The Da Vinci Code Game

Zaius · 06-05-2004, 02:51 AM

Ok, so while reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, I came across some riddles in iambic pentameter form, that I thought were pretty fun to think about and solve.

Now I might give away some of the story to anyone who hasn't read the book so I'm going to put the background in spoilers:

[[In the book, the main characters have to solve riddles, some of which come in iambic pentameter form and whose answers must be spelled out on a "cryptex" - a device designed by Leonardo Da Vinci to contain a parchment inside it that could only be reached by arranging 5 dials of letters in the correct order.]]

I thought it would be fun to have a FORT game where we make our own riddles and solve them too!

Anyhow, the riddles must be in iambic pentameter. An iamb is a set of 2 syllables, the first being unstressed, the second being stressed. The pentameter part means there are 5 sets in one line.

So it basically goes pa-DUM pa-DUM pa-DUM pa-DUM pa-DUM. The book includes an aabb rhyming scheme. First 2 lines rhyme, last 2 lines rhyme, 4 lines total.

The answer will always consist of 5 letters. Whoever gets it right may make their own riddle, or if they don't want to, let anyone else give it a try. I really have no idea if anyone will even like this, but I thought I'd try anyways!

Ok here's the first one:

Some atoms in her ashes do decay.
The widow sleeps in Paris every day.
The fire deep within her gave her fame.
Another, much less obvious, killed the dame.

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SnowflakeGirl · 06-06-2004, 01:51 AM

Is the answer Curie? Marie Curie?

Zaius · 06-06-2004, 01:58 AM

Yes! Wow, good job!

The ashes of Curie are in the Pantheon in Paris. She died (indirectly) of radiation poisoning and so some atoms in her ashes are unstable and are still breaking down towards stable ones. The much less obvious fire is the radiation that back then wasn't deemeed as dangerous as it should be. In fact she handled a lot of radioactive materials with her bare hands and it is said some of her notebooks' fingerprints still show radioactivity to this day! Oh and she was a widow for the latter part of her life as her husband Pierre died tragically. She continued her work, though and made a lot of advancements.

Your turn SnowflakeGirl.

Texicana · 06-06-2004, 02:03 AM

I could guess these, but the iambic pentameter would kill me. I can't even come up with a simple haiku

SnowflakeGirl · 06-06-2004, 02:19 AM

Yeah, I don't know if I can write as elegant couplets as you, Zaius. Plus have it be a riidle as well! I can give it a try, but I'm not guaranteeing Shakespeare here.

SnowflakeGirl · 06-06-2004, 02:43 AM

Most people would find them a bit absurd:
Two men who wait for one not seen but heard;
Watch Vladimir and Estragon all day;
Who is the man they wish would come to play?

applesauce · 06-06-2004, 03:46 AM

Godot?

SnowflakeGirl · 06-06-2004, 05:08 AM

Yes!

You are up on your absurdist theater, Applesauce. Your turn!

applesauce · 06-06-2004, 06:41 AM

I have some close relatives who work in the theatre so I have had wide exposure over the years. Vladimir and Estragon just clicked for me.

I may need to think on this a while...if anyone else wants to jump in with their own riddle, go for it! I will try to get something up soon.

WomynLee · 06-06-2004, 06:54 PM

My humble attempt:

Never finished high school is a little known fact.
Fame and fortune he does not lack.
Though hated and "booed" he is not ashamed,
for pleasing him is the key to fame.

06-05-2004, 02:51 AM	#1
Zaius Allez les Bleus! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,362	The Da Vinci Code Game Ok, so while reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, I came across some riddles in iambic pentameter form, that I thought were pretty fun to think about and solve. Now I might give away some of the story to anyone who hasn't read the book so I'm going to put the background in spoilers: [[In the book, the main characters have to solve riddles, some of which come in iambic pentameter form and whose answers must be spelled out on a "cryptex" - a device designed by Leonardo Da Vinci to contain a parchment inside it that could only be reached by arranging 5 dials of letters in the correct order.]] I thought it would be fun to have a FORT game where we make our own riddles and solve them too! Anyhow, the riddles must be in iambic pentameter. An iamb is a set of 2 syllables, the first being unstressed, the second being stressed. The pentameter part means there are 5 sets in one line. So it basically goes pa-DUM pa-DUM pa-DUM pa-DUM pa-DUM. The book includes an aabb rhyming scheme. First 2 lines rhyme, last 2 lines rhyme, 4 lines total. The answer will always consist of 5 letters. Whoever gets it right may make their own riddle, or if they don't want to, let anyone else give it a try. I really have no idea if anyone will even like this, but I thought I'd try anyways! Ok here's the first one: Some atoms in her ashes do decay. The widow sleeps in Paris every day. The fire deep within her gave her fame. Another, much less obvious, killed the dame. __________________ "The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of an expanding bureaucracy." -- Unknown

