The neck riddle is a riddle where the riddler (typically a hero in a folk tale) gains something with the help of an unsolvable riddle. Verlyn Flieger (citing Williamson,[1]Archer Taylor and Hilda Ellis Davidson) defines neck riddles as "questions that are unanswerable except by the asker, who thus saves his neck by the riddle, for the judge or executioner has promised release in exchange for a riddle that cannot be guessed".[2]
The name comes from the folk tales of type "Out-riddling the judge" (Aarne–Thompson classification system for folk tales #927), when the hero "saves his neck" (that is, avoids being sentenced to a death by hanging) after outwitting a judge with riddles.[3][4]
are not riddles but reportings of riddling situations in a dramatic context. They function in contexts of this sort not as riddles, but as devices which heighten dramatic tension and lead to a satisfying dramatic resolution. The answers cannot be decipherable to the audience because if they could be figured out, the narrative movement would be destroyed. But this is not true of most riddles which are descriptive and create a poetic image. [...] The neck-saving story commonly involves a confrontation with death by the protagonist. The story turns on how to convert Death into Life; and the theme of the riddles in nearly all cases turns on descriptions of oblique situations in which Life emerges phoenix-like from Death.[5]: 185–86
Further readingedit
F. J. Norton, "The Prisoner Who Saved His Neck with a Riddle", Folklore, 52 (1942), 27-57 (a survey of this type of story)
Referencesedit
^Craig Williamson (trans), A Feast of Creatures: Anglo-Saxon Riddle-Songs (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1982).
^'Bilbo's neck riddle', in Green Suns and Faerie: Essays on J.R.R. Tolkien, 2012, ISBN978-1-60635-094-2.
^Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Beliefs, Customs, Tales, Music, and Art, Volume 1, edited by Thomas A. Green, p. 587
^Dorst, John D. (Oct–Dec 1983). "Neck-Riddle as a Dialogue off Genres: Applying Bakhtin's Genre Theory". Journal of American Folklore. 96 (382): 413–433. JSTOR 540982.
^Abrahams, Roger D. “The Literary Study of the Riddle.” Texas Studies in Literature and Language 14 (1972): 177–97.
April 10, 2024
neck, riddle, neck, riddle, riddle, where, riddler, typically, hero, folk, tale, gains, something, with, help, unsolvable, riddle, verlyn, flieger, citing, williamson, archer, taylor, hilda, ellis, davidson, defines, neck, riddles, questions, that, unanswerabl. The neck riddle is a riddle where the riddler typically a hero in a folk tale gains something with the help of an unsolvable riddle Verlyn Flieger citing Williamson 1 Archer Taylor and Hilda Ellis Davidson defines neck riddles as questions that are unanswerable except by the asker who thus saves his neck by the riddle for the judge or executioner has promised release in exchange for a riddle that cannot be guessed 2 The name comes from the folk tales of type Out riddling the judge Aarne Thompson classification system for folk tales 927 when the hero saves his neck that is avoids being sentenced to a death by hanging after outwitting a judge with riddles 3 4 Contents 1 Examples 2 Literary function 3 Further reading 4 ReferencesExamples editNeck riddles include Bilbo Baggins s final riddle to Gollum in The Hobbit What have I got in my pocket and odinn s final riddles to Vafthrudnir in the Old Norse poem Vafthrudnismal and to King Heidrekr in the Gatur Gestumblinda in Heidreks saga What did odinn whisper in Baldr s ear before Baldr was cremated Literary function editIn the assessment of Roger D Abrahams neck riddles are not riddles but reportings of riddling situations in a dramatic context They function in contexts of this sort not as riddles but as devices which heighten dramatic tension and lead to a satisfying dramatic resolution The answers cannot be decipherable to the audience because if they could be figured out the narrative movement would be destroyed But this is not true of most riddles which are descriptive and create a poetic image The neck saving story commonly involves a confrontation with death by the protagonist The story turns on how to convert Death into Life and the theme of the riddles in nearly all cases turns on descriptions of oblique situations in which Life emerges phoenix like from Death 5 185 86 Further reading editF J Norton The Prisoner Who Saved His Neck with a Riddle Folklore 52 1942 27 57 a survey of this type of story References edit Craig Williamson trans A Feast of Creatures Anglo Saxon Riddle Songs Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press 1982 Bilbo s neck riddle in Green Suns and Faerie Essays on J R R Tolkien 2012 ISBN 978 1 60635 094 2 Folklore An Encyclopedia of Beliefs Customs Tales Music and Art Volume 1 edited by Thomas A Green p 587 Dorst John D Oct Dec 1983 Neck Riddle as a Dialogue off Genres Applying Bakhtin s Genre Theory Journal of American Folklore 96 382 413 433 JSTOR 540982 Abrahams Roger D The Literary Study of the Riddle Texas Studies in Literature and Language 14 1972 177 97 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neck riddle amp oldid 1181974939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
