Highlights
1. The riddle of ‘why is a raven like a writing desk?’ has perplexed many readers. The author of the novel Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll, initially did not have an answer to this riddle but later provided one.
2. Some possible answers to the riddle include “because Poe wrote on both,” “they both come with inky quills,” and “they both stand on sticks.” However, individuals are not limited to these answers and can come up with their own interpretations.
3. A raven is a bird, while a writing desk is used by writers or individuals for writing purposes. The connection between the raven and the writing desk is highlighted in the riddle of the Mad Hatter.
Introduction
The riddle of ‘why is a raven like a writing desk?’ has puzzled and intrigued many readers. It comes from the movie Alice in Wonderland, based on the novel by Lewis Carroll. In the movie, the character Hatter poses the riddle but never gives the answer. Surprisingly, even the writer of the novel did not have an answer for the riddle when he initially presented it. He finally provided an answer 31 years later, stating that a raven is like a writing desk because it can produce a few notes and it is never put with the wrong end in front. Other people have come up with their own answers to the riddle, such as “because Poe wrote on both” and “they both come with inky quills.” The difference between a raven and a writing desk is that a raven is a bird, while a writing desk is used for writing.
