The Literary Riddle Before 1600
The Literary Riddle Before 1600 by Archer Taylor, published by Fathom Publishing Company on April 9, 2018, is a scholarly exploration of the distinctions between popular folklore and literary forms of riddles. This edition, comprising 148 pages in English, delves into how literary figures have often imitated folk riddles, highlighting the unique characteristics that differentiate them from their popular counterparts. Taylor examines the structure and function of riddles, emphasizing how literary riddles typically feature a series of assertions and contradictions, often presented in a manner that invites the audience to engage with the text.
Readers will find a detailed analysis of the interplay between humor, form, and literary criticism within the context of riddles. The book discusses the rhetorical devices used in both folk and literary riddles, illustrating how these forms serve different purposes in storytelling and social commentary. By addressing subjects such as folklore and mythology, Taylor provides insights into the cultural significance of riddles and their evolution over time. This edition is a valuable resource for those interested in comparative literature and the social sciences, offering a comprehensive look at the literary riddle’s role in both historical and contemporary contexts.
Official synopsis Publisher
” In the study of folklore it is desirable to separate popular or folk materials and literary, learned, or artistic materials. Literary or learned men have often imitated or adapted the various kinds of folklore. Their imitations are rarely intended to deceive and can usually be recognized without difficulty. . . .
“Like the ballad and the tale, the riddle has popular and literary forms. A popular or folk riddle draws attention to the similarity between two wholly unrelated objects by a very simple rhetorical device. . . .
“The literary riddle ordinarily contains a long series of assertions and contradictions and is often put in the form of speech made by the object that is being described. In order to accumulate details enough to permit the listener to guess the answer, the riddler often sacrificed the unity of his conception. The first assumption assertion and its denial are almost certain to conflict with the next pair. Yet the author goes on and on, while his conception becomes more and more incoherent.”
Archer Taylor
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