Ed Ruddell interview with elementary school children (part four)

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Please note that this recording contains racist language and content. This is the fourth of a five part recording. In this part, Ed Ruddell interviews elementary students from a predominantly middle-class, white, suburban school in south Georgia about riddles. To start, fifth-grade students share riddles that incorporate wordplay, although one student asks the abstract conundrum, What if you were in a cave, and you only had a glass, a mirror, and a table, how would you get out? At 5:41, another student shares an offensive joke about the appearance of East Asians. Then at 6:58, two students share variations of a riddle about a camel and a bear, referencing Camel Cigarettes. At 8:24, a student tells a racist shaggy-dog story about a fictional American Indian named Shortcake. Next, at 8:59, the children share derogatory Polish jokes that include anti-Polish ethnic slurs, gestures, and a man walks into a bar joke. At 13:48, Ruddell records first-grade students telling original riddles and jokes. Many children ask the riddle How do you catch a squirrel?; then at 18:45, a student presents the conundrum, What kind of ears does a train have? At 23:08, Ruddell provides background information on the approximately 65-student, first-grade class. No biographical information about the elementary school students or their school has been determined. A 1973 LOOK AT RIDDLING IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL E. R. RUJ)iJELL FOLK 300 INDEX Introduction- page 2. First Grade Developmental- page 3. 1"irst Grade lAll LevE1ls)- pages 4,5. Second Grade (All Levels)- pages 6,7,8. Third Grade (Lower Level)- pages 9, 10, 11. Third Grade (UppEiir Level)- pages 12, 13, 14, 15. Fourth Grade(Special Students)- pages 16, 17. li'ourth Grade lh,iddle Level)- pages 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. :Fifth Grade lAll .Levels)- pages 2 3, 24, 25. Sixth Grade (All Levels)- pages 26, 27, 28, 2 9. Analysis- pages 30, 31, 32. Appendix- pages 33, 34, 35 -1- -2- It has been asserted that; before the advent of formal education, riddles were us@d to sharpen wit;s and judge mental agility. In pre-modern times, riddling sessions were part of the culture. This tradition has practically dis.appeared, except in the adolescent and pre-adolescent stages of development. This concept i1s what the researcher is to examine. 'Ne limited the research to the first through the sixth grades of a middle class, predominc,tely white, surburban school. This school was chosen because it is an experimental school, based on the op,m class room system. '.rh grades ars divided into achievement levels of lowE!lr, middle and higher. A superintendant of a southern Georgia school system was studying this school, and had extensive knowledge of the children and their capabilities. The superintendant, Mr. Davis, arranged for varied sized classes of from thirty to sixty-four children to have thirty minutes each in the riddling sessions. We were allowed to interview all grades, but not all levels in the grades. These sessions were taped with a hand held tape recorder and ch.ildnm were able to participate from their desks without extensive movement, The following is a breakdown and transcription of these tapes. The riddles were cla,;sified as true riddles, conundrums, wellerisms, and catch ridclles, in an effort to better analyze the trends of development :i.'rom first to sixth grade& (six to twelve years old). -3- .l<'IRST GRADE DEVELOl?!VlENTAL This is actually a pre-first grade. The children are given instruction to prepare them .for a normal level of first grade work. When this researcher asked if they knew any riddles, one child promptly told a dirty joke. They were then told what a riddle was, and couldn't come up with any on their own, but knew the answer to "What is black and white and red all over?" -4- ilIRST GRADE All three levels of first grade were presented to researcher at one time, More accurate reporting could have been accomplished if school officials had agreed to smaller groups with this age group. True Riddles 1,) :that is blue and white with a cherry on top? A police car. 2,) What is big and red and eats rocks? A big red rock eater. 3,) What is black and white and rolls down a hill? A penguin. ~-.) What is grey and has a trunk? An elephant. 5,) What is red, white, and yellow'? A ball. 6.) What is black and white and red all over? A newspaper. 