Who Am I? 12 Literary Character Riddles

Challenge yourself to correctly guess these riddles without looking below at the answers. Can you name them all?

1. I am clever and engaging, but also rather shallow. To insure my inheritance, I pretend to court one girl while I’m secretly engaged to another. Who am I?

2.  I don’t get out much, but I watch everything, especially the two children that live down the street. I left gifts for them in an old tree and kill a man to save their lives. Who am I?

3. I will never back down from a fight, unless forced to in the home of my uncle. I killed a man in a street brawl. Later, I was killed by his best friend, who also happened to be my cousin’s secret husband. Who am I?

4. My voice is like a song. My cousin says it’s full of money. I was torn between two men, an idealized old lover and my philandering husband. In the end, I chose not to change, but remain a beautiful little fool. Who am I?

5. I admit I was curious once. I must have been the most well-read fireman there was. But I wanted answers and the books only gave me questions. So, I used my book knowledge to manipulate my fellow curious firemen. Who am I?

6. I am a wonderful cook, but my mouth is continually getting me into trouble. I have been called every Southern white woman’s nightmare, for I’m not above adding a special ingredient to my chocolate pie and serving two pieces to my former employer. Who am I?

7. I am ambitious and strong. After hearing a prophecy that my husband will become King of Scotland, I encourage my husband to murder the king and take his crown. However, I am later overcome with guilt and take my own life. Who am I?

8. I am heir to the Bennet estate, and am thrilled that the estate can make a living. I would not dream of casting my cousins out. At least, not while I can enjoy the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Who am I?

9. When it comes to my daughter’s future happiness, I am insistent that a man should always have an occupation of some kind even if it is smoking, and that he must produce more of a parent than a parcel found in a cloakroom. Who am I?

10. My father was killed in front of me when I was just a child. I spent my life studying fencing and became the youngest sword-fighting aficionado, so that when I meet the six-fingered man, I will not fail again. Who am I?

11. I grin when I’m spoken to. I grin when I’m not. I grin when I appear and sometimes, when I disappear, I leave my grin behind. Who am I?

12. I ask my questions, here and there. I ask my questions everywhere. I’d like to know if you like green eggs and ham. Do you know who I am?

Did you guess them all? Check your answers below. Have your own riddle to add? Write it in the comments below!

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Answer 1: Frank Churchill from Emma, by Jane Austen

Answer 2: Arthur “Boo” Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Answer 3: Tybalt Capulet from Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

Answer 4: Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Answer 5: Captain Beatty from Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

Answer 6: Minny Jackson from The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

Answer 7: Lady Macbeth from Macbeth, by William Shakespeare

Answer 8: Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Answer 9: Lady Bracknell from The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde

Answer 10: Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride, by William Golding

Answer 11: The Cheshire Cat from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

Answer 12: Sam (also correct: Sam I Am) from Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss

Julie is Traffic Manager at Half Price Books Corporate.
You may follow her on Twitter at @auntjewey.