The New York Times’ Strands puzzle for October 29th (#605) centers around a literary theme: Edgar Allan Poe’s iconic poem, “The Raven.”
Puzzle Overview
Strands is a word-search puzzle where players must identify words fitting a hidden theme. The puzzle provides in-game hints when players discover enough clue words (four letters or more). The ultimate goal is to find all the theme words, including the ‘spangram’ – a long word spanning the entire grid.
Hints and Clue Words
If you’re stuck, consider these clues:
- The theme relates to a famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe.
- Focus on words that evoke imagery from “The Raven.”
Some potential clue words to unlock hints include: MOVE, RAVE, NOVEL, BACK, LACK, HACK, FEAT, HEAT, WING, SORE, ROSE, STAR, RATS. Any word with four or more letters will trigger a hint.
Answers
The non-spangram theme words for today’s puzzle are:
- BLACK
- CLEVER
- WINGED
- FEATHERED
- OMNIVOROUS
The spangram, the word that stretches across the entire puzzle grid, is THATSSORAVEN. Find the letter ‘T’ six rows down on the far-left side, and trace the path across to reveal the full word.
Quick Tips
- Word Tweaks: After finding a word, experiment by adding letters (like ‘S’) to see if variations emerge.
- Related Words: Once a theme word is revealed, scan the grid for related terms.
- Hint Activation: If stuck, find three additional clue words to activate letter reveals for the hidden theme word.
Strands puzzles challenge players to think laterally while reinforcing vocabulary. The puzzles often require players to consider words they may not immediately connect to a given theme.