7.) What is blaclc and white and red all over'? A skunk with diaper rash, 8.) What is blue and red and lays eggs? A blue and red bird. 9.) 1/lhat is red, white and blue? The American Flag. 10.) What stands on its nose? A seal. 11,) What is orange and green with a stem? A pUIEpkin. 12,) Vlhat is black and white and black and white"/ A skunk. 13,) What is white and has real long ears? A rabbit, Conundrums 1.) How do you catch a squirrel? Climb up a tree and act like a nut, -5- 2,) Why is a barn so noisy'? Because cows have horns. 3,) What is grey and lights up? An electric elephant. 4,) \\ihat is green and white and green all over? An alligator with snow hair. 5.) What kind of ears does a train have? Engineers. 6.) What happens to the mirror when you talk to it? It cracks up. Catch Riddles 1,) How do you catch a mouse? With cheeze. 2.) Why did the squirrel wear two pairs of pants? Because he got a hole in one. 3.) Who would win if a cabbage and a carrot had a race? The carrot, because it is longer. 4,) What rattles a chain at night? A ghost. The following are riddles the children had heard, but were unable to repeat accurately. l.) Why did the rhinoceros chaGe me? Because he got a credit card. 2.) What is grey and electric? An electric elepha."lt. 3,) iihy did the cow get in jail? Because he stold. 4. ) What is red and white and white all over'i A newspaper. 5. J What is yellow? A SKUnk with diaper rash. SECOND GRADE All three levels were presented at one time. 'rrue liiddles 1.) What is black and white and red all over? A skunk with diaper rash. 2.) What is red, white, and blue? The American Flag. 3.) What is black and white? A paper. 4,) What is black and white and red all over? A penguin at Nliami Beach, 5,) What is blue and white'? A dolphin. 6.) What is white and black'? A skunk. 7.) What is black and white with a cherry on top? A fire car. 8.) What is black all over and has grey? A cat. 9.) What is white inside, red, and round? A tulip. 10.) What is black and white all OVf~r? A dog. 11.) I/hat is white and carries milk? A milk truck. Conundrums 1. What is a son and a gun? A son of a gun. 2.J Why did the boy put ice in his father's bed? He wanted a cool pop. 3.) Where did the dog go when he lost his tail'? 'l'o the retail store. 4,) \Yhat did the cow do when he lost his milk? He went to the store and got some more. -6- 5.) Why did the little boy bury his mother under the steps? He wanted a step-mother. 6.) Why did the elephant sit on the marshmallow? He didn't want to fall in the hot chocolate. How do you catch a sg_uirrel? vlimb up a tree and act like a nut. What does the mirror do when you tell it a riddle? Cracks up. Gatch Riddles 1.) What has four eyes, is purple aJ1cl eats people? A four eyed-purple-people eater. 2,) What did one pencil say to another pencil? Nothing. 3. ) Why did th@ elephant sit on the f'ence? B:ecause it is time to get a new fenc@, 4.) Why did the elephant sit on the couch? Because he wanted to get a new one .. Wellerisms 1.) What did the mouse say to the skunk? You stink me out, 2.) What did the coat say to the sock? I'll meet you out on the clothes line. -7- 3,) What did the big chimney say to th@ little chimney? You are too little to smoke. 4,) What did one candle say to the other candle? You melted. 5,J What did one bug say to another bug? Will you marry me'? 6,) What did the Chinese Gat say? Chow-Chow-Chow. 7.) What did the big heel say to the little heel? Watch it l You might get stepped on. 8,) What did the little fire cracker say to the big fire cracker? My pop is bigger than yours. 9,) What did the knife say to the tomatoe? May I cut in? 10.) What did the letter say to the stamp? Give me a stamp and lets go for @, ride. -8- The following are riddles the children had heard, but ;1ere unable to repeat accurately. 1.) What is two foot long? A foot. 2. ) What is white and red and pur,ple? A penguin. 3.) What did the purple ant say to the black ant? You are bigger than 1 am, you can climb mountains without getting stepped on. 4.) What is black and white all over? A penguin at Miami Beach. 5.) Why did the boy throw the clock out the window 0, Because it was a flying clock. 6.) What is red and black and white all over'? A diaper rash. 7.) What has got four wheels, a body, and a r:rnstaah on it? A mustash car. 8.) ',Vhat is bl.ck and blue', Batman. 'rHIR.D GRADE- LO'/IBR LEVEL True Riddles 1.) What is 6 reen and white inside and you eat it? An apple, 2. ) What is white and round'/ A marshmallow. 