Riddles (Ratsel) as a Type of Text in the History of the German Language (Case Study: Folk and Literary Riddles of the Middle High German Period)

Abstract

The author of the article analyses German folk riddles and literary riddles of the Middle High German period and comes to the conclusion that the key text-forming elements of the medieval German riddle are an impetus to solving it and an encrypted characteristic of the object. The beginning and the ending contain the impetus to solving the riddle which is sometimes accompanied by threats in case of a wrong solution or promises of a certain reward in case the riddle is solved correctly. The core contains the characteristic of the riddle’s object which drive the addres see away from the correct answer by way of encryption.