The riddle is a special kind of wit, which has always been given attention in society. This part of folklore was actively used for teaching, creating a certain mood and representations in people of different ages and positions. Russian folk-related puzzles appeared in textbooks, books, magazines, and newspapers, and also spread verbally.
The concept and features of the Russian folk riddle
As a rule, riddles are understood as an allegory in the form of a description of things or phenomena, given in interrogative form. The addition of "Russian folk" implies that it appeared and is used in the territories of Slavic countries or among the Russian-speaking population.
Many people, understanding the essence of this part of folklore, are not able to give it a clear definition, but they will certainly give one of the riddles they know as examples. Among the features of this phenomenon are:
- Sphere of distribution - all Slavic peoples and territories. Russian folk riddles, proverbs, sayings and jokes include folklore from all over the former Russian Empire (USSR). Moreover, there are riddles of Belarus, Mari, Volga, Siberian, etc.
- Lack of copyright. It is not possible to establish a specific puzzle creator. They simply appear in a certain period, become obsolete, disappear or are processed into more modern options. So collections of various puzzles are not written, but made up.
- Specific item. Folklore, especially intended for children, rarely uses abstract concepts like life, death, soul and morality, but focuses on specific concepts. For example, Russian folk puzzles about the air do not tell about this phenomenon, but about quite tangible clouds or smoke, that is, about things that everyone has seen and can recognize.
A place in folklore and free creativity
Russian folk riddles are one of the most significant and lively poetic genres in which worldview in society is possible. Even 60-70 years ago, they accounted for a significant part of youth leisure and the official authorities used them, including for propaganda.
The peak of the study of puzzles as part of folklore and compilation of collections fell on the 19th-20th centuries. In particular, in 1837, "Tales of the Russian people" and "Proverbs", compiled by a talented archaeologist and traveler I. P. Sakharov, were published. And in 1976 D.N. Sadovnikov released his "Mysteries of the Russian People". A collection of 2,504 items was subsequently reprinted several times.
A certain attention was paid to riddles in the USSR. In 1932, under the editorship of M. A. Rybnikova, the most complete collection was published, including folklore of various regions, the work of schoolchildren, and new “Soviet” notions.
- 2 plows. 2 turnips. In the middle of the factory. RSFSR.
- Not beets and not carrots, but a red head. Pioneer.
- Who with a voice, but without a voice. Lichen, that is, defeated in rights.
Subsequently, the serious work of M. A. Rybnikova became the source for the creation of developing children's books. Riddles from it can be found in many modern publications.
In the XXI century, the number of new puzzles has decreased markedly, but they themselves have become much more complicated and sometimes give cynical humor. The legacy of Soviet times is also widely used - in elementary school textbooks and developing literature for the youngest (3-6 years).
Outdated riddles. Forms
Like any part of the Russian language, folklore is characterized by renewal. First of all, Russian folk riddles about obsolete things are forgotten. For instance:
- I’ll plow a clean field. Black sheep catch up. Bread in the oven .
- There is a Troska on one leg, crumbling fire crumbs. Svetets - stand for a splinter.
- Black rider rides on the stove. Oven grip .
Technological progress struck out a lot from folklore, and there was nothing to fill the void. Today, in 80% of all known riddles, one way or another, outdated words and expressions are used - caftan, horde, millstone, king, etc. So far they are understood by people (and especially children) and remain part of the cultural tradition.
Common riddles have several verbal forms:
- Narrative with interrogative intonation. For example: "Four brothers are standing under one roof." Table.
- Poetry of different lengths - from 6 to 30-40 words. For example: "The house has grown in the field. The house is full of grain. The walls are gilded. The shutters are boarded up. The house walks with a shaker. On a gold pillar." Rye.
- Ongoing. This type is characterized by a smooth description of the thing, where each subsequent phrase is a continuation of the previous one. For example: “There are forks, and on the forks there is a barrel. On the barrel it waved. On the swing it yawned. Man.
It is worth noting that such Russian folk riddles are complex and often oversaturated with allegories. They should be given to either adults or children from 10 years old.
Poetic riddles
They note that folklore in poetic form by ear seems more vivid and easier to remember. Most of the well-known riddles and sayings, including very short ones, are rhymed. The most commonly used three-foot or four-foot chorea:
- On the front is a slot. Behind the wiltz. On the chest is a towel. Swallow.
- White mansions. Red backwater. Goose.
- What is before us? Two shafts behind the ears, on the eyes of the wheel and a nurse on the nose. Glasses.
Russian folk riddles in verses can have 2 types:
1. Rhymed question.
2. An unfinished poem, where the answer is the last word in rhyme. Most often they are used to teach children numeracy, alphabetics, and environmental studies.