3,) '//hat is oran.;e and black and f'lies? A butterfly. 4,) What is black and white and red? A skunk with diaper rash, 5,) What is grey and has a long nose'/ An elephant. 6.) What is black and white with a cherry on top? A police car. 7.) 1Vhat is long and is green and brown? A coke. Conundrums 1.) Nhat rides on a horse and is purple? Lone Raspberry. 2.) \'/hy did the boy throw the clock out the window? To see time fly. 3,) How is measles and b5,seball the sa:ne'? You can catch both oJ them. fJ .. ) :/hat is red and tastes delicious'? An apple. 5.) What do you call a sleeping bull'? A bull dozer. -9- 6.) /Yhat kind of truck talces your toe to the hospital'? A tow truck. 7.) What is green and pecks on trees'? Woody Wood Pickle, 8. ) What is black and white and red all over? A newBpaper. 9,) What does the mirror do when you tell a joke? Crack up. 10.) Why did the little boy put ice in his father's bed? He wanted a cool pop. 11.) Why can't a nose be a f'oot long'? It would b@ a f'oot. 12.) Why did the man rlln around his bed'! He wanted to c .,tch up on his sleep .. 13.) !Vhat do you call a little baby gun'/ A son of' a gun. Catch Riddles 1.) Hhen is it bad luck to walk under a ladder'? When it falls. 2.) What is grey and lights up? An electric elephant. 3,) ifoy did the elephant go up the hill'? He can't go under it. 4. J What can hop and is rGid '? A hopping red bunny rabbit. 5.J What is red and eats rocks'/ A red-rock-eater. 6.) What is purple and eats peopl@? A purple-people-eater. 7,) What is white, red, grclen, and purple? I don't know either. W'ellerisms 1.) ,ihat did the grass say to the dirt? I got you covered. -10- 2.) What did the big firecracker say to the little firecracker? lily pop is bigger than yours. 3.) What did the grape say when the elephant sat on it? lv,ake a little wine. 4.) I/hat did. the big chimney say to the little chimney? You're too little to smoke. The f'o llowing are riddler; the cchild.ren have eith-i~r made.; up or heard and were U:<nable to repeat accurately. -11- l.) 1.hy did the ghost eat spaghetti? Porgot. 2.) What did the dog s,,y to the rug? Stiel, 'em up. 3.) What is red and hot and cool in your mouth? A hot red pepp r. 4,) Why did the chimney let out smoke? Because Santa Clause was coming. -12- THIRD GRADE- UPPER LEVEL True Riddles 1.) What is black and white with a cherry on top? A police oar, 2.) What is red, white and blue'? Pabt ,Co Blue Ribbon Beer. 3.) What is orange, black and red? A tiger with diaper rash. 4.) When can water be held in a net? When it is ice. 5.) What smokes and smells? A skunk. 6.) 'Nhat runs down the side walk and has no legs? Water. ?.) What is black and white and red? A sunburned zebra. Conundrums 1.) What is the best thing to put in a pie? Your teeth. 2.) If you put three ducks in a box what would you have'? A box of quackers. 3,) What did the balloon say to the pin? Don't bust me, buster. 4.) Why is the policema;1 the strongest man in town'/ He can hold up many cars with one hand. 5.) What did the pudding s2,y to the man? You had better eat me before I spoil. 6.) Why did the boy throw the clock out the window? To see time fly. 7.) What can jump higher than a :t'lea can fly? A grass hopper with the hiccups. 8.) #hat did the lady say to the man? Let it all hang out. 9,) What did the bread say to the gravy? f'our it on me. 10.) If you were in a still room with no windows and no doors and just a b,,seball bat, what would you do? -13- Strike one, strike two, strike three, you are out. 11.) Why is a horse like a leaky barrel? ' 'rhey both run. 12.) What can a monkey hold in his left hand, he can't hold in his right hand? Hi.s right elbow, 13.) My boss has the best bird act. (What does he do?) He always watches me like a hawk. 14.) Why did the boy put ice in his father's bed? He wanted a cool pop. 15), How can you catch a squirrel? Climb up a tree and act like a nut. 16,) Little girl tells the teacher, "I have to use the bathroom". '.i'.he teacher says, "You must say the alphabet first." The child says, "A, B, C, D, E, :F, G, H, I, J, K., L, M, N, 0, _, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, 11 'J:he teacher says, "iJhat happened to your P?" The child says, "Running down my leg." 17,) Why is the little straw berry worried? His 1,arents are in a jam. 18.) When does a :horse _:_1y? When it is a horsefly. 19,) What is a kid that takes a nap? A kidnapper. 