I’m a serving of wine, or a tall pint of beer;
In the church I am stained, but in banks I am clear;
I am Google’s computer that sits on your ear;
And a clever composer, intriguing to hear.
Who am I?
UPDATE: Riddle solved by Asher. See comments for answer.
Last week, I was working with a Shakespeare teacher who was looking for ways to help students better appreciate the language. He liked the idea of using song lyrics, and Usher’s “More” in particular. For easy reference, I reprint the excerpt and devices from the earlier post.
From “More” as performed by Usher
Written by Hinshaw, Khayat, and RaymondWatch me as I dance under the spotlight-
Listen to the people screaming out more and more,
‘Coz I create the feeling that keep ’em coming back,
Yeah, I create the feeling that keep ’em coming back,
So captivating when I get it on the floor.Know y’all been patiently waiting, I know you need me, I can feel it,
I’m a beast, I’m an animal, I’m that monster in the mirror,
The headliner, finisher, I’m the closer, winner.
Best when under pressure with seconds left I show up.If you really want more, scream it out louder,
Get it on the floor, bring out the fire,
And light it up, take it up higher,
Gonna push it to the limit, give it more.
Repetition: “more and more,” “I create the feeling that keep ‘em coming back”
Rhyme: more/floor, fire/higher
Alliteration: “monster in the mirror,” create/coming/captivating
Assonance: “patiently waiting,” finisher/winner, Best/pressure/seconds, “limit/give it”
Lists: “I’m a beast, I’m an animal, I’m that monster in the mirror, the headliner, finisher, I’m the closer, winner.”
Antithesis: Get it on the floor/take it up higher
But then the question arose as to which passage from Shakespeare to use. When I used to do this activity using “Mosh,” I’d have students compare Eminem’s use of literary devices in the song to Shakespeare use of the same devices in the Prologue from Romeo and Juliet. But that text doesn’t use the same literary devices as “More,” so we needed another choice.
Sonnet 130
by William ShakespeareMy mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
Repetition: red, wires, roses
Rhyme: sun/dun, red/head, etc.
Alliteration: “I grant I never saw a goddess go,” “when she walks”
Assonance: “nothing like the sun,” “then her breasts,” “and yet, by heaven”
Lists: The whole poem, basically
Antithesis: The whole poem, basically
What’s nice about this selection is that many of the poetic devices are actually easier to identify in the Shakespeare, making the activity more likely to succeed in helping students connect with the language.
Shakespeare Teacher: your sonnet sommelier.
I’m a small brood of chickens; the eggs in a hatch;
I’m to grasp a hold tightly; to greedily snatch;
A third pedal in cars, with a stick shift to match;
And a purse with no handles, but simply a latch.
Who am I?
UPDATE: Riddle solved by Bronx Richie. See comments for answer.
I’m a sinister southpaw; a portside direction;
The Democrats’ base in the recent election;
How Elvis departed, like any defection;
And items not taken, still there for selection.
Who am I?
UPDATE: Riddle solved by Asher. See comments for answer.
I’m the notes on the page; I am wedged in the door;
I’m the lights on the stage; I can tread on the floor;
I am paying the bill; I’m put down when at war;
I am three in the yard; but in these lines, I’m four.
Who am I?
UPDATE: Riddle solved by Rebecca. See comments for answer.
I’m a process that generates food from a light.
I am useful for plants who would reach a great height.
That is all I can mean, which brings with it a plight.
And so that’s why this riddle was tricky to write.
Who am I?
UPDATE: Riddle solved by Asher. See comments for answer.
I’m the total amassed when goods fly off the shelves;
I am simply disgusting; a full dozen twelves;
The degree their misconducts embarrass themselves;
And I’m (25) when, in this puzzle, one delves.
Who am I?
UPDATE: Riddle solved by Asher. See comments for answer.
The following recap of 2013 has been redacted by overzealous Internet censors! Can you fill in the blanks to restore our memories of the year?
Here’s the catch: all of the missing words are in alphabetical order. Enjoy!
Was it only 52 weeks __(01)__ that we celebrated the arrival of 2013? A lot has happened since then. __(02)__ __(03)__ was __(04)__ from the same network as Mr. __(05)__ later would be. The __(06)__ story of the past 365 days might be that terrible __(07)__ in __(08)__. The __(09)__ of a mayoral __(10)__ ended when he was revealed to be using the name __(11)__ __(12)__. This may have been the most __(13)__ incident of 2013, unless you wish to give that __(14)__ honor to the family of __(15)__ __(16)__, whose __(17)__ member __(18)__ many by __(19)__ his more __(20)__ views, which many felt went too __(21)__. At the movies, the latest __(22)__ & __(23)__ film had a __(24)__ showing at the box office, though it did not __(25)__ as much __(26)__ as the latest __(27)__ __(28)__ film. In music, the artist born __(29)__ __(30)__ released a second LP with that name. Internationally, __(31)__ __(32)__ was removed from power, while domestically, we fought __(33)__ over __(34)__, the __(35)__ signature __(36)__. The __(37)__ __(38)__ it fiercely, and the __(39)__ itself certainly had some __(40)__ spots. In fact, the worst __(41)__ of 2013 may have been the __(42)__ it triggered, though just as __(43)__ was when Mr. __(44)__ __(45)__ out about the government’s __(46)__ on Americans as part of a secret __(47)__ program. In sports, we once again saw that nobody could __(48)__ from the __(49)__ like __(50)__ __(51)__. All in all, it was an eventful __(52)__.
I’m the horse of a legend; a cloud’s hopeful lining;
A second-place medal; though metal worth mining;
The twenty-fifth year; statistician divining;
A pirate from prose; or fine flatware for dining.
Who am I?
UPDATE: Riddle solved by Asher. See comments for answer.
Today, this blog is celebrating its seventh birthday. Right now, it has a Technorati authority of 99, which ranks me 24,523 out of 1,343,382 ranked blogs. There are currently 1,018 posts in 95 categories and 2,875 approved comments. There have been 130,657 unique hits to the blog.
This was the year I wrote my thousandth post. We said goodbye to the Shakespeare Song Parody, and said hello to the Shakespeare Follow-Up. I posted 10 reviews, 22 anagrams, and 43 riddles.
I’m looking forward to the exciting possibilities the new year brings. I hope you will join me on this journey.