The question "Why is a raven like a writing desk?" is a famous nonsensical riddle posed by the Mad Hatter in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Originally, Carroll intended it to have no answer, as part of the whimsical, absurd nature of the story. However, over time, many readers and Carroll himself offered various answers, such as:
- Because it can produce a few notes, though they are very flat; and it is nevar [never] put with the wrong end in front! (Carroll's later suggested answer, with "nevar" being "raven" spelled backward except for the last letter)
- Both can produce notes (ravens make sounds; writing desks hold paper for notes).
- Both have inky quills (a raven’s feathers and the quills used for writing).
Ultimately, the charm of the riddle lies in its playful absurdity—there’s no definitive answer, just imaginative and clever speculation.