20.) What does a mirror do when you tell a joke? Crack up. 21.) Why did the boy wear a wet shirt to school? It said wash and wear. 22,) Why did the elephant wear green underwear? He wanted to join the army. 23.J Why is the letter "V" like a young girl? They are both in love, 24,) Why did th@ elephant paint his toe nails red'? So he could hidqi in the strawberry patch. 25,) What did the mother bullet say to the :father bullet? u .. l!'ill m@ up, b.Lets make bee-bees. 26,) Why did the lady throw butter out the window? She wanted to see butterfly, -14- 27.) What seven letters did the girl say when she opened the refrigerator? 0 IOU RM T. Catch Riddles 1.) If you throw a hat into the Red Sea, what would you have? A wet hat. 2.) Where was Jimmy when "!;he lights went out? In the dark. 3.) What is purple, green, and orange'/ I don't know what it is, out it is crawling in your @ar. 4.) When does a man always have to take off his hat? At the barber. 5.) You ever seen an elephant in a strawberry patch? (no) See how good they can hide. Wellerisms 1.) \Vhat did the big chimney say to the little chimney? You are too little to smoke. 2.) What did the indian say when the dog jumped off the cliff? Dog gone. 3,) What did the ball say to the bat? Lets hit one. 4.) What did one alligator say to theother alligator? Lets go fishing. 5.) What did the mirror s;:,y to the ;refrigerator? I'm cold, 6.) What did one peace sign say to another pec;ice sign? Lets get married. 7.) What did the new book say to the old book? How long have you been here? 8,) What did the fc1st driver say to the slow 8.river? Get off the road. 9,) What did th@ ink say to the man? Don't smear me. 10,) What did the book tell the library? Lets check out. 11.) What did the coke say to the Sprite? I'm darker than you are. -15- 12.) 'i/hat did the man say't Child makes the following signs: Points to the researcher, shows someone driving a car, points to himself, and takes a .finger and c;oes in circles around his ear. You drive me crazy. 13.J What did the coke say to the Sprite? R U N! T? .FOUR'.CH GRADE- SPECIAL S'.r[J])ENTS These children all had some physical defect, such as partia.l blindness or inability to speak correctly. true Riddles 1.) What has one horn and gives milk'? A milk truck. Conundrums -16- 1.) How can you ,;et out of a still room with no doors or windows, with only a oat and a ball'i Strike one, strike two, strike three, you are out. 2.) What is grey and yellow and grey and yellow'i' An elephant rolling down a hill with a daisy in it's mouth. 3.) What is green and white and hops'? A l'roc; sandwich. 4.) how come the boy took a ladder to school'? 'L'o re&ch the high school. 5.) Why did the elephant paint his hair yellow? Because l)londs have more fun. 6,) Why did the elephant paint his toe nails all different colors? So he could hide in a jelly bean jar. 7.) What's green and rides a motorcycle? Then came broccoli. Gatch Riddles 1,) If a witch woke up in the middl!!! of the night, what could she do for li,~:ht? Take a feather from her pillow, It's light enough. Wellerisms 1.) Wha:~ did the big chimney say to the little chimney? You are too little to smoke. 2.) \Vhat did the :Lndian say when his do[; jumped i.n the fire? Hot clog, the following are riddles the children had heard, but were unable to repeat accurately. -17- 1.) Why did the man bul'.'y his wii'e under the steps? He wanted a step mother. ' 2.) What's bla,ck and white? A skunk with diaper rash. -18- FOURTB GRADE- MIDDLE LBVEL True riddles 1.) What's ,c;rey and lights up'? An electric elephant. 2.) !//hat runs around your yard? A fence. 3.) What do you lose every time you stand up and have everytime you sit down'? Your lap, 4.) What's red and eats rocks? A red-rock-eater. 5,) What is black and white and has a cherry 011 top? A police car. 6,) What is black and white and red all over? A penguin at Miami Beach. Conundrums 1,) What's black and blue and rings on your door bell? A beat up Avon Lady. 2.) :Nhy does the corn ha-te the farmer'? He pulls its ears. 3.) How do you kill an elephant with a blue shotgun? Twist its trunk until it turns blue, then shoot, it. 4.) What's white on the outside and gr&en on the inside and hops? A frog sandwich. 5.) What's green and rides a motorcycle? 'J'hen came broccoli. 6.) Why is a barn so noisy? Because cows have horns, 7.) Why did the boy put ice cubes in his f.,,ther s bed? He wanted a cool pop. 8.) Why do people keep cemeteries locked at night? P@ople are dying to get in. 9,) What comes to your door step, but never comes in? A door step. r -19- 10.) Why did the boy run his mother under the door step? So he could have a step mother. 