Questions tagged [literature]
A puzzle that is primarily built around a well-known book, novel, drama, poem, or author.
83
questions
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
A Trivial Pursuit #22 (Art and Literature 4/4): Bookstore
This is part 22 of A Trivial Pursuit, a 25-part puzzle hunt. Each part is solvable on its own, with the exception of the meta-puzzle at the end.
Yesterday, I was asked to create some window displays ...
- 133k
20
votes
1
answer
877
views
A Trivial Pursuit #16 (Art and Literature 3/4): X
This is part 16 of A Trivial Pursuit, a 25-part puzzle hunt. Each part is solvable on its own, with the exception of the meta-puzzle at the end.
The final answer is a thematic 8-letter word.
Text ...
- 133k
15
votes
2
answers
877
views
A Trivial Pursuit #10 (Art and Literature 2/4): Bookshelf
This is part 10 of A Trivial Pursuit, a 25-part puzzle hunt. Each part is solvable on its own, with the exception of the meta-puzzle at the end.
Colourblind-friendly version available here.
The ...
- 133k
10
votes
0
answers
523
views
An engineer, a mechanic and an athlete walk into a bar
...to exchange puzzles about the thing they talked about the other day and have a drink.
The engineer showed these numbers:
2, 8, 14, 2, 99
2, 4, 0, 0, 1
The ...
- 811
20
votes
1
answer
733
views
A Trivial Pursuit #04 (Art and Literature 1/4): Threesome
This is part 4 of A Trivial Pursuit, a 25-part puzzle hunt. Each part is solvable on its own, with the exception of the meta-puzzle at the end.
QUE
STI
ONS
SEC@ND
L@TR
V@LUME
B@ANWELL’S
AUTHO@
...
- 133k
5
votes
1
answer
617
views
Python Conundrum: Guess The Song
Python Conundrum: The Series
The key to the puzzle:
The puzzle:
...
- 811
13
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A Trivial Pursuit #02 (Entertainment 1/4): Wrong Superhero
This is part 2 of A Trivial Pursuit, a 25-part puzzle hunt. Each part is solvable on its own, with the exception of the meta-puzzle at the end.
Minecraft character who receives enhanced abilities ...
- 133k
3
votes
2
answers
563
views
Breaking Gnomon Cipher [closed]
[First time posting so apologies if this is an inappropriate question for this site.]
I recently finished reading the book “Gnomon” by Nick Harkaway. At the start of the book there’s a set of numbers ...
- 31
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Three people sit down for a meal in France, who is the time traveller?
As the time traveller and the two others sit down at a table to eat and drink, they discuss who they are (but without giving their names). Then one of the three says, "We are all..." And ...
- 3,040
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Not like the one in Texas
I... PILFER AND MASK (or SKIMP AND FLARE)
I also... BOB A GRANNY THERE
I... USE A PRISON and APE OUR SINS
I'm often... EYELESS AND SIT IN BINS
I... PIPED CURD AND I JEER, you see...
At the end of the ...
- 133k
1
vote
2
answers
429
views
How many nails?
A man from Samsat tells you a true story. It goes as follows:
The king of the horned cannibals goes out to the great forest. Suddenly, a herd of a dozen deer arrive and charge at the king. Though he ...
- 1,185
10
votes
1
answer
401
views
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A Harry Potter sequence puzzle
What is the next term in the following sequence based on Harry Potter?
None, 16, None, 16, 5, 9, ?
- 2,438
-4
votes
1
answer
366
views
Billy Leg's Secret Treasure!
Billy has been following a treasure hunt since he moved. Now, he's stumped! He just uncovered a clue:
CLUE: )?006¶5*) 6)05*† )-
Where does he go now?
Hint 1:
...
- 3,111
2
votes
1
answer
148
views
In this decrypted cipher, what is meant by "GABL" and how should I make sense of the whole message?
In "The Blue Scarab" in Dr. Thorndyke's Case-Book by R. Austin Freeman, Thorndyke finds the dead body of Uncle Reuben in a meadow based on hieroglyphic letters inscribed on a blue scarab ...
- 21
7
votes
1
answer
231
views
Help - I think my computer's broken!
I wrote a little computer program to count letter frequencies. Don't worry you don't need to know anything about computers! Except of course for Googling, Wikipedia, etc.
