Alexander Puzzle - 29 june
Alexander is stranded on an island covered in forest.
One day, when the wind is blowing from the west, lightning strikes the west end of the island and sets fire to the forest. The fire is very violent, burning everything in its path, and without intervention the fire will burn the whole island, killing the man in the process.
There are cliffs around the island, so he cannot jump off.
How can the Alexander survive the fire? (There are no buckets or any other means to put out the fire)
One day, when the wind is blowing from the west, lightning strikes the west end of the island and sets fire to the forest. The fire is very violent, burning everything in its path, and without intervention the fire will burn the whole island, killing the man in the process.
There are cliffs around the island, so he cannot jump off.
How can the Alexander survive the fire? (There are no buckets or any other means to put out the fire)
Enter the sea on western side (without drowning).
ReplyDeletetravle east for if the wind is blowing west ande the fire is on the west side the east would not be affected
DeleteWell he doesn't have to worry about the fire because it's raining
DeleteThe wind is blowing FROM the west.
DeleteJust pee on the fire
Delete@above had a good laugh out of that thx and ikr
DeleteCall a fire force immediately
Deletehe shall die in peace
DeleteHow did he become stranded on an island surrounded by cliffs
DeleteEasy. Grab a branch or stick or something flammable and set it on fire, Should be easy to do since there is a huge fire. Then run away from th fire and set fire to an area upwind. then follow the fire you set.
DeleteStart digging and get underground until it's over :-)
DeleteI think since it is a forest it has healthy vegetation so therefore the fire wouldn't last long..Right?
Deletemake a fire line in between and it will not spread
Deleteas simple as that.....if no cutting tool then light another fire surrounding the fire from west
both will extinguish each other
Assuming he can run faster than the fire spreads, he will run towards the fire and take a burning twig or log out of that. Then he comes back and using that log he starts an alternate controlled fire in a small unburnt patch. As soon as the patch is burnt, he will blow the fire out. Now on the island he has a patch where he can stand without getting burnt because there is no fuel in that patch for the forest fire. This way the whole island will catch fire except the patch where hes standing.
ReplyDeletebut the heat around him would incinerate him.
DeleteYes, assuming he runs faster and the ireland is a bit bigger, then he can light from half of the ireland. he should remember to stand on the opposite side of the direction the fire is burning. as the fire spread towards the east, then he can stand on the burnt pathc.by the time the fire reaches half the ireland, there will be enough burnt space for him. I SAW THIS ON THE MOVIE 'THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY',it is very nice.
DeleteGood job, Sherlock.
Deletehe has no way of putting it out, re read the question
Deleteits not ireland its island
DeleteOh yeah ure right U must be looking carefully great looking by the way.
DeleteHe could just burn a bigger patch so there would be enough room that it wouldn't burn him up
Deletegrab some marshmellows
DeleteI've seen this trick in Gods must be crazy 2
Deletemost likely the Alexander is a ship and if this is true depending on how big the ship is he could just stay inside
DeleteStay in the west... He will survive the fire but will suffer electrical disturbance in the body!!! Anyway, the lightn ing strikes only once acoording to the story. so the probability that the lightning will hit him is very low!!!
ReplyDeleteBut the lightening hits the forest and that sets the forest on fire because of the heat of the electricution u just got out smarted by a 6 year old
DeleteWhat if the above is only 4? hmmmm? Didn't think of that did you?
DeleteAS THE FIRE START AT WEST END AND WIND IS ON THE WEST DIRECTION IT WILL NOT AFEECT HIM. HE ILL SURVIVE NATURLLY
ReplyDeletethe wind is coming from the west not towards it, I know your probably so proud you found the solution but rakesh you happen to be wrong
Deletehe could stand in the middle of the island and when he sees the fire jump into the water and wait for the fire to cross midway then again come back to the island
ReplyDeletehe has to climb the cliffs on the west side
ReplyDeleteJump in the water!!!
ReplyDeletedude. it clearly states you cant jump off the island cause of cliffs.
Deletehaha
Deletedig a hole, and hop in it
ReplyDeleteperfect answer
DeleteFire is too hot, it will still burn him.
