The Structural Design and Artistic Formation of Folk Riddles

Folk literature flows through the lives of individuals in a community, spoken on their tongues, reflected in their behaviors and actions, and plays a vital role in the life of nations and peoples. It expresses their realities and records events, portraying their dreams, customs, and traditions. Forms of folk expression have varied and multiplied, including poetry, stories, proverbs, folk songs, myths, epics, and riddles. Among these, riddles have long fascinated people; they infused them with their knowledge and culture and turned to them during leisure and social gatherings. It's important to note that riddles have purpose, structure, and objectives, in addition to their remarkable artistic qualities that make them a subject of study for researchers. But what is a riddle? How is it structured? And what are its most notable artistic characteristics?