The Visitor at the Door-Hard Riddles

||A loose shutter blowing in the wind||

Explanation:

The Riddle

Late at night, a man heard three knocks.
When he opened the door, no one was there.
But every time he closed it, the knocks came again—
always three, never two or four.
Finally he realized what made the sound.
What caused the knocks?

Step 1: Why “Three” Matters

The number is emphasized for a reason:

• Repetition implies intention
• Consistency suggests agency
• Three knocks feel deliberate—like a signal

This pushes the mind toward:

• A prankster
• A visitor
• Something supernatural

But the riddle never says the sound came from the door.

Step 2: The Timing Is the Clue

The knocks happen:

• When the door is closed
• Stop when the door is opened
• Resume when it’s closed again

This tells us the sound depends on:

• Air pressure
• Movement
• The door’s position

Not a person.

Step 3: The Answer Revealed

A loose shutter blowing in the wind.

Step 4: Why the Knocks Are Always Three

A loose shutter:

• Swings inward with gusts
• Strikes the wall or frame
• Bounces a predictable number of times before settling

Each gust produces:

• Knock
• Knock
• Knock

Then silence—until the next gust.

Step 5: Why Opening the Door Stops It

Opening the door:

• Changes airflow through the house
• Alters pressure differences
• Redirects the wind

This prevents the shutter from slamming—
temporarily silencing the knocks.

When the door closes again:

• Airflow returns
• The shutter resumes striking
• The three knocks return

Final Answer Explained

What caused the knocks?

A loose shutter being blown by the wind, striking repeatedly in a consistent three-hit pattern.