Deletehaha...that way he won't get burnt,only baked.
Deleteyeah im going with dig a hole and hop in it.
DeleteThe cliffs are around the island, therefore they are not actually on the island but in water surrounding. As a result Alexander can stand on the beach and still be safe as the fire will not burn him on the sand
ReplyDeleteCliffs on all sides...how did alex get himself onto the island then?
DeleteIts a riddle, they dont have to be completely logical.
DeleteYes they do have to be completly logical that's the point of a riddle.
Deletethts nt the point of a riddle
DeleteWell...you can start another fire and use the fire to put out the other fire. A fire will cancel out another one if done correctly.
ReplyDeleteJump into the sea !!
ReplyDeleteIts an island so there must be water that he can easily find and swim away in.
ReplyDeleteall of you are wrong! Just head to the West!
ReplyDeleteand so are you! the wind is blowing from the west idiot
DeleteWat an idiot
DeleteGo for a swim. It's refreshing. Then catch some fish, so he can actually make use of the fire. :DD
ReplyDeleteCan you show me how to swim on a cliff?
DeleteOh my god, people! Alexander is on the east side of the freakin' island!
ReplyDeleteThe wind is blowing FROM the west, TOWARDS him.
DeleteAs there are cliffs around the island he can climb one of them
ReplyDeleteI just would not worry, Its raining so the water would put out the fire!!!
Deletei agree run to the west the wind is blowing west the fire is on the west so the fire will head west ....... fire on the west side + wind blowing west = fire moving even farther west>>>>>>>>>>> he can head west and still be safe while watching the fire die
ReplyDeletethe wind isnt blowing west, its blowing FROM the west
Deleteif the wind is blowing from the West, it is blowing east.
ReplyDeletethe question doesn't actually mention where is standing either so he could be standing on the beach looking at the forest which as now caught fire.
simply standing still is going to save him.
I thought it said it would burn the entire forest, the entire island so, no beach.
Deletewell then he would be standing in the water, not on a beach
DeleteImmediately start a new fire in the middle if the island. As both fires move to the east, follow the new fire. The original fire will burn out once it reaches the middle of the island.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good one, egts my vote
DeleteYess, I have to agree with you on this one. This is the best solution i have seen so far.
DeleteNice, someone is thinking.
DeleteGood One
Deletefor that, he will need
Delete1) a burning device...
2) a systematic approach to burn exactly the line dividing the island
3) a hell lot of time before fire from the west catches him
4) immense luck
I believe that lighting struck 1-2 trees max, not the entire west side of the island, so he should find solace in the unburnt westmost side of the island for the wind is pushing the fire eastword, not north or southwards..
Long live alexander!
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Deletedig a hole in the sand and find as much food as you can, pile it with you and put sand over the hole.
ReplyDeletethis would work aswell but ud need a breathing aperatus that wouldnot burn, witch you probobly wont find on the island
Deleteno.. forest fires actually burn/smoulder underground as well. you'd have to dig a VERY deep hole, so not to feel the heat. And yes, oxygen would become a problem.
DeleteS/P
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe answer is that "The Alexander" is not in danger of the fire, only "the man" is in danger of the fire. The question leads us to assume that Alexander is the man, but it doesn't ask us about Alexander. The final hint is when the riddle asks, "How can THE Alexander survive the fire?". Most likely, THE Alexander is a ship or vessel of some sort, named after the man who is called Alexander. It is left for us to speculate.
ReplyDeleteLol. Very observant. You are quite correct. I think this is the right answer. I posted "set fire upwind to save "the man" solution... "The Alexander" is safe no matter what.
Deleteif you start a second fire and the wind is blowing east then your still screwed. the best way to escape it is to jump off the cliff. if he jumps off the cliff then he survives the fire.
ReplyDeleteDidn't the riddle say that the man died?
ReplyDeleteit didn't say the fire was on the cliff
ReplyDeletecant he just fly away
ReplyDeleteHaha exactly!
