Riddles in the Dark

I've been listening to The Hobbit audiobook on my work commute this week and thought I'd post the riddles shared between Gollum and Bilbo to see if you can get the correct answers---that is, if you don't already know or can't remember (or don't look below to see the answers in advance).

#1.
What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?

#2.
Thirty white horses on a red hill,
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still.

#3.
Voiceless it cries,
Wingless flutters,
Toothless bites,
Mouthless mutters.

#4.
An eye in a blue face
Saw an eye in a green face.
"That eye is like to this eye,"
Said the first eye,
"But in low place,
Not in high place."

#5.
It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.

#6.
A box without hinges, key, or lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid.

#7.
Alive without breath, As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking.

#8.
This thing all things devours
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers
Gnaws iron, bites steel,
Grinds hard stones to meal,
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down!

Alan Lee, Riddles in the Dark

ANSWERS:

1. Mountain
2. Teeth
3. Wind
4. Sun on the daisies
5. Dark
6. Eggs
7. Fish
8. Time

2 comments:

August 5, 2011 11:20 AM ABG said...

What have I got in my pocket?

August 10, 2011 12:32 PM Xpiotiva said...

these are so brilliant. tolkien you face melter you.