11.) Why didn't the chicken cross the road? It was too chicken. 12.) How can you go in one room with two legs and come out with six'? Carry a chair out with you. 13,) Who do you take your hat off to? A barber. 14.) How many letters are there in the alphabet? (2 6) No, 24, because L & M got thrown out for smoking. 15,) What is black and yellow and goes off a cliff screaming? A yellow j ack@t. (Alludes to Ga. Tech.) 16). Why did the chicken run across the road? To get away from Colonel Sanders. 17.) Wher.i do you go when you are dying? To the living room. 18.) Why did the boy throw his clock out the window? To see time fly. 19.) What do you do if your Mother is going to die and you have a dime', Buy life savers. 20.) What goes out with two legs and comes back with four? A chair. 21.) What would you have if you painted all the cars in the nation red? A red carnation. 22.) What does a worm do in a corn patch? Goes in one ear and out the other. 23.) Why didn't th boy cross the street? HLi father was standing on the other side with a belt. 24,) What did the candle say to the candle? Come on baby light my fire, 25.) What is yellow and slides? A banana slipper. 26.) What do ghosts chew'? Boo-ble gum. 27.) What is yellow and swims? A banana skin diver. 28.) What is yellow and lies? :3uper banana. 29.) What's the ghost army called? The Ghost Guard, -20- 30.) vihy did the boy get kill@d smelling airplane glue'? :rhe plane was still in flight. 31.) Why did the sneaker run away? His daddy was a tennis shoe and his mother was a loafer. 32.) Why does an elephant paint his toenails red? 'fo hide in a cherry tree. Haven't you seen an elephant in a cherry tree? 33.) ,~hy did the woman put her pants on the stove'? Sne wanted hot pants. Catch Riddles 1.) '1/hy did the chicken cross the road? To get to th other side, 2.) Why do country people c;o like this (slow shake) with a salt shal,er and city people go like thi:s \fast shakeJ 'l'o get the salt out. 3.) Why do you have l;o go to bed at night? 4,) 5. ) 6. ) C) , ) Because the bed can't come to you. Why wouldn't the pif~ cross the :road? The butcher was on the other side. What's the last thing you take off when you go to bed? Your feet off the floor. What's the best way to raise a strawberry? With your spoon. Why do you sit on a horse backw:,,rd? To see where you have been. Why did the man get killed stealing hub caps? The car was still moving, What do vampires do at. 10: 30 in the morning? Rave a coffin break, 10.) What's the best way to ca1,ch a fish? Have someone throw it to you. ll.) Why did the duck run away? 'fhe farmer W,iS getting ready for di.nner. -21- 12.) If you had ten copycats in a boat and one jumped out, how many would you have? None. 13.) If there were ten cats in a boat and one took a notion to jurr,p out, how many would there be? Ten, he just took a notion. 14.) Do you know the difference between an egg and an elephant'! If' you don't know, I won't send you to the grocery store. i/ellerisms 1.) What did one light bulb say to the other? Jou turn me on. 2,) What did the big chimrniy say to the little chimney? You're too little to smoke. 3.) What did the cat say to the fish? Please stay .for dinner. 4.) What did one elevator say to the other elevator'? I think I'm co min,; down wit r: something. 5,) What did the indian say when the doc f@ll off the cliff'r Dog gone. 6.) What did the indian say when the dog jumped in the fire? Hot dog. 7.) What did George Washington say when he saw the first colored person? "Bust my britches, bust my soul, there goes a walkirrl;, talking tootsie roll." a.) What did the Chinese cat say? Chow-Chow-Chow. The followin2; are riddles the children had heard, but were unable to repeat accurately. 1.) '//hat is bl&ck and blue and red all over'/ Newspaper. 2.) What kind of bean grows in a garden'/ A jelly bean. -22- 3.) If you had twenty sick sheep and one of them died, how many would you have'i Twenty. -23- FiiTH GRADE-ALL LEVELS True Riddles 1.) Wh>'1t has four wheels and flies? A garbage truck. 2.) What is black and white and red all over? A newspaper. 3.) What is blue and white and has a cherry on top? A police car. 4,) '//hat has black and white stripes and is red all over? A zebra with a sun tan. 5.) What can ride all over the hills and everything and never get tired':' The car. 6.) What is shaped l.ike an egg? The world. 