Deletemaybe he spontaneously combusted, so that being, he could EAT the fire, send out the signal for batman with a phone or something and fry up batman as a nice meal. while batman is putting out the fire you could be thinking of how to stirfry and cook this fillet min-yon. call up your homie elmo and mr crab lice and gerbil and eat that
ReplyDelete$@#&$.........huhhehehehunhumhmmmmmnmuawahawhwhuahuawuhawaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!
who are you.
Deletewhats your address? :)
alxexzander is my moms name.my mom is veryproud of it too just in case you were wondering. he had a great child hood. looks like a man though for some reason.
ReplyDelete>>>>>>>>>>>>!!!1$$#@$^^$#
Delete:)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteHe just escapes SWIMMIGLY! XD
ReplyDeleteThe man will light fire in front of him by using lighter/match-stick. That fire will burn out the area towards east coz wind is blowing east-ward and the fire comming behinde him will have nothing to burn. He will use burnt area to protect him from the comming fire.
ReplyDeleteITS RAINING
ReplyDeleteGuys I got it. Ok, the fire struck the west side and the wind is blowing west. So, just go due east and he won't be harmed. =P
ReplyDeleteWind is blowing from the west, so its actualy blowing the fire east. LTR if yout going to post
DeleteIt doesn't say where the lightning strikes and therefore we don't know where the fire starts. Wind blowing from the west will prevent fire from occurring in the west as the wind will put it out. So he should go to the west
ReplyDeleteLightning strikes the western side of the island and wind is blowing from the west so the whole island will burn. Alex isn't in danger anyway THE MAN IS!!
Deleteomg! didnt you know he cant go to the cliff everyboodey!!!
ReplyDeleteAlexander is a bird. Nowhere does it say he's human.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think you've got it. Because the wind is coming from the west-it will speed up his flight! :)
DeleteYeah, I think you've got it. Because the wind is coming from the west-it will speed up his flight! :)
Deletehmm? but does it not say that it will kill "the man" in the process? If it just meant to say that any man on the island would be killed, it wouldn't have specified man with "the". So I think that man refers to Alexander.
DeleteYeah, I think you've got it. Because the wind is coming from the west-it will speed up his flight! :)
DeleteClimb a tree, green don't burn
ReplyDeleteThen the fire will be under you.
DeleteThe fire is very violent, burning everything in its path, and without intervention the fire will burn the whole island, killing the man in the process.
ReplyDeleteHe DIED. The End
no.... there are cliffs! if he jumps of, he'll die. duh
ReplyDeleteAlexander need not run anywhere.
ReplyDeletesince he was stranded on an island covered IN FOREST that means an island is surrounded by water. if FOREST catches fire from any direction it will not do any harm to Alexander.....
no
Deletehe just makes a little hole, then he hides in the hole untill the fire burns out
ReplyDeleteHe should start a fire on the east side and then stay behind the fire so that once the east side is burnt, there is nothing for the other fire to burn there.
ReplyDeletego north or south
ReplyDeleteThis should be the best solution I've seen so far...OMG...why haven I thought of this before???
DeleteAlexander picks up a piece of wood and lights it from the fire on the west end of the island.
ReplyDeleteHe then quickly carries it near the east end of he island and starts a new fire. The wind will cause that fire to burn out the eastern end and he can then shelter in the burnt area.
Alexander survives the fire, but dies of starvation, with all the food in the forest burnt....lolzzz
Alexander picks up a piece of wood and lights it from the fire on the west end of the island.
ReplyDeleteHe then quickly carries it near the east end of he island and starts a new fire. The wind will cause that fire to burn out the eastern end and he can then shelter in the burnt area.
Alexander survives the fire, but dies of starvation, with all the food in the forest burnt
Alexander picks up a piece of wood and lights it from the fire on the west end of the island.
ReplyDeleteHe then quickly carries it near the east end of the island and starts a new fire. The wind will cause that fire to burn out the eastern end and he can then shelter in the burnt area.
Alexander survives the fire, but dies of starvation, with all the food in the forest burnt
The man picks up a piece of wood and lights it from the fire on the west end of the island.
ReplyDeleteHe then quickly carries it near the east end of he island and starts a new fire. The wind will cause that fire to burn out the eastern end and he can then shelter in the burnt area.