So, for example, the ...
- 8,079
3
votes
1
answer
493
views
Harry Potter Rebus Puzzles #3
Another set of Harry Potter word rebuses for you to solve!
Part 1: 11 Harry Potter rebus puzzles
Part 2: Harry Potter Rebus Puzzles #2
- 10.4k
4
votes
1
answer
643
views
Harry Potter Rebus Puzzles #2
Here are 4 more Harry Potter word rebuses for you to solve!
(11 more Harry Potter rebuses are posted here.)
- 10.4k
12
votes
2
answers
531
views
Read it carefully
My prefix is found in an automobile,
My infix corrects a mistake with mistakes,
My suffix is practice if you're very old.
My whole may be found unexpectedly.
Hint:
- 116k
13
votes
1
answer
319
views
This Riley is out of order
My prefix is big in the Middle,
my infix is found at the end,
my suffix was once at the front,
my whole is what is involved.
Hint 1: My two anagrams, as a rebus
Hint 2: An alternative fix, ...
- 70.4k
3
votes
1
answer
455
views
Who wrote this potion recipe? (#2)
Below is a recipe for a Nosebleed Antidote written by a mysterious wizard. Just like other wizards before him have done, the one who wrote this recipe has hidden his name within the recipe. Can you ...
- 10.4k
33
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Find the hidden word (Harry Potter theme)
Bouncing bulbs are jumping all around the greenhouse. Can you help sort them out and figure out the hidden word?
(Note: the answer is something from Harry Potter)
- 10.4k
4
votes
1
answer
406
views
Harry Potter Ditloids
Each of the 15 lines below represent a phrase related to Harry Potter.
For example:
$$\text{1994 I W the W C} = \text{1994 Ireland Wins the World Cup}$$
Can you figure out the rest?
$$\text{150 P ...
- 10.4k
19
votes
1
answer
3k
views
11 Harry Potter rebus puzzles which together spell a word
11 Harry Potter rebus puzzles. When you have solved them all, there is a word they are hiding.
Hint:
- 10.4k
7
votes
4
answers
285
views
Christmas Sentences
I've received an early Christmas gift with a combination lock and a letter containing a poem and some sentences. There are several typos: I don't believe they're intentional, but they might be. I have ...
- 171
14
votes
3
answers
532
views
Half a wife, did you say?
My first and my second are in HUSBANDRY,
Though one is in UNION, one ZOOLOGY.
My third is in DUBITABLY, in SUFFERABLE;
My fourth and fifth are in BUSINESS and in SEPARABLE.
My sixth is in GOAL,...
- 133k
4
votes
2
answers
325
views
Translate this "especially important" note from "War with the Newts"
Language-identification questions are off-topic on linguistics.stackexchange.com, or I would have posted this over there. Since it's also a puzzle, I figure puzzling.stackexchange might appreciate it.
...
- 1,770
12
votes
3
answers
386
views
Storms form above my head
I have searched for treasure in Egypt,
and spent a lifetime fishing in the Atlantic.
I have seen powerful storms form above me,
and felt the earth shaking with devastating effect.
I have seen ...
- 76.4k
10
votes
1
answer
476
views
Where have I visited?
Now an entry into Fortnightly Topic Challenge #41: Short and Sweet
Having a new try on "where do I want to go next" questions", hope you enjoy it.
I have visited:
1: Regulations on the ...
- 21.6k
5
votes
1
answer
213
views
A Cryptic Dirty Dozen: Do your best!
Age a herb salad for a cat. (8)
Wolfmother confused a shark. (6)
Alias around the Spanish leader (5)
The Colonel runs through that hibiscus patch (5)
Ursine stench holds soothing plant ...
- 7,734
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
A Classic Conundrum
I had a quick idea for a puzzle that may or may not be too hard to solve, but nothing is too hard for Puzzling SE so let's give it a go.
One of my friends gave me a list of classic books to read last ...
- 2,969
4
votes
3
answers
194
views
Four Directions #6 - Where and what am I?
Inspired by metazen's riddles, I have decided to create my own
To my west are a bunch of crooks
To my north is a special fruit
To my east is somewhere everyone wants to be
To my ...
