RIDDLES and PROVERBS.

Proverbs and Riddles.

Proverbs are the butter and oil with which words are eaten. The art of conversation and argument depends, in fact, on their use. By them the speaker shows his learning. Use of proverbs also enables the speaker to attack an opponent obliquely, without mentioning his name or the subject of the dispute.

Proverbs express not only  people's inherited wisdom and code of behavior,  they also create  an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment, imagination and sense of humour.

"If a child washes his hands, he will eat with kings"  

"If the earthworm does not dance in front of the cock, he will still be eaten, but at least the cock cannot say that he was provoked" 

Riddles usually take the form of a statement, not a question.

In the following riddle :-  What is it?

"People run away from her when she is pregnant, but they rejoice when she has delivered"

The answer is a gun. 

Often the riddle is an exercise in metaphorical speech, intended to display the questioner's imagination rather than to test the cleverness of the audience 

Riddle. What is it?

"We tie a horse in the house, but its mane flies above the roof,"

The answer is "fire" and "smoke"