The man survives the fire, but dies of starvation, with all the food in the forest burnt.
Get parents involved to help make sure your students are safe.
ReplyDeletesecurity
hey
Deletehow the hell did alexander get on the island if there are cliffs around him?
ReplyDeleteAssuming that Alexander is a a Ookemon trainer; he will send out Blastoise and put out the fire with hydro pump!!!!
ReplyDeletePokemon.
Deletevery simple... CALL 911 :)
ReplyDelete... im thinking an island that is on fire would attract attention. Im sure it would take a few days for the fire to reach the opposite end of the island (where Alexander would be) and some rescue team will hopefully have noticed by then. Yay Alexander is saved!
ReplyDeleteIt's raining so he doesn't have to worry about the fire reaching him because the rain would put it out
ReplyDeletethe fire will melt the ice and make the fire go out. simple.
ReplyDeleteIs there an answer? I'm dying to know it now
ReplyDeleteAlexander picks up a piece of wood and lights it from the fire on the west end of the island.
ReplyDeleteHe then quickly carries it near the east end of he island and starts a new fire. The wind will cause that fire to burn out the eastern end and he can then shelter in the burnt area.
Alexander survives the fire, but dies of starvation, with all the food in the forest burnt....lolzzz
If its lightning so its ultimately gonna rain, rain drops will stop fire.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Alexander is a bird and can just fly away off the island. They never stated that he was a man.
ReplyDeleteSince the fire is in the west, n the wind is blowing the fire to the east, Alexander can actually run towards the North or the South where the fire will not reach, n then call 911 for rescue...lolzzzz...
ReplyDeleteHey...this is an awesome solution...someone is finally thinkin'...
DeleteUh
Deletethere sre 2 ways in which he can survive this fire. 1 being run to the east of d island and start a fire there.
ReplyDeletesince the riddle says ONE DAY WIND IS BLOWING AND LIGHTING STRIKES. WE CAN ASSUME THE WIND SUBSIDES.
there for setting a fire to the east of the island will be a smart move for him cuz the both fires will eventually clash and burn out.
2nd way is easier its an island there has to be some sort of fresh water pond and or stream there that is big and deep enuf for him to survive. just jump in the water and wait.
he should be rescued eventually cause a fire of that magnitude will brings ships and other vessels close enough for him to signal a rescue.
MAYBE?
Start fire on opposite side ..it reduce fire the opposite side as attraction will repel on the other side!!....the solution will know if you seen the movie "GOD MUST BE CRAZY"!!
ReplyDeleteWait Wait Wait
ReplyDeleteif it have cliffs on every side
how did he reach on d island to begin with
It is an island right? Every island is made from volcanoes, why not climb the volcanoe and stay there until the fire burns out -.-
ReplyDelete2 ideas.
ReplyDelete1) Climb the side of one of the cliffs and wait for the fire to past by you, then climb up again.
2) Creat a fire line (it depends how big the island is, and how far ahead you can get). Basicly, remove everything that can burn and dig a trench in a small semi-circle against the edge of the cliff, so that the fire can't spread to that area. This'll save you from starving, so long as you get a good spot.
** It doesn't have to be raining for there to be a thunderstorm
S/P
3)(one more idea)... We don't know the shape of the island. It could be in the shape of a 'U' with both ends facing west. If that's the case, then you'd just have to go to the other end... assuming the wind doesn't change directions :S
ReplyDeleteS/P
Alexander survive in the fire because of his interest to live.
ReplyDeleteI'm confusd? :S
ReplyDeleteHe survived because the rain put out the fire.
ReplyDeleteAlexander Wakes from his dream and escapes!!!
ReplyDeletethe man would build a seat park it on the east side of the island face it west, sit and watch until he could not take it any more then leap off the edge of the cliff hoping to survive but clearly would not it is a sad story but thats what would happen, death by instinct. Mean while the alexander shipmates would be partying to the sweet bonfire they started gettin wasted and smokin some fine island marahoochi.
