This is something that drives me crazy every time I hear it: “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” Is there really a hilarious answer to this seemingly impossible riddle? Or is the hilarious part that there really isn’t an answer? Also, where did this riddle originate? –Mary, via the Internet
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Back to the riddle. Alice is at the tea party with the March Hare, the Mad Hatter, and the Dormouse, when apropos of pretty much nothing the Hatter pops the question above. Several pages of tomfoolery ensue, and then:
“‘Have you guessed the riddle yet?’ the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.
At this point most of us are thinking, ho-ho, that Lewis Carroll, is he hilarious or what? But inevitably you get a few losers who say, well, OK, but I still want to know why a raven is like a writing desk. One sighs wearily. Guys! It’s a joke! The answer is that there isn’t any answer!
Because the notes for which they are noted are not noted for being musical notes. (Puzzle maven Sam Loyd, 1914)
Postscript: In 1976 Carroll admirer Denis Crutch pointed out that in the 1896 preface quoted above, the author had originally written: “It is nevar put with the wrong end in front.” Nevar of course is raven spelled backward. This is a joke. However, said joke did not survive the ministrations of the proofreaders, who, thinking they understood the author’s intentions better than the author, changed nevar to never in subsequent editions. Not pointing any fingers, but your columnist can relate.
