A riddle is called a riddle expressed in the form of a rhyme, generally aimed at a child audience. Like any riddle, the riddle presents an enigma to be solved, putting into play the intelligence of the questioned person. They generally lack a known author to whom they can be assigned. They have a varied shape, although the octosyllabic meter is often abundant in Spanish,
There are riddles that have been recorded in Western culture in a distinctive way. A clear example of this are the riddles that the sphinx He throws Oedipus and that he manages to solve. According to the myth, Thebes was devastated by the work of the sphinx, who proposed the resolution of riddles to cease its work; many showed up accepting, the challenge, being devoured by the monster when failing. However, Oedipus finally came forward to answer that the answer to the enigma about "the living being that walks on all fours at dawn, two at noon and three at dusk" was "man"; As a consequence of this lucid trait, the sphinx decides to commit suicide.
Another conspicuous example of riddles recorded in Western culture can be offered by the opera "Turandot", by Giacomo Puccini.. In this one, we are presented with three enigmas that must be solved in order to marry a princess; all suitors fail and this failure is punishable by death; Finally, a prince solves the puzzles and acquires the right to marry the princess. Despite the prince's victory, the princess refuses to marry so the young man poses an enigma to rid her of the obligation to marry.
In mass culture the riddle is also present sometimes. An example can be offered by the fictional character "the Riddler", Batman's enemy. He presents his misdeeds with riddles whose resolution means the possibility of predicting and avoiding them.