ReplyDeleteit says there are no buckets to put the fire out, and if the island is surrounded by cliffs then there would be a water sorce on the island like a lake otherwise why mension the buckets, hope in the lake and let the fire burn around you
ReplyDelete*mention
Delete*hop
Riddle said Alexander was on the island.. Where in the riddle does it say alexander is a man? Is alexander a bird and flew off the island... hmmmmm
ReplyDeletei like that
Deletebut who said he actually wants to survive? being stranded is harsh, man. you learn things.just let nature take its course, man. for all we know he could be a genie
ReplyDeleteit's an island - island's aren't surrounded by cliffs?
ReplyDeleteAlexander picks up a piece of wood and lights it from the fire on the west end of the island.
ReplyDeleteHe then quickly carries it near the east end of he island and starts a new fire. The wind will cause that fire to burn out the eastern end and he can then shelter in the burnt area.
Alexander survives the fire, but dies of starvation, with all the food in the forest burnt....lolzzz
The man dies, "the Alexander" is a ship and is still in the water.
ReplyDeletejust wake up , if hes dreaming
ReplyDeleteif Alexander was stranded on the island, and was not conected to the sea (wich is anyway not drinkable, for it is filed with salt) he must have had some water sorese he could drink from. that would give the answer of just jumping into the water,he should find the lowest place in the stream (or whatever his water sorese is), for the hot air and smoke rise. the smoke would probably kill him anyway, so i guess the best option would be for him to put a soked cloth over his mouth and try to live, hopefully the water would protect him. but if he dise, i hope he ends up in heaven.
ReplyDeleteP.S. ignore my teribul spelling, i'm only 12, and it's my worst weakness. wish me luck on my spelling test this thursday.
the man is already dead, so no need to survive
ReplyDeleteJump anyway, after all you're on an island!
ReplyDeleteokay. I will make a map to illustrate possible and reasonable answers. X=fire: O= man : i= edge of island: P= man made fire: D= already burned area. The map is a timeline, each new row is the next step
ReplyDelete1. wind blows this way------>
i X O i
i XX O i
iDD XXX O P i
i DDDXXX OD PPi
i DDDDDXXXX ODDPi
iDDDDDDDXXXX ODDi
iDDDDDDDDDXXXX DODi
As you see above, the man made a fire and then moved into the burned area. fire cant burn without fuel. Because this area is desolated, it can burn so our man is safe.
oops i just read a comment and i realize they are right..... it asks for "THE alexander, like a boat or plane. Now i have changed the riddle. it asks how does alexander survive. now my map makes sense. :P
strike a match and start a fire and the east wind will blow it across.
ReplyDeletethen follow the fire and it will not catch you because the east fire can't burn were there was fire
All of you never thought to throw dirt on it
ReplyDeleteas the fire blew from west he can saw the blowing fire he saw the fire from west behind where the fire slits
ReplyDeletenormally lightning doesnt just strick it is usually part of a storm so can it not be assumed that the rain from the storm will put the fire out?
ReplyDeleteAlexander picks up a piece of wood and breaks it in half. Half and half equals a whole he just crawls out the hole to safety. Ha Ha (non logical answer)
ReplyDeleteHe can jump , even though he would die of jumpingfrom cliff, he can survive fire. That was the question so answer is "When Alexander jumped he survived the fire but soon after wards he died of injuries or cracked bones or internal bleeding whatever but not because of fire"
ReplyDeleteHaha.. I like how the answer says that he will still die anyway. Maybe someone will see the flames and assume it's an S.O.S.... Saving him in the process =)
ReplyDeleteRUN EAST!!!
ReplyDeleteCould be totally wrong but it doesn't actually say that 'the man' and Alexander are the same person; Alex could be on a different island!?
ReplyDeleteThis is EASSSSYYY ;)
ReplyDeleteAlexendar would pick up wood and light it up from the fire coming from the west.
He then carries (quickly) it near the east end of he island and starts a new fire. The wind will cause that fire to burn out the eastern end and he can then shelter in the burnt area.
