1245: "A Simple Riddle 11"

Interesting Things with JC #1245: "A Simple Riddle 11" – It sounds obvious. It isn’t. This one-line riddle hides its real trick behind what you think you already know. Can you catch what others miss?

1245: "A Simple Riddle 11"

JC

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• Classroom Ready Curriculum

  Episode Anchor

  Episode Title: A Simple Riddle 11

  Episode Number: #1245

  Host: JC

  Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners

  Subject Area: English Language Arts, Rhetoric, Logic, Critical Thinking, Literary Devices

  Lesson Overview

  Students will:

  • Define the literary and rhetorical devices used in riddle construction.

  • Compare surface-level and deeper meanings within poetic riddles.

  • Analyze how ambiguity, metaphor, and misdirection contribute to the riddle's challenge.

  • Explain the logical reasoning behind the riddle's solution.

  Key Vocabulary

  • Riddle (/ˈrɪdəl/) — A puzzle or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in solving. “The riddle seems simple, but its language is deceptive.”

  • Metaphor (/ˈmɛtəˌfɔr/) — A figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were another. “Darkness is a metaphor for the unknown in the riddle.”

  • Ambiguity (/ˌæmbɪˈɡjuːəti/) — A word or phrase with more than one meaning. “The riddle relies on ambiguity to obscure its answer.”

  • Inference (/ˈɪnfərəns/) — A conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning. “You need to make an inference about what lies behind stars.”

  • Personification (/pərˌsɒnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/) — Attributing human qualities to non-human things. “Darkness is personified as a force that ‘kills laughter.’”

  Narrative Core (Based on the PSF)

  • Open: The riddle is posed in a mysterious, poetic tone designed to provoke curiosity.

  • Info: The clues suggest sensory absence—what can’t be seen, heard, or felt—guiding listeners toward abstract concepts.

  • Details: The twist is the reversal of assumptions; listeners may expect a physical object but must consider symbolic meanings.

  • Reflection: The riddle reflects on darkness not just as physical absence of light but as an existential or emotional void.

  • Closing: "These are interesting things, with JC."

  Transcript

  For full Transcript See below

  Student Worksheet

  1. What are the five senses mentioned in the riddle?

  2. Identify two lines in the riddle that suggest a metaphorical rather than literal meaning.

  3. Why might “dark” be considered both a physical and symbolic answer?

  4. How does the line “It ends life and kills laughter” guide the interpretation?

  5. Write your own one-line riddle using ambiguity or metaphor.

  Teacher Guide

  Estimated Time: 40–50 minutes

  Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy:

  • Use word maps for terms like “riddle,” “metaphor,” and “ambiguity.”

  • Practice distinguishing metaphor from simile with short examples.

  Anticipated Misconceptions:

  • Students may try to identify a tangible object.

  • Literal interpretations may limit deeper analysis.

  • The poetic structure may distract from critical clues.

  Discussion Prompts:

  • What does darkness symbolize in literature and culture?

  • Why do riddles use poetic structure instead of direct questions?

  • How do our assumptions interfere with solving riddles?

  Differentiation Strategies:

  • ESL: Provide audio of the riddle and translated vocabulary cards.

  • IEP: Break down lines of the riddle and use visual aids (e.g., sensory charts).

  • Gifted: Encourage students to write original riddles or analyze riddles from Tolkien or folklore.

  Extension Activities:

  • Explore riddles in world mythology (e.g., the Sphinx's riddle).

  • Study how metaphors and riddles are used in advertising or politics.

  Cross-Curricular Connections:

  • English Literature: Poetic forms, metaphor, riddle traditions.

  • Philosophy: Symbolism, interpretation, and the problem of knowledge.

  • Psychology: Perception, inference, and cognitive bias.

  Quiz

  Q1. Which sense is NOT mentioned in the riddle?
  A. Sight
  B. Hearing
  C. Taste
  D. Smell
  Answer: C

  Q2. What literary device is most strongly used in the phrase “kills laughter”?
  A. Simile
  B. Personification
  C. Alliteration
  D. Hyperbole
  Answer: B

  Q3. The riddle’s solution relies most heavily on:
  A. Factual knowledge
  B. Wordplay and metaphor
  C. Math
  D. Scientific principles
  Answer: B

  Q4. What is filled by “it” in the line “And empty holes, it fills”?
  A. Sand
  B. Water
  C. Darkness
  D. Air
  Answer: C

  Q5. What genre does this riddle most resemble?
  A. News article
  B. Persuasive essay
  C. Poetic riddle
  D. Instruction manual
  Answer: C

  Assessment

  1. Explain how metaphor helps hide the answer in the riddle.
  2. Compare how the literal and figurative meanings of “dark” interact in this context.

  3–2–1 Rubric:

  • 3: Accurate, complete, and thoughtful interpretation with clear examples.

  • 2: Partial explanation or unclear examples.

  • 1: Inaccurate, vague, or off-topic response.

  Standards Alignment

  Common Core ELA:

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative meanings.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2 — Determine a theme or central idea and analyze its development.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1 — Cite strong textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly and implicitly.

  C3 Framework for Social Studies:

  • D2.CritThink.1.9-12 — Evaluate evidence and reasoning behind claims.

  • D2.Engage.9-12.2 — Analyze ideas and interpretations in cultural contexts.

  International Equivalents:

  • AQA GCSE English Language AO2 — Explain how language and structure contribute to meaning.

  • IB MYP Language and Literature Criterion B — Analyze the content, context, language, and style of texts.

  • Cambridge IGCSE English 0500: 3.1.4 — Demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers.

• Transcript

  It can’t be seen, can’t be felt, can’t be heard, and can’t be smelt.
  It lies behind stars, under hills.
  And empty holes, it fills.
  It comes first and follows after.
  It ends life and kills laughter.
  
  What is it?

• Show Notes

  This episode centers on a deceptively simple riddle that challenges listeners to move beyond the literal and think metaphorically. It introduces poetic ambiguity and figurative language in a way that hooks learners into critical thinking and interpretation. Educators can use this episode as a gateway into literary analysis, logic puzzles, and poetic devices—all while sharpening students’ interpretive and inferential reasoning.