Sunday, July 31, 2011

Ten of the best riddles in literature

At the Guardian, John Mullan named ten of the best riddles in literature.

One entry on the list:
The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien

Bilbo has to defeat Gollum in a riddle competition if he is to escape from the tunnel under the Misty Mountains. Here is his first one. "Thirty white horses on a red hill, / First they champ, / Then they stamp, / Then they stand still." Answer: teeth. Gollum's reply? "Voiceless it cries, / Wingless flutters, / Toothless bites, / Mouthless mutters." Easy.
Read about the other entries on the list.

The Hobbit is a book Niall Ferguson hopes parents will read to their kids.

--Marshal Zeringue

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