If you dont noe what I mean, in simple words, since he already put fire on the east side of the island, and the fire behind him ( the west one ) is on its way to him, by the time a bit of the east side is burnt, there is nothing for the west fire to burn ( since the east fire already burnt it), and alexander stays in the burnt area from the east side, staying safe. ( note that the wind is blowing rom west, so the fire he lit up wont go towards the west one. )
GG
The search party sees the smoke from the fire and arrives in time to save Alexander. THE END!.
ReplyDeleteas if people arent looking for the stranded person.
jako rakhe sahiya mar sake na koe. prey to the god he will save .
ReplyDeleteIt didn't say Alexander was the man :) ~Dragons are awesome
ReplyDeletetheres no thunder storm without rain .......so he doesnt hav to worry ..........
ReplyDeletestart a new fire but then climb the cliffs so there is nothing for the old fire to burn because hes on the cliff
ReplyDeleteso confused...
ReplyDeleteguys he has to go to the east and then lay down
ReplyDelete1. the fire will not get him (wind)
2. lightning will strike the fastest way down so.... it has a low probability of striking a laying body
The only thing I could think of is trying to climb down the cliff and either go in the water or find a spot on the cliff that you could wait. I thought about starting another fire, but I assumed we didn't have anything to start another one with.
ReplyDeleteGreen don't burn
ReplyDeleteHe's on a different island
ReplyDeleteI am surprised at how many people don't agree on the logical conclusion.
ReplyDeleteClimb the cliff?
ReplyDeleteAlexander is Dead!!
ReplyDeleteHe uses his Mobile phone and gets rescued before the fire reaches him, once the fire is out all the people return for a Rave on the island, which Alexander later dies from an extacey overdose
ReplyDeletelets try to live through it our selves. we see a fire, we freeze in fear, we wake up from our terror, and start to run like mad. none of us would really start to pace up and down thinking 'hmmm, if i start a fire, if i lay down, if i start doing jumping jacks and sing Yankee Doodle...' est. i bet our best chance of survival would be to scramble up the cliffs, try to hide behind some bolder, hope the fire cant climb up rock, and try not to choke. end of story
ReplyDeletewe kiss our lives good bye, jump of a cliff, and die happly ever after! (oh joy!)
ReplyDeletehow many of us have lived through a situation like this and when we found we were hopeless we cried out 'oh, goody! death day has finally arrived!"? :(
ReplyDeleteIt's raining if lightning struck.
ReplyDeleteDramatically drop to the floor then proceed to despretley cross his fingers, then muster up as much courage and power as he can and boldly yell "TIMES!" Like he had been doing since grade school. LIKE A BOSS.
ReplyDeleteas the wind was blowing west there is no chance of fire at all.....
ReplyDeleteAs many people said before, after lightning, there is rain. Rain means water. Water and fire means safety. So the Alexander is safe, I don't know about the man, though.
ReplyDeleteHe will get as far ahead of the fire as he can, ensuring he still has plenty of forest in front of him. He will then start another fire. This fire will burn to the east. and he just follows it. By the time the first fire reaches the spot where he started the second fire, it will go out because there is nothing there to burn.
ReplyDeletePart 1/2: This does not give a solution. This only tells you what the answer is not.
ReplyDelete"There are no buckets or any other means to put out the fire."
He can't put out the fire, by any means. So starting another fire on the eastern side of the island would not work, however he did it. We have to assume that there is no way to put out the fire. The fire cannot be put out.
Going off from this, we also can't say that he can burn a smaller portion of the forest in the eastern side to stand in. Because, by doing this, we are assuming that he is starting another fire, but he is controlling this one. It is the same idea as starting a second forest fire to put out the first one. He does the same thing in both cases (just with different results). That means if he creates a smaller fire to clear a small portion of forest away, he can create a larger forest fire, and he can't do that because we have to assume he can't based on the riddle. So that wouldn't work, either.
The riddle said nothing about rain, only lightning. There doesn't need to be rain to have lightning. So rain cannot put the fire out. Also, refer to the above. There are no means to put out the fire.
"Alexander is stranded on an island covered in forest."
This leaves us to assume that there is only forest on this island, no other water sources, whatsoever. No beaches, no giant rocks, no rivers, nothing. Only forest, meaning trees and plants, which will all burn. There are no little spots he can hide in. He also can't go north or south, because that is still part of the island, and forest fires consume everything in its path and surrounding it. That is how they spread. Going north won't save his life. He will still get caught in the fire.
