Riddles and Humour
Riddles and Humour
Author(s): Annikki Kaivola-BregenhøjSubject(s): Customs / Folklore, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Culture and social structure
Published by: Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum
Keywords: humour; Hymylä; joking question; laughter; performance; riddle; riddling; sexual riddle; situation; true riddle;
Summary/Abstract: Why do riddles amuse their users and listeners? A riddle exists in a performance context in which all the participants want to enjoy the game. The situation simultaneously involves both entertainment and humiliation, because riddles are intended to mislead the listener: “right” answers are often “wrong”. In the Finnish folk tradition, the unsuccessful riddlee could be sent to Hymylä, which was a fictitious topsy-turvy world. It was frightening and humiliating for the riddlee to be sent there. Riddling demands that the riddlee learns to tolerate being laughed at.
Journal: Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore
- Issue Year: 2017
- Issue No: 69
- Page Range: 195-210
- Page Count: 16
- Language: English