06-06-2004, 01:51 AM	#2
SnowflakeGirl Picture Perfect Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In the Limelight Posts: 7,348	Is the answer Curie? Marie Curie? __________________ *Sending good vibes and warm fuzzies your way..., SnowflakeGirl* All New AMERICA'S TOP MODEL Recaps! Premiere Pt. 1 & Pt. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Dinah's Dynamite Ep. 5, Ep. 6, Ep. 7, Ep. 8, Ep. 9, Ep. 10, Ep. 11, Finale Relive every beautiful moment of America's Next Top Model...Click here for links to prior season recaps & interviews.

06-06-2004, 01:58 AM	#3
Zaius Allez les Bleus! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,362	Yes! Wow, good job! The ashes of Curie are in the Pantheon in Paris. She died (indirectly) of radiation poisoning and so some atoms in her ashes are unstable and are still breaking down towards stable ones. The much less obvious fire is the radiation that back then wasn't deemeed as dangerous as it should be. In fact she handled a lot of radioactive materials with her bare hands and it is said some of her notebooks' fingerprints still show radioactivity to this day! Oh and she was a widow for the latter part of her life as her husband Pierre died tragically. She continued her work, though and made a lot of advancements. Your turn SnowflakeGirl. __________________ "The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of an expanding bureaucracy." -- Unknown Last edited by Zaius; 06-06-2004 at 02:05 AM.

06-06-2004, 02:03 AM	#4
Texicana Rude and Abrasive Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: in the kitchen, darling! Age: 38 Posts: 4,844	I could guess these, but the iambic pentameter would kill me. I can't even come up with a simple haiku __________________ " I look like Nigella Lawson with a $#*!ing hangover."

06-06-2004, 02:19 AM	#5
SnowflakeGirl Picture Perfect Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In the Limelight Posts: 7,348	Yeah, I don't know if I can write as elegant couplets as you, Zaius. Plus have it be a riidle as well! I can give it a try, but I'm not guaranteeing Shakespeare here. __________________ *Sending good vibes and warm fuzzies your way..., SnowflakeGirl* All New AMERICA'S TOP MODEL Recaps! Premiere Pt. 1 & Pt. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Dinah's Dynamite Ep. 5, Ep. 6, Ep. 7, Ep. 8, Ep. 9, Ep. 10, Ep. 11, Finale Relive every beautiful moment of America's Next Top Model...Click here for links to prior season recaps & interviews.

06-06-2004, 02:43 AM	#6
SnowflakeGirl Picture Perfect Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In the Limelight Posts: 7,348	Most people would find them a bit absurd: Two men who wait for one not seen but heard; Watch Vladimir and Estragon all day; Who is the man they wish would come to play? __________________ *Sending good vibes and warm fuzzies your way..., SnowflakeGirl* All New AMERICA'S TOP MODEL Recaps! Premiere Pt. 1 & Pt. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Dinah's Dynamite Ep. 5, Ep. 6, Ep. 7, Ep. 8, Ep. 9, Ep. 10, Ep. 11, Finale Relive every beautiful moment of America's Next Top Model...Click here for links to prior season recaps & interviews.

06-06-2004, 03:46 AM	#7
applesauce FORTfruity Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,099	Godot?

06-06-2004, 05:08 AM	#8
SnowflakeGirl Picture Perfect Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In the Limelight Posts: 7,348	Yes! You are up on your absurdist theater, Applesauce. Your turn! __________________ *Sending good vibes and warm fuzzies your way..., SnowflakeGirl* All New AMERICA'S TOP MODEL Recaps! Premiere Pt. 1 & Pt. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Dinah's Dynamite Ep. 5, Ep. 6, Ep. 7, Ep. 8, Ep. 9, Ep. 10, Ep. 11, Finale Relive every beautiful moment of America's Next Top Model...Click here for links to prior season recaps & interviews.

06-06-2004, 06:41 AM	#9
applesauce FORTfruity Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,099	I have some close relatives who work in the theatre so I have had wide exposure over the years. Vladimir and Estragon just clicked for me. I may need to think on this a while...if anyone else wants to jump in with their own riddle, go for it! I will try to get something up soon.

06-06-2004, 06:54 PM	#10
WomynLee I like them silent Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,131	My humble attempt: Never finished high school is a little known fact. Fame and fortune he does not lack. Though hated and "booed" he is not ashamed, for pleasing him is the key to fame. Last edited by WomynLee; 06-06-2004 at 06:58 PM.