7,) What goes like this? A camel's back. Conundrums 1.) Why did they put a :fence around the graveyard? People are just dying to get in. 2.) Why did the old lady throw a clock out the window? She wanted to sei!l time :fly. 3,) What is a volcano? A mountain that has flipped its lid. 4.) Why did the robber use glue instead of a gun? Re thought he would have a better stick up. 5.) What is green and black and white all over? The American J<'lag with a lot of mistakes. 6.) What is green and flies? Super Pickle. 7.J What did one bee say to the other? Buzz of'f. 8,) What if you were in a cave and all you had was a mirror and a table, how would you get out? You would look in the mirror and see what you saw. Take The saw and saw the table in half'; then put the halves Logether and ,_;et a whole. 'then take the hole a.nd crawl out. -24- 9.) If you were in a still room with no windows or doors, with Just one baseball and a bat, how would you get out? Strike one, strike two, strike three, you are out . 10.) Why do dragons always sleep in the day time? Because they have to fight lcnights. 11. J Why did th@ little boy put his mother under the_ steps? He wanted a step-mother. ' 12.) What has four legs, is purple and eats people? A four-legged-purple-people eater. 13.) Little girl asked her mother, "Why am I like this?" (One eye is slanted up, the other down). Her mother said, 11 1 am Chinese and your father is Japenese." 14.) What would you do if you came up to a bridge and you had only one bullet, and a gun and there is a mean camel on one side of the bridge and a b@ar on the other? Shoot the bear and smoke the camel. 15.) Why did the indian push the dog off the cliff? So it would be dog go~e. 16.) What would you do if you wer in the middle of the desert with a gun and one bullet and a jeep with no gas and you saw a bear, a camel and a tiger coming after you'? Smoke the ca11el, shoot the bear, and put the tiger in the tank. 17.J How do you drive a Pollock cra:w? You put him. in .a round room and tellhim there is a dime in the corner. 18.) //hat does a J:'ollook do all day':' Sits and sips sewers through a soda straw. 19.J Why did they close the freeway down? The rabbits ate the clover leafs and they oouldn 't get on. 20.) This man (a Pollock) walks into this bar and tells the bartender, "Give me a beer," The -bartender says, "We only serve people who ask nicely. You come behind here and see how it is to serve people who talk like that." The bartender asks the J:'o llock for a b@er and the .Pollock says, "Sorry, we only serve .Pollocks." -25- 21,J Nhy did the boy put ice in his father's bed? He wanted a cool pop. 22.) Why did the man sleep on the log pile? He wanted to sleep like a log, Catch R1-ddles 1. J What has big teeth, eats people and is black? 1 don't know, but I would sure hate to meet with it. 2. J What happens wh,m you cross a lion with a parrot? I don't know, but if you ever meet up with it, you had better listen when it talks. 3.) Why does the dog always itch like this? (Scratching) He doesn't have anything better to do. 4,) How do you keep a Pollock in suspense? I'll tell you later, Wellerisms 1.) What did one penny say to another penny? We make sense. 2.J What did one tonsil say to the other? Get dress@d, the doctor is coming to take us out. 3.) What did one shrub say to another shrub? I'm bushed, 4. J What did the dressing say to the refrigerator'? Close the door, I'm dressing. ~he following are riddles the children had heard, but were unable to repeat accurately. I.) What kind of tracks are in t:1.e butter'? People tracks. 2,) 'ches@ two men, they go down the street, they are colored. One guy says, "l like this resturant, lets eat at th street." SIXTH GRAD.E- ALL LEVELS True H.iddles 1.) What is blac}: and white and red all over? a, A newspaper b. A skunk with ci.iaper rash, c. A nun t:nat got hit by a oar. 2.) What is purple and eats rocks? A purple rock eater. 3.) What has a head and a tail and no body'? A coin. 4.) Whe1t gives milk and has one horn? A milk truck. 5.) What can children make that they can not see? Noise. -26- 6.) What two animals do you take when you go to bod to sleep'? Two calves. 7,) What animal goes to bed with its shoes on? A horse. 8.) What is black and white with a cherry on top? A police car. Conundrums l.J What do you call a soared skin diver? Chicken of the sea. 2.) Why did the boy throw the clock out the window? To see time fly. 3,) What has four legs, two ears ancl tells time? A watch dog. 4.) 