riddle poems step by step

Riddle PoemsStep By Step

Thursday, January 6, 2011

From hand to hand about the hall I go,Much do lords and ladies love to kiss me;

When I hold myself high, And the whole throng bows before me,

Their blessedness shall flourish skyward,Beneath my fostering shade.

A riddle we can imagine told in Crispin’s time...


A crucifix or cross


A box without hinges, key or lid,Yet golden treasure inside is hid.


An egg.


Many cultures have riddle-poem traditions: the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and the Teutons. These

peoples of the Dark Ages entertained each other with riddles for more that 500 years.


Riddle-poems are a lot of fun to make!

Here are the steps to making your own riddle poems.


1. Choose an answer

In other words work backwards!

Choose a concrete, general answer... like a rainbow or lion.


2. Brainstorm!

What do you know about your answer?

Write down everything that comes to mind!

Fill the page with words and phrases.


3. Use a thesaurus

Choose three (3) words from your brainstorm list

Look them up in a thesaurus

Write down interesting new synonyms!


4. Think like the object

Try describing the world from you answer’s point of view

What do you see? hear? smell? feel?

What do you do? What do you like?


5. Use figurative language

Metaphor: A figure of speech stating two things are similar.

Simile: A comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’.

Onomatopoeia: Words whose sound suggest its meaning.


6. Put it together and write your riddle!


Here are some examples


A hoard of rings am I, But no fit gift for a bride,

I await a sword’s kiss.


A suit of chain-mail.


I drink the blood of the Earth,And the trees fear my roar,

Yet a man may hold me in his hands.


A chain saw.


Thousands lay up gold within this house, but no man made it.

Spears past counting guard this house, but no man wards it.


A beehive.


Now you try!


1. Choose an answer.Remember to choose a concrete, general answer.

2. Brainstorm about your answer.Write down everything that comes to mind about the answer that you’ve chosen. Tryto fill the entire space below with words and phrases that you associate with theanswer to your riddle.

3. Use a thesaurus.Choose three (3) important words from your brainstorming list above, and your answer and lookthem up in a thesaurus. Look for surprising and new synonyms. Note promising words andphrases that you find below.

4. Think like the object.Try describing the world from your answer’s point of view. What do you see? whatdo you hear? What do you smell and feel? What do you do? What do you like?

5. Use figurative language.Try filling out some of the following figures of speech for your answer.Metaphor: A figure of speech stating two things are similar.Example: “I am a passport to adventure.” (Answer: A book)Simile: A comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as.’Example: “I reflect like a mirror.” (Answer: water)Onomatopoeia: Words whose sound suggests its meaning.Example: “We buzz, buzz, buzz.” (Answer: bees)

6. Put it together and write your riddle:

Answer:

Write Your Own Riddle: Step By Step


riddle poems step by step

Documents

general answer

important words

riddle poemsstep

riddlepoem traditions

promising words andphrases

figure of speech

brainstorm list

following figures of