Also, wind blowing a certain direction does not mean the fire will only spread in that direction. That is not how fires work. Fires spread to whatever is around them that is flammable and easily within reach. The wind can affect it only be encouragement, or by slowing it down. But it will not decide the path or stop it altogether.
Part 2/2:
ReplyDelete"There are cliffs around the island, so he cannot jump off."
An island is a piece of land surrounded by water, or a piece of isolated land. We don't know if this island is surrounded by water (which would be hidden by the cliffs surrounding it), or just isolated by the cliffs. Either way, this portion is to leave us to assume that there is no direct access to water around the island. He can't stand in this nonexistent water to save himself, nor can he reach this water if it does exist.
The riddle says a name, and then states "the man," and then continues to talk about Alexander.
This could be tricky wording, however, it is not. Since they are directly talking about 'the' man, we have to assume they are talking about Alexander, because no other name or possible identity was given beforehand, other than Alexander. If they specifically said 'a' man, then you could say that Alexander isn't actually a human (and that he could be a bird and fly away), or the man they are talking about. But given the wording, we have to assume that Alexander is the man stranded on an island.
We also have to look at the word 'stranded,' which (in this case) means to be left in a helpless position. Since Alexander is directly stated to be stranded, that means he is helpless, whether he is a bird or not. This means that, given the fact that he is helpless, and, assuming he is some sort of animal, like a bird, he could not escape/fly away, due to his helplessness. And if Alexander is human, he is helpless, meaning he cannot call a rescue team. And since the island is isolated and/or surrounded by water, there is no telling if the fire will attract somebody's attention.
All I can possibly imagine the answer could be would be to either dig himself underground and dig west, then dig up later, or to climb up on the cliffs, assuming he can and that the fire/heat won't reach him there. The fire cannot be put out, and there is no water/safe zone on the island to stand on. The only safe zone would be, if any, underground, because the fire is burning where the forest is, on the surface of the island.
There is no loophole of stating that Alexander could have been standing on the very west end, and though the lightning strikes the west end, it was still slightly bit more east than where he was standing. Sure, this okay to think, but the wording says that the fire will spread over the entire island, whether he on the east side of the lightning strike/fire or the west. The wind blowing doesn't decide the direction of it, as aforementioned. This also rules out any odd shape the island might have, because it will spread out over the entire island within a certain amount of time.
I am not stating that these two are the only possible solutions. These are just the only ones that I, myself, can think of.
Either hang off the side of the cliff till the fire goes goes out, or scale the cliff around to the back side of the fire.
ReplyDeleteDo these riddles ever have an answer?
ReplyDeleteI mean a definitive answer, and i should have an Anonymous cameo of a female - I'm not a bloke
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletethe fire started in the west. before it would reach somewhere near middle. he should cut those trees in the middle and stay in the east side. then the fire won't reach the east side anymore.
ReplyDeletealain
The smoke acts as an s.o.s and he is rescued!
ReplyDeletethe fire started in the west. Go to North -> then to West by that time the fire has come down ... u can be safe
ReplyDeleteAlexander isn't human. He's a rabbit and shelters underground
ReplyDeleteThink outside the box ppl
ReplyDeleteYOU know, guys, if there's lightnng, there's a thunderstorm, that means its raining....
ReplyDeleteTHE SIMPLE ANSWER.....ALEXANDER WAS NAME OF A BIRD....SO it can FLY
ReplyDelete"Alexander" is stranded on an island and "the man" is with him how can "the" (S.S.) "Alexander" survive
ReplyDeletei don't know about Alex and The man but the Alexander will be a ok
alternatively if you want to save the man and Alex try if possible make a long divide between the east and west trees on the island long enough so the wind won't be able to blow the fire to the east
another possibility i came up with well i just noticed the answers before me well the anonymous guy is right unless it is the rare phenomena when lightning strikes with out rain (which is totally possible cause i witnessed it personally) it is raining so thank you for reminding me anonymous guy up there