Black Within and Red Without (Riddle) Lyrics
Black inside, red outside, with four corners. Can you guess what it is? The answer stood on top of almost every old house.
Black Within and Red Without (Riddle)
Black within, and red without;
Four corners round about.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/black-within-and-red-without/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken riddle
- Best for ages
- 5 to 10 years
What Does Black Within and Red Without (Riddle) Mean?
The answer is a chimney. Inside, it is black with soot from the fire. Outside, it is made of red bricks. And most chimneys are square, with four corners. Each line is a clue, and together they point to one thing.
History and Origin
James Orchard Halliwell printed the riddle with its answer in brackets: "A Chimney." When every house was heated by coal or wood fires, chimneys and chimney sweeps were part of daily life, so children could solve this one by looking out of the window.
Learning Activities
- Guess first: read the riddle and let your child guess before telling the answer.
- Chimney spotting: count chimneys on a walk and check their color.
- Make a riddle: describe a window or a door in two lines and see if others can guess.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the answer to Black within and red without?
A chimney: black with soot inside, red brick outside.
Why four corners?
Most brick chimneys are square.