Storytelling for Week 12: The Riddles

All I wanted was to have a nice, normal day with nothing crazy happening. Silly me. Why did I believe that it was even possible?

It all started this morning. The sun was shining with a gentle warmth and birds chirped cheerfully along my route to school. Instead of driving to campus, I figured a walk would be a great way to start off my day. I had made my special coffee and had a healthy breakfast. Nothing was going to stop me today.

I blissfully strolled by trees that daintily dropped beautiful leaves on the ground. A squirrel chirruped a good morning as he scurried past me. I just loved these moments where all was right with the world and all my cares slipped away.

Autumn

I came to the bridge that transversed the gap over a bubbling stream. I was just about to set my foot on the gracefully worn wooden bridge, when all of the sweet birds suddenly

ended their songs.

The sun ducked behind a cloud like it was fearful of what was about to happen. Wind started a low, haunting whistle through the tree branches. The trees that had seemed fully decked out in autumn glory moments before now seemed to be ominous reminders of the coming dead of winter.

A voice arose from underneath the bridge. It sounded empty and eerie. "Who are you and why are you daring to walk across my bridge?" said the voice.

I was so confused and terrified at the same time. The shudden shift in mood had chilled me to my bones in anticipation of the unknown.

"I am just a college student trying to get to class. Is that okay? Do I need to go a different way?"

The voice laughed a deep, creepy laugh. "I am the goblin that guards this bridge. I do not know if I should let you go across."

Are you kidding me? Goblins are not real. They certainly do not guard bridges. That was just the stuff of stories. I guess, though, something was under the bridge. I decided to go along with ... well, whatever was happening.

"I am sorry. I crossed this bridge last week and I do not remember you being here."

"Ridiculous human! I just moved here."

"Okay, umm. Is there any possible way that I can get across? I do have to get to class."

"Well, I suppose. Education is important. Okay, I am feeling generous today. You can cross if, and only if, you guess my riddle!"

I had to get to class. So, I guess there was just one thing I could do.

"Okay, Goblin, bring it on."

TO BE CONTINUED ...

Author's Note: Ryder's Twenty-Two Goblins is about a king trying to capture a goblin who lives in a corpse. As the king totes the corpse and goblin towards his castle, the goblin tells riddles to pass the time. The king is very quick and correctly guesses the riddles. He avoids the curses of the goblin. However, the goblin always escapes at the end of the riddle, but the king is persistent and keeps going back for the corpse-inhabiting goblin. I knew that I definitely wanted to recreate a story with my own version of the riddles. I was trying to re-imagine this story in a way that any reader could imagine it in a context relative to them. The original story can be found by reading Arthur William Ryder's Twenty-two Goblins (2000).

Reading Diary B [Ryder's Twenty-Two Goblins]

I read from Ryder's Twenty-Two Goblins.

I am starting to become very curious as to how dedicated the king is to capturing this goblin. Because the goblin has escaped his grasp eight times, but the king keeps going back for the goblin. You would think the king would become very frustrated with the fact that he has to keep going back for this creature. It makes me wonder if there is some important connection in this observation to the end of the story when we find out what finally happens to the king.

These riddles are very interesting. I still think that I am guessing the correct thing and then it turns out the answer was much different. It is okay. It is providing my daily mental exercise! I wish I could read the original translation because it would be interesting to see if there is a specific way that language was used to communicate more of the riddle.

Lord of the Rings: Bilbo and Gollum Guess Riddles

Reading Diary A [Ryder's Twenty-Two Goblins]

I read Ryder's Twenty-Two Goblins.

This was hilarious! Also, it was very interesting to read kind of a different version of an Indian epic. It was very curious to read about goblins going to live in a corpse.

For those who have not read it, a goblin has gone to live in a corpse. A king comes along and is trying to take it back to his castle with him. While they ride, the goblin tells the king a story that ends in a riddle.

I have only read the first three stories, but I have not been able to guess any of the riddles before I read the king's response. He certainly has a quick mind with how he is able to guess all of the riddles. I am starting to feel like it is a challenge to guess the riddle before I get to the end of the story.

Example of a Goblin