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Persian Riddles

World Traditional Verse Forms

The Persian term for riddle is chistan, literally what is it, a phrase that frequently occurs in the opening formulae of Persian riddles, though the Arabic loanword lughaz is also used. Traditional Persian rhetorical manuals almost always address riddles, though Persian riddles themselves have received little modern scholarly attention, despite the assessment of one scholar that Persian literary riddles offer some of the most novel and intricate metaphors and images in Persian poetry.

Facts
Notable Example
A traditional Persian riddle whose answer is scissors 1
Defining Trait
Known for novel and intricate metaphors and images in Persian poetry 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Persian riddles
  • Literary, descriptive riddles section
    What is it that tears into small pieces whatever falls in its toothless mouth? If you put your fingers in its eyes it will instantly prick up its ears. The answer is 'scissors'.
  • Introduction, first paragraph
    Persian literary riddles provide us with some of the most novel and intricate metaphors and images in Persian poetry
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