'Nhy did the ohiokn cross the road? For fowl purposes. 5.) What did tht11 big frying pan say to the little one? Hi, small fry. 6.) What clid the big chimney say to the little ohimn0y'1 You're too young to smoke. 7.} What did the big firecracker say to the little firecracker? My pop is bigger than your pop. 8.) ,Vhen is a:i,y cook mean? When he beats the @ggs. 9.) ,ihy did the bo;y put his mother under the steps'/ He wanted a step mother. 10.) How do you drive a Pollock crazy? -27- You put him in a round room c,nd tell him there is a dime in the corner. 11.) How do you know where a Pollock lives'I l3ecause of th@ diving board over the septic tank, 12,) How is the longest way to spell '.l'en,1essee? 1-c, 2-c, 3-c, 4-c, 5-c, 6-c, 7-c, 8-c, 9-c, 10-c. 13,) Why did the Pollock keep running around theblock? His blinker stuck. 14,) What did Batman and Robin become when the roller derby ran over them? Flat man and ttubin. 15.) What has fifty teeth? A comb, 16,) What seven letters did the girl say when she opened the refrigerator door? 0 ICU R lYl T, 17.) How do you catch a sq_uirrel? Climb up a tree and act likEil. a nut. 18.) A boy and his father have a wreck, the surgeon comes in and says, "l oi,.n't operate on my own son~ How could that happen when the fa.ther just died? Th@ surgeon was his mother. 19.) Why did -~he boy put ice in his father's bed? He wanted a cool pop. 20.) What does a mirror do 1\'hen you t@ll it a joke? He cracks up. 21.) What did the girl say to the bus driver when she looked lL,e this (hands mash the face.)? Bu:s driver, bus driver, please open the door. 22.) What has four wheels and flies? A garbage truck. 2 ; ,.) w"' hat do you smell with'? (a nose?) Spell it l No, i-t. (N-o-s-eJ -28- 24.) The eye says to another eye, "Guess what's between us?" A mouth. 25.) What is green and sings'f Elvis Parsley. 26.) What do they call a -oull tnat sleeps all the time? A bull dozer. 27.) 'l'here is a guy hung with a noose on the wall. He is 13,000 stories up. In an empty room and the door is locked, the window is open that much (an inch). How did the man die? He stood on a block of dry ice. 28,) Why can't your no 2e be 12 inches long'? Then it would be a foot. 29.) What is purple and eats people? A purple-people-eater. 30.) How do you get a .1:'ollock in a car? Put a bugger on the dash. 31.) Why did the boy put ice in his mother's bed? He wanted a cool mother. 32. J What is orang and black and eats people? An orange cmd black cannibal. 33.) Why dicl the .1:'ollock have to go to the hospital when h was on top of the Empire State Building, smoking a cigarette? He threw the wrong butt off. 34,) What is the softest drink? Minnesota. 35.) How many Pollocks does it take to put up 100 lights? 104. 100 to put up 100 light bulbs. One to hold the ladder One to turn on the switch and one to turn the bulb. 36,) \'/hat did the lady say to the bur,:;ular in three letters? I C U. Catch Riddles 1,) What is red, white, blue and green all over? I don't know but it is crawling up your back. 2.) What did onEI light say to the other? Nothing, lights cari't talk. 3.J How do you double a dollar? Fold it, 4. J What is on your h0ad and under your hat? Your hair. What is th@ easiest to part with? A comb. 6.) Where was the declaration of .1ndependance signed? On the bottom. -29- This is my :flea, Charlie. tricks'? Alri;,;ht, hold out Do you want your hand, to see him do some J:iOld his coat, his breeches, his hat, and his shoes. See him jump over here? See him do a double summersault'l Do you believe that l Have a flea over here? Then why are you holding his clothes in your hand? 8,) What happens when you throw a rock in the M.1ssippi River? It gets wet. 9,) Do you want to hear a dirty joke'? A white horse fell in a mud puddle, 10.) Wher@ do you take off your hat? At the barber. 11,) What did the big nose say to the little nose? Nothing, noses can't talk. -30- ANALYSIS -31- Analysis of these riddles seems to the researcher to indicate that riddling starts to develop at approximately five years old. 