Ready Reference Treatise: Tell Me a Riddle

“Tell Me a Riddle” by Tillie Olsen is a collection of four short stories. The book was first published in 1961.

The stories in the book are” “I Stand Here Ironing,” “Hey Sailor, What Ship?” “O Yes,” and “Tell Me a Riddle.”

These stories explore the themes of social pressures, individuality, stratification, conformity, feminism, motherhood, racism, and authorship, etc.

Through this book, the author seems to be very clearly providing a voice to the voiceless. She also shows marginalized stereotypes as complex individuals.

Ready Reference Treatise: Tell Me a Riddle
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
“I Stand Here Ironing"
“Hey Sailor, What Ship?"
“O Yes”
"Tell Me a Riddle"
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis