle on the next slide?

I need a stick,

But am carried everywhere.

I’m always cold,

But don’t need clothes.

I come in different shapes,

Sizes and colours

And children love me.

What am I?

An ice-lolly

Riddles try to create an image in your mind.

Often the answer pretends to be alive.

What is it called when an object is given human qualities?

It is called PERSONIFICATION.

Look at the next example.

Three eyes have I,

All in a row;

When the red one opens,

All freeze.

What am I?

The answer is pretending to be alive.

The answer says it has eyes.

A traffic light.

Riddles often contain metaphors.

What is a metaphor?

A METAPHOR is when we say one thing IS something that it isn’t.

Rhodri’s car was a heap of old junk.

Catrin cried so much that a river flowed down her cheeks.

In the traffic light riddle, “everything freezes” is a metaphor for the traffic stopping.

I am a box without hinges,

Key, or lid,

Yet golden treasure

Inside is hid.

What am I?

An egg.

I am a box without hinges,

Key, or lid,

Yet golden treasure

Inside is hid.

What am I?

The egg is not really a “box”. This is a metaphor.

There isn’t really “golden treasure”, but the yolk of the egg. This is a metaphor.

Let’s write a riddle about a coin.

We’ll use a spider diagram to help us think of our ideas.

COIN

It’s got a shiny covering.

It’s got a picture of the queen on it.

It’s often found in a purse, wallet or a pocket.

Idea Metaphor

It’s got a shiny covering.

I wear a shiny coat

It’s got a picture of the queen on it.

I am friendly with the Queen

It’s often found in a purse or a pocket.

My home is in a pocket,

A purse or a wallet

I have many sides.

I wear a shiny coat

And I am friendly with the Queen.

My home is in a pocket,

A purse or a wallet,

But I may be found elsewhere.

What am I?

A coin.

Now it’s your turn.

You will be working in groups.

You will be given an object to write about.

Draw a spider diagram showing your ideas about the object.

Use metaphors to compare the object with other things.

Write your riddle.

Diagram

Object

Idea Idea

Idea

Metaphor

Metaphor

Metaphor

When you have your metaphors, you can write your poem.

Now, on your own, write at least two riddles.

Use a spider diagram to list your ideas for each riddle.

Use your ideas to write metaphors.

Write your riddle.

You could write about other objects, or you could try animals, insects or vehicles.

What have we learnt?

Questions

1. What do riddles try to create in your mind?

2. What is it called when an object is given human qualities?

3. What do we call it when we say one thing is said to be something that it isn’t.

Answers

1. Images.

2. Personification.

3. Metaphor.