Mysteries about nature and weather
A variety of natural phenomena have always been the subject of close attention in folklore. Water, earth, the moon, rivers, stars and many other things - they were all a mystery. Moreover, the peak of their appearance fell precisely at the end of the XIX - beginning of the XX century, when people began to pay much more attention to the outside world. At that time, Russian folk puzzles appeared about air, fog, smoke and clouds - the phenomena are very ephemeral.
- Good, good. He looks at everyone, but doesn’t order himself. The sun.
- White bird in the sky. Resting on a block of snow. Moon in the clouds.
- I ran and made noise. Died - sparkled. Frozen river
- On the street a pillar. In the hut - a tablecloth. Smoke
- The eagle flies across the blue sky. Wings spread, the sun froze. Cloud.
- I give an answer to every call, but no bodies and souls. Echo.
No less popular subject - seasons and weather events. Russian folk riddles about autumn, winter and related events like snow, fall of leaves, frost, blizzards and wind are especially interesting.
Riddles about animals and people
Children's thinking requires pointing out specific things, and therefore Russian folk riddles about animals (wild and domestic) at all times have been a significant part of this type of folklore. Moreover, they are doubly useful, as in a game form they bring to the child information about the leashes, behavior or danger of a particular animal. For instance:
- Small and light. And you can’t lift it by the tail. Lizard.
- Behind the field and fishing line boils a mountain with sand. Anthill.
- He jumps through the swamp, swims humanly. Frog.
- With horns, but not a bull. Running like a dragonfly. Jumps like a flea. Deer.
- A sieve hangs. Not with his hands. Web.
- Flies - squeaks, sits - is silent. Whoever kills him will shed his blood. Mosquito.
- I wake up all of them on time, even though I don’t get any watches. Cock.
- Prowls through the fields. Lambs and calves looking. Wolf.
Children's riddles Russian folk, dedicated to man, allow you to entertain your child in the basics of anatomy in an entertaining way. They will teach you how to identify body parts from just one description.
- 2 brothers live across the road. One does not see the other. Eyes.
- 5 brothers live. Everyone has the same name. Fingers.
- Between the two luminaries I am alone. Nose.
- One says. Two are looking, and two are listening. Mouth, eyes and ears.
- What part of a person is always wet? Tongue.
Mysteries about numbers, the alphabet and the learning process
After the revolution of 1917 and the formation of a new state, society began to pay great attention to the literacy of the population. Sending older people with grandchildren to reading courses was commonplace. But among the younger generation, the prestige of education was helped to spread Russian folk riddles, poems and ditties about ignoramuses. All folklore on this subject can be divided into the following groups:
1. About educational accessories - notebooks, books, textbooks, etc.
- White field, black seed. Who sows it - that means. Book.
- When is a sighted person blind? Illiterate.
- Does not speak, does not tell, but an example shows. Poster.
- On one paper the whole world is placed. Geographic map.
2. About the alphabet, numbers and other sciences.
Russian folk children's puzzles, compiled in poetic form (with an answer-ending), are very effective as a means of teaching first-graders the basics of writing and arithmetic.
Riddles about food and things
The most updated part of folklore, in which puzzles die off after the withdrawal of certain things. But instead of them, new ones also regularly appear. So you can easily find puzzles about the Russian stove, poker or rocker, as well as about a computer, cell phone, car or plane.
The subjects of this group are very extensive and in any collection there is easily a riddle about the Russian folk instrument, clothes, heating, needlework, equipment, etc.
- He strokes everything with regard to, but if you touch, he bites. Iron.
- The horse is steel, and the tail is silk (linen). Needle with thread.
- He meets with one hand. Another escorts. A door.
Food riddles are mostly centered around several of the most important foods available to everyone - bread (slices, loaf), salt, sugar, pancakes, dough, milk.
Riddles for adults. Erotic folklore
There is an opinion that Russian folk puzzles about nature, things and food are for children. But it is not so. A huge layer of folklore is directly related to adults. And these are not only particularly complex forms, but also erotic riddles - the category "18+". Despite strict religious and then party censorship, they flourished at all times.
Mysteries for adults are always ambiguous and deeply ironic, as they are based on deceived expectations. When pronouncing the text, the performer pretends that he does not understand the sexual meaning of keywords like “hole”, “fumble”, “pound”, etc. And the main lie is that the answer to the riddle does not contain immodest meaning. For instance:
- Two apples in the moss. Carrots upstairs. Eyes and nose.
- Dangles between the legs - the letter "x" is called. As he sees the letter "r" immediately rises. Elephant trunk and food.
- From ass to mouth. Egg.
- Hanging - dangles. Everyone grabs him. Towel.
Riddles, as part of folklore, exist in all countries. But Russians stand out against the global backdrop for their multiplicity, variety of forms and significance for society.