Conundrum Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: W.9-10.3.A

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When we run into a situation that we are unfamiliar with and have no experience with, we call that a conundrum. Initially we feel this type of situation is unresolvable, at the very least this is some sort of riddle that requires a great deal of more thought. Since no one is an expert in everything, we will all run into these types of scenarios regularly until we gain a good deal of experience in life. When this is used in literature it is often used to help heighten the story by making the characters more relatable. Audiences often relate to characters that run into a struggle. This selection of worksheets will help students better understand the concept of a conundrum in many different situations.

Conundrum Worksheets To Print:

Antigone - Review a work in class and answer a series of questions. Do you agree with this choice? Why or why not? What would you have done in the same situation?

Last Days of Socrates - Take a look into this classic.

Wuthering Heights - Another classic example for you to dig into with this worksheet.

Explore It - The is a true or false look into this form technique.

Close - Differentiate between the closely related concepts.

Characterization - Think about the story you are writing. Is there a character for whom a moral dilemma might be appropriate?

Problems with Character - What are the options, and what would taking each option reveal about the character?

Uses in Fiction - Explore how this technique is used in any work of fiction.

Plot - We show how this technique can be used to drive the plot of the story.

The Dark Knight - If you were one of the passengers on this boat, which course of action would you advocate? Why?

The Trolley Problem - We explore this well known exercise and see what decision your students would make when given their options.

Different Types - Explore the different forms that these dilemmas can take on.

Morals - Evalaute a situation that your teacher presents to you.

The Concept - Adapt this concept to your life and determine the last time you came across this.

What is It? - Take a deep dive on the experiences that students have had with this before.

What Is A Conundrum?


Conundrum means a problem that is either challenging or almost impossible to solve.

 

Origin of the Word


The exact origin of this word isn't certain, but it has been around since the early 1600s. Some believe that the word originated from Oxford University, where it was used to describe a silly or fussy person. Later, it was used to define a silly idea. Then, people associated it with wordplay or a pun.


In the 1700s, the meaning of conundrum evolved to a difficult problem or a question. People had adopted different spellings of this word, including quonundrum, quadundrum, conuncrum, and conimbrum. The spelling used today was established in the mid-17th century.

 

What is a Conundrum in Literature?


In this century, "conundrum" in literature holds a very broad meaning. It describes numerous puzzling situations, ranging from strong social, moral, and ethical dilemmas to funny wordplay riddles.


- It is used for dilemmas because the availability of two or more options makes it a challenging situation for people.


- It is used for wordplay riddles because they involve twists and puns that make them hard to solve.

 

Types of Conundrums

Because conundrum is a broad term, assigning categories to different kinds of conundrums becomes complex. However, we have highlighted some of the common categories below.


Moral Conundrum


People face moral dilemmas at every step of their lives. It's a situation where there are too many options, and you have to decide which is morally correct. For example, we all know that lying is wrong. But what should we do when telling the truth will hurt someone's feelings? Or what would you do if you saw your friend stealing something from the classroom?


Practical Conundrum


A practical conundrum is when you have to choose an option for yourself, but you don't know which one to pick. For example, you get selected in two of the top universities in your country, and now you have to pick one out of them. Practical dilemmas require you to think about what's right for you, while moral dilemmas require you to think about your decision's impact on others.


Wordplay Riddles


Riddles that often contain a pun or wordplay are challenging to solve. Hence, they are also referred to as conundrums. Sometimes, the answers to such riddles leave you stumped because of their unexpected twists.


Try answering the following conundrums for fun!


- What has 13 hearts and no other organs? ::: A deck of cards.


- Name the longest word of English Language ::: Smiles; it has a mile between the first and the last letter.

 


Why Are Conundrums Important in Literature?


The concept of a conundrum is used to display the emotions, feelings, and other attributes of a character to which the readers can relate. Everyone faces almost impossible-to-solve questions in life; sometimes, you just can't figure out which option is morally and practically right for you. Therefore, authors can express the personality of their characters more clearly by telling us how they face certain conundrums in a story.