Inquiries and Observations

Anglo Saxon Riddle One
A wonderful warrior exists on earth.
Two dumb creatures make him grow bright between them.
Enemies use him against one another.
His strength is fierce but a woman can tame him.
He will meekly serve both men and women
If they know the trick of looking after him
And feeding him properly.
He makes people happy.
He makes their lives better.
But if they let him grow proud
This ungrateful friend soon turns against them.
First Anglo Saxon Answer

Anglo Saxon Riddle Two
When I am alive I do not speak.
Anyone who wants to takes me captive and cuts off my head.
They bite my bare body
I do no harm to anyone unless they cut me first.
Then I soon make them cry.
Second Anglo Saxon Answer

Anglo Saxon Riddle Three
My home is not quiet but I am not loud.
The lord has meant us to journey together.
I am faster than he and sometimes stronger,
But he keeps on going for longer.
Sometimes I rest but he runs on.
For as long as I am alive I live in him.
If we part from one another
It is I who will die.
Third Anglo Saxon Answer

Anglo Saxon Riddle Four
I am all on my own,
Wounded by iron weapons and scarred by swords.
I often see battle.
I am tired of fighting.
I do not expect to be allowed to retire from warfare
Before I am completely done for.
At the wall of the city, I am knocked about
And bitten again and again.
Hard edged things made by the blacksmith's hammer attack me.
Each time I wait for something worse.
I have never been able to find a doctor who could make me better
Or give me medicine made from herbs.
Instead the sword gashes all over me grow bigger day and night.
Fourth Anglo Saxon Answer

Anglo Saxon Riddle Five (bird)
I was abandoned by my mother and father.
I wasn't yet breathing.
A kind woman covered me with clothes,
Kept me and looked after me,
Cuddled me as close as if I had been her own child.
Under that covering I grew and grew.
I was unkind to my adopted brothers and sisters.
This lovely woman fed me
Until I was big enough to set out on my own.
She had fewer of her own dear sons and daughters because she did so.
Fifth Anglo Saxon Answer

Modern Riddle One
Through a sea of green and islands of brown, leaving a crystal path behind, safe inside a spiral cave, preparing to come out again. What animal am I?
First Modern Answer

Modern Riddle Two
What room do ghosts avoid?
Second Modern Answer

Modern Riddle Three
This object can be driven, but has no wheels, and can also be sliced and remain whole. What is it?
Third Modern Answer

Modern Riddle Four
From dawn to dusk I soar through the sky, A thunderous voice, but silent I fly. Through the darkest depths I will not die, Yet I can not be seen by the naked eye. What am I?
Fourth Modern Answer

Modern Riddle Five
I welcome the day with a show of light, I steathily came here in the night. I bathe the earthy stuff at dawn, But by the noon, alas! I'm gone. What am I?
Fifth Modern Answer

Modern Riddle Six
You walk into your house you see three doors you've never seen before. One vampire bat that will suck your blood. Two zombies that will eat your brain. Three a lion that hasn't eaten for over six months. Which one do you go through?
Sixth Modern Answer

Modern Riddle Seven
I'm teary-eyed but never cry, silver-tongued, but never lie. double-winged, but never fly, air-cooled, but never dry. What am I?
Seventh Modern Answer

Modern Riddle Eight
One-fourth of the population of a newly discovered planet has 4 legs. The rest have two legs. There are 60 legs in total. How big is the population of the newly discovered planet?
Eight Modern Answer

Modern Riddle Nine
Double my number, I'm less than a score, and half of my number is less than four. Add one to my double when bakers are near, days of the week are still greater, I fear. What am I?
Ninth Modern Answer

Modern Riddle Ten
Upside-down or on its side, this merry-go-round Is quite a ride. In the summer heat, It is quite a treat with blades so dull, that they will not slice. It spins too fast, for your sight. What is this ride?
Tenth Modern Answer

First Emma Charade
My first doth affliction denote
Which my second is destin'd to feel.
And my whole is the best antidote
That affliction to soften and heal.
First Emma Answer

Second Emma Charade
My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings,
Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease.
Another view of man, my second brings,
Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!
But ah! united, what reverse we have!
Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown;
Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave,
And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone.
Thy ready wit the word will soon supply,
May its approval beam in that soft eye!
Second Emma Answer

Emma Riddle
Kitty, a fair, but frozen maid,
Kindled a flame I still deplore;
The hood-wink'd boy I call'd in aid,
Much of his near approach afraid,
So fatal to my suit before.
At length, propitious to my pray'r,
The little urchin came;
At once he sought the midway air,
And soon he clear'd, with dextrous care,
The bitter relicks of my flame.
To Kitty, Fanny now succeeds,
She kindles slow, but lasting fires:
With care my appetite she feeds;
Each day some willing victim bleeds
To satisfy my strange desires.
Say, by what title, or what name,
Must I this youth address?
Cupid and he are not the same,
Tho' both can raise, or quench a flame --
I'll kiss you, if you guess.
Third Emma Answer

Gollum Riddle One
What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?
Hobbit Answer One

Bilbo Riddle Two
Thirty white horses on a red hill,
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still.
Hobbit Answer Two

Gollum Riddle Three
Voiceless it cries,
Wingless flutters,
Toothless bites,
Mouthless mutters.
Hobbit Answer Three

Bilbo Riddle Four
A box without hinges, key, or lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid.
Hobbit Answer Four

Gollum Riddle Five
It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.
Hobbit Answer Five

Bilbo Riddle Six
An eye in a blue face
Saw an eye in a green face.
"That eye is like to this eye"
Said the first eye,
"But in low place,
Not in high place."
Hobbit Answer Six

Gollum Riddle Seven
Alive without breath,
As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking.
Hobbit Answer Seven

Bilbo Riddle Eight
No-legs lay on one-leg,
two-legs sat near on three-legs,
four-legs got some.
Hobbit Answer eight

Gollum Riddle Nine
This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.
Hobbit Answer Nine