- 2,305
6
votes
1
answer
197
views
8
votes
1
answer
177
views
A Discworld Riley
My prefix is the heir to the apprentice of the final reality,
Without the Ephebean "not"
My suffix is both a noun and a verb
Dwarf Bread is not an example of the noun,
Though it may help ...
- 8,071
9
votes
1
answer
265
views
What am I wearing today?
Captain of serenity.
Lover of Polish beast slayer.
Sister of double victor.
Foul-mouthed one-eyed soldier.
Murgo-hating emperor.
Owner of runaway bum.
Fateful answerer of "What do you want?"
...
- 116k
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
♥Veni♀Vidi♂Vici☠
Third in a line, bred to be realistic,
Somewhat compassionate, not too sadistic.
Taught a new game, I learned how to rack 'em.
In spite of their cheating, I improv'd and sacked 'em.
Surprised how ...
- 25.6k
20
votes
1
answer
913
views
Look up to him, who is he?
Born on the first soil, aiming for the next
Stolen as replacement, his life a lie
To be loved, serve but never die
Death came in a flash, lost mother
Hideous rictus, fear and darkness
...
- 12.6k
6
votes
3
answers
375
views
Though some may find me lacking, others call me less
Though some may find me lacking
Others call me less
Some may think I’m both
Despite my flame and my finesse
Family, no family, mind's asunder
Feel the elements, hear the thunder
...
- 6,865
-4
votes
1
answer
169
views
How long time does it take an infinite number of monkeys to type the collected works of Shakespeare?
Imagine an infinite number of monkeys typing random texts on typewriters.
Each monkey has same single unit of typewriter.
We assume that typewriters and monkeys are ideal i.e. do not need to be fed/...
- 105
-11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Riddle from Harry Potter
This is a riddle from the 7th Harry Potter book. Who am I?
I christen myself to the rightful lord, there is nothing I cannot overpower;
A crimson splattered history, I was stolen at the top of a ...
14
votes
5
answers
2k
views
A Weird Librarian
Inspired by this puzzle, you decide to visit your local library in the hope of checking out a copy of Ximenes on the Art of the Crossword.
Upon entering, you ask the librarian whether the library has ...
- 9,166
15
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Cryptic Rebuses Hit the Books
In order to learn more about Emily Dickinson and T. S. Eliot, who made cameos here and here, cryptic rebuses are going to the library.
If you're unsure how cryptic rebuses work, you may want to check ...
- 9,166
9
votes
5
answers
399
views
A Heroic Narrative of two
We two were the ones
destined to do great things
We started as did Jon
aware of Nothing
A world we didn't know
turned out to be our home
Waited where we were
with glorious foretellings
While ...
- 356
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
5
votes
1
answer
292
views
The Guard Of Fantasy
I am back with a second riddle, hope you enjoy this and I expect some to answer it correctly within a matter of time.
Here I will live and here I will stay,
as I will guard this all today.
This ...
- 191
7
votes
6
answers
903
views
A riddle in James Still's "River of Earth"
I'm working on paper for SAMLA 88 on riddles in James Still's novel River of Earth. There is one I can't seem to find an answer for. It goes like this:
First green
and then yeller, (sic. yellow)
...
- 71
1
vote
1
answer
201
views
Words with a Mask - Looking for Truth
An opportunity to pull back masks and bring light to truth.
IWOKKXCXMBKSXWTKRYTNXMSTRNXIMSXTXVICXBMTTKBYHKHTRX
SVWXMZYITBWOXBHYHMHBZHYXSXQMRWKYTDKMYIRXMHLHMICYIR
...
- 3,909
4
votes
3
answers
228
views
Confusing holidays
Tired of playing games, you decide to take a holiday.
You first location, you wander about for a bit, completely lost in the crowds until finally the relative you were supposed to meet spots you. ...
- 56.4k
14
votes
3
answers
787
views
Literary Haikus
Inspired by this riddle, I've created a group of haikus each of which describes a well-known work of literature and its author.
A mighty master
Of small precious jewellery.
A tollman eager.
...
- 116k
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Vizzini has captured Buttercup!
You're the Dread Pirate Roberts (Westley), and you've crossed the Sea, climbed the Cliffs of Insanity, battled a Spaniard fencer and a Turkish wrestler, and tracked your Lady Love to near the Fire ...
- 19.6k