Six Poetry Formats and the Transforming Image

Book excerpt: Philippine Folk Literature: The Riddles constitutes Volume V of the author's eight-volume Philippine Folk Literature series. This work is intended to be a national collection of Philippine riddles--a putting together of available collections of riddles from all over the country, from Batanes to Jolo. The riddles are listed, according to solution, under nineteen subject categories and one "Miscellaneous" category. Within each group, the riddles are arranged alphabetically, according to answer, or solution, in English translation. For each entry, the riddle in English translation is given first. Then under it are listed the different Philippine versions of the riddle, in georgraphical order: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. Every Philippine version carries with it a language label and source (collector/collection). To give the reader an idea of the richness and variety of the images of comparison used in the metaphorical riddles, the most dominant and striking of these ar listed in an index.