'l'his level is in conceptual i'orm only. The:,r understand how to answ@r a riddle, but do not know how to formulate them, or how to express the idea of a riddle. By the time they have ent0red the first grade, they are exchanging riddle:s. This exchange i:s usually in the form of true riddles. By the second grade, the development of the child has moved toward the more complex conundrums and wellerisms. The conundrums seem to be the overall favorite of the childri;m, The ethnic joke or riddle showed up about the fourth grade, but was fully developed by the fifth and sixth grade. The catch riddle seems to be appreciated more by the sixth and fifth grades, We must assume that the appreciation of embarrassment and ethnic differences were developed at the same time. As to how the riddles are communicated, it seems to be by word of mouth, but acutal seeking out of riddles by children from written mat@rial was also evident. 'rhis seems to indicate an active participation of the children, especially up to the third grade, where the develop:nent is quite rapid and then seems to taper off to the development of catch and ethnic. The children as well as the teachers were unaware that the children would be asked riddles. They therefore, were unprepared, and we felt we were aole to get a more accurate -32- picture of the number of riddles the average elementary child knows. It was evident aft er thr@e sessions, that the exceptionally bright children in .i .. ,ch group led their peers in participat: Lon of the riddles. In conclusion, we would have to say that the riddling tradition is still snjoyed very much by school children and is, by their own choice, a part of their education. -33- APPENDIX There were several jokes and hand games collect@d at th@ same tim@, The children sometimes thought of them as riddles. Pictures were taken of some of these, in order to better por-, tray them. '.l:HIRD GRADE- UPPER LEVEL 1. stick your hand up here. Press the thumb (.thumb turns into a gun). You're under arrest. 2. Put your fingers up like this (interlaced up). "Says its name in every bite". Alil this is l!lung, diff@rent fingers are touched. "Nestles Crunch". Fingers are Judo chopped. 3. What is this (Fingers touching)? A spider doing push-ups on a mirror. 4, Child taking hand and repeating four times, "If there were three cars, which one would you pick?" Each time folding a finger back, until thumb is left. "Hitch hike." 5. Open the refrigerator. take out a coke. Open it up. Drink it up. l'ut it back in the refrigerator. Close it. "Me Chinese. Me play joke. rtle put pee pe in your Coke. 11 6. :Put your finger in there. Turn it around. Thanks for cleaning out my toilet. (.Child made a hole with her fist, asked researcher to put firJ.i,;er in the hole and turn it around.) FOURTH GRADE- te\IDDLE LEVEL 1. .lf the little boy had a father with eyes like this (slanted up) and a mother who had eyes like this (.slanted down), what would he look like? Child pulls one eye up and the other down. This was the first ethnic jok. -34- FIFTH GR.ADE- ALL LEVELS 1. 1,10ther, t/lother, next time you put tooth picks in the cake, please tell me. (Child pulls skin of the neck out, just below the ears, with thumb and index finger). 2. Little boy asks teacher to borrow another pencil, because the other one is stuck in his throat (Skin of neck is pulled out below ec,.ch ear with thumb and finger). 3. there was an indian whose name was Short Cake. 1-1e got lost and he had a squaw who loved him. They finally found him, and the chief said, "Well guess we have to bury him. 11 'l'he squaw said, "Don't worry, squaw bury Short Cake." 4. tiow does a .l:'ollock tie his shoe? Child puts one foot on a table and bends down and ties his other shoe. 5. rtow does a .l:'ollock scratch his ear? Child scratches palm of hand and places hand on ear. 6. How does a .l:'ollock scratch his @lbow? Child then scratches palm and places it on his elbow. 7. 110w does a .Pollock fight? One hand over face and the other making a fist. SIX'fH GRADE- ALL LEVELS 1. !'llomma, Momma, Daddy just threw up. Give me a spoon. Billy is getting all the big pieces. 2. What did the girl say to the bus driver when she looked like this? (Hands mash the face). Bus Driver, bus driver, please open the door. 3. If a car was corning this way, and this way, what would you do? Slam on your brakes. (You twist hands together, after crossing arms, and the hands are pushed toward your body, -35- when he says, "Slam on the brakes". A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us in a position to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials accurately. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created. Additionally, our work to use reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete is ongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.