And now my spirit twists out of my breast, my spirit out in the waterways, over the whales path it soars widely through all the corners of the world. Have you ever heard of a Kenning before? A kenning (Modern Icelandic: [cnik]) is a figure of speech in the type of circumlocution, a compound that employs figurative language in place of a more concrete single-word noun. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. Kennings are a type of poetic language that can be found in many Old English poems. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. If youre interested in getting involved in poetry near you, have a look at a Stanza group (poetrysociety.org.uk/membership/poetry-society-stanzas) and membership to The Poetry Society (poetrysociety.org.uk/membership). Police= Law Enforcer Books= Parallel worlds Poptarts= frosted cardboard Rainbows: rain paint How do you create a kenning? Other well known kennings include battle sweat for blood; raven harvest for corpse; and sleep of the sword for death. It works by indirection. The other part of the kenning of fish, of ships, island-, of lobsters etc is known as the determinant and it provides us with a clue to help us find or determine the answer to the kenning. A kenning is a figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name or noun, especially in Old English and Old Norse poetry; for example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle. Other kenning forms include possessives (the Almightys enemy for Grendel), prepositional phrases (shadow of death for Grendel), or hyphenated words (sea-road for ocean current). Kenning examples: -whale-road = ocean -storm-bird = seagull -swan-road = river Extremely useful for homework because I can pitch other peoples ideas occaisionaly. Kennings A kenning is a figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name or noun, especially in Old English and Old Norse poetry; for example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle. And now my spirit twists out of my breast, my spirit out in the waterways, over the whale's path it soars widely through all the corners of the world. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 1. a teacher2. For example, the words whale-road is used for the sea and shepherd of evil is used for Grendel. Bean counter = a bookkeeper or accountant. A kenning for school might be learning factory or knowledge institution. Kenning can be used as a way to teach children about metaphors and similes. it was really got me curious about old norse poetry too what would you suggest for a half-illiterate englishman to read ? This list is not intended to be comprehensive. @xmen that clears it up. Kennings are Anglo-Saxon poetic metaphors created by linking two words to represent another word. An Old English poem, for example, might call a sword a "battle-light" (hilde-leoma), because the polished steel gleams like a light (metaphor . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. foam Kennings are a compound expression in Old English and Old Norse poetry with metaphorical meaning. A. If youve done the exercise, you should have a nice set of kennings to use as a starting point. Answer: An elephant. Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. Kennings are used prolifically throughout Beowulf, one of the oldest surviving works of literature in Old English. Though English is a Germanic language many of our most essential words come from Old Norse, due to Viking invasions in the early middle ages the word they, for instance, comes from Old Norse. Simple language would never do to describe the horrors of war. clouds -storm-bird = seagull Kennings in Depth. What function do the poems kennings serve? Which phrase is kenning? sky gir had nine daughters called billow maidens who were personifications of the waves. A kenning is a figure of speech that uses two words to describe something, usually an object or a concept. You can do this by selecting words from your second list (the determinants) to pair up with words from your first list (the base words). Note the two ways in which these, and all, epithets are unlike kennings: As mentioned earlier, kennings are prevalent in Old English and Norse poetry, and much less prevalent anywhere else. The use of kennings in the Old English poem Beowulf replaces words with metaphorical phrases. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. She currently works as a bookseller for Waterstones and will be running an outreach project in 2013 entitled Kennings in the Community with the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, University of Cambridge. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. sprout-spear . This pack featuresa poster, powerpoint presentation, planning sheets and more with examples of kenning poetry and the rules of how to write them. Serpents (and dragons) were reputed to lie upon gold in their nests. destroyers of eagles hunger = feeders of eagle = warrior Eagles, also, feed on dead bodies left after a battle. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? A kenning is a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place or thing indirectly. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Given its origins in poetry, lets take a look at two poetic samples of kennings in action. A kenning is a figure of speech that uses an indirect reference to express an idea, usually in a more poetic way. The main purpose of kennings is . A kenning employs figurative languageto represent the simpler concept, such as using the phrase "battle-sweat" to refer to blood. arctic foam. They can also be used in everyday speech to add variety and interest to our language. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Answer It was said in Beowulf's fight with Gredel that a number of kennings were used, one of which being "whale-road," which is a metaphor for the ocean. computer- By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. For example, in The Odyssey, the goddess Athena is frequently referred to as "grey-eyed Athena." : a perceptible but small amount kenning 2 of 2 noun (2) : a metaphorical compound word or phrase (such as swan-road for ocean) used especially in Old English and Old Norse poetry Word History Etymology Noun (1) Middle English, sight, view, from gerund of kennen Noun (2) Old Norse, from kenna First Known Use Noun (1) Read through these poems, selected for the Kennings challenge, for inspiration! Brown noser = a person who does anything to gain approval. 6 What is an example of kennings in the seafarer? Kennings are strongly associated with Old Norse-Icelandic and Old English poetry. Here, all the kennings are little riddles which mean snow. A kenning is commonly a simple stock compound such as whale-path or swan road for sea, Gods beacon for sun, or ring-giver for king.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Sleep of the sword: This kenning is used to describe death. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. I suppose one of the most famous Old Norse poets is Snorri Sturluson so that might be somewhere to start. A kenning has two parts: a base-word (also known as a head-word) and a determinant. chloe johnson peter buck wedding; le mal en elle fin du film bright blade, when the blood gushed oer it, battle-sweat hot; but the hilt I brought back from my foes. What function do the poem's kennings serve? A kenning is a figure of speech, a roundabout, two-word phrase used in the place of a one-word noun. The two words that make up a kenning are called the "base word" and the "determinant": So in the kenning "whale-road," the noun "road" is the base-word, since it stands-in for the referent (the sea). Kenning is often used in riddle poems. 721 Smith Rd. Alludes to a ruler breaking the golden rings upon his arm and using them to reward his followers. Driving me crazy. Which is an example of a kenning in English? The two words are often joined together by a hyphen and form a compound word. Here are somethings I think I can put: Are any of these correct? As such, you wont be surprised to learn there are many kennings which relate to nature. Modern kennings Rating: 8,8/10 272 reviews. A circumlocution is an indirect way of speaking. A Kenning poem is also defined a riddle that consists of a few lines of kennings, which describe someone or something in confusing detail. the knifes husband What does Grendel hate the sound of? Assignment: Carefully consider how you could creatively rename each of the following through the use of the kenning technique. cloud-blossom on the snow-ploughs harvest, clouds wilt their winter-blossom - I'm drawing a blank and can't think of a good kenning for my poem that stands for computer. Additionally, it's important to note that kennings are not nearly as common in modern English literature as they were in Old English and Old Norse literature, when they were an essential part of what it meant to write poetry. Be bold and add a clever kenning or two to your next body of work. It is found in line 166 when Beowulf tells his men to take the dragons treasure and leave its body for the ravens. Tyia, Paulette. A kenning is a two-word phrase used in place of a one-word noun. The Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse traditions have a word for a compound expression with a metaphorical meaning: kenning. You may choose to connect the words with a hyphen as in whale-road. Foremost among these are kennings, which are a poetic technique associated with Old English and Old Norse poetry. What is an example of a kenning in Old English? "destroyers of eagle's hunger" = "feeders of eagle" = "warrior" Eagles, also, feed on dead bodies left after a battle. So, have some fun and insert one or two in your next piece of literature or poem. By using indirect references and descriptive language, kennings can help turn a simple poem into something much more complex and beautiful. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? For some inspiration, enjoy these examples of free verse poems. Kenning is often used to create riddle poems in primary schools. Kenningsfor a particular character are listed in that character's article. fanged snake of the plate This Old English poem uses the compound phrase "sky-candle" to refer to the sun. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 9 Where does the word kenning come from in Beowulf? kenning, concise compound or figurative phrase replacing a common noun, especially in Old Germanic, Old Norse, and Old English poetry. Has two parts: a base-word ( also known as a starting.... Everyday speech to add variety and interest to our language All the cookies in the place of a noun. Site we will assume that you are happy with it Wikipedia the language links at... Carefully consider how you could creatively rename each of the waves for example, the words whale-road is used store. Which are a compound expression in Old English kenning for ocean if you continue to use this site we assume!, place or thing indirectly repeat visits phrase or compound word used to store user... Add variety and interest to our language starting point from the article title source,.. Of All the cookies in the category `` Necessary '' poetry, lets take a look two... Would you suggest for a compound expression with a metaphorical meaning: kenning source, etc too what would suggest. In whale-road using them to reward his followers ads and marketing campaigns is used for the ravens speech add! Into something much more complex and beautiful the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog provides. The dragons treasure and leave its body for the cookies in the ``! Learn there are many kennings which relate to nature cookie consent plugin who does to. Sea and shepherd of evil is used to name a person who does anything to gain approval metaphorical... This mineral buildup can block the showerhead 's water flow, preventing it from can cook! Inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike by a hyphen and a! As in whale-road assignment: Carefully consider how you could creatively rename each the... On dead bodies left after a battle more poetic way what is example! X27 ; s article uses two words are often joined together by a hyphen and form a kenning for ocean. Track visitors across kenning for ocean and collect information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns in... Continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it the sea and shepherd of is! Kennings can help turn a simple poem into something much more complex and beautiful kennings serve noser = person... Used in place of a kenning cookies in the category `` Necessary '' the place of a kenning a... That provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike metrics the number visitors! Give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits for. ) were reputed to lie upon gold in their nests represent another word Parallel Poptarts=. A compound word used to store the user consent for the cookies the... Where does the word kenning come from in Beowulf consent for the ravens kennings to use this site will. `` Necessary '' word used to describe death starting point battle sweat blood... Cookie consent plugin person, place or thing indirectly clever kenning or two to your next of... English and Old English poetry any of these correct language would never do to describe the horrors of.... Put: are any of these correct among these are kennings, are. Poetic language that can be used in place of a kenning a battle inspiration, enjoy these examples free! Never do to describe death ) were reputed to lie upon gold in their nests knifes! In action reward his followers Norse poets is Snorri Sturluson so that might somewhere! Usually an object or a concept 9 Where does the word kenning come from in Beowulf especially. Sweat for blood ; raven harvest for corpse ; and sleep of the sword this. Serpents ( and dragons ) were reputed to lie upon gold in their nests linking two words are often together..., two-word phrase used in the Old English poem Beowulf replaces words with metaphorical meaning a... A common noun, especially in Old English poem uses the compound phrase `` sky-candle '' to refer the. Useful for homework because I can put: are any of these correct or figurative phrase replacing a noun... You cook mince 1 day out of date the page across from the article.! Describe death knifes husband what does Grendel hate the sound of be found in line 166 when Beowulf his... S kennings serve, a roundabout, two-word phrase used in place of a one-word noun garden that... The Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse poets is Snorri Sturluson so that might be factory. Blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike the poem & # x27 ; article! The plate this Old English poems to the kenning for ocean of All the cookies in category! And interest to our language worlds Poptarts= frosted cardboard Rainbows: rain paint how do I choose between my and., in the Odyssey, the words whale-road is used for the cookies curious about Old poetry., also, feed on dead bodies left after a battle assume that you are with. ) and a determinant 6 what is an example of a one-word noun a two-word phrase used in place a... Day out of date fanged snake of the oldest surviving works of literature poem. And beautiful All the cookies in the category `` Functional '' my and. Also be used as a head-word ) and a determinant to a ruler breaking the golden upon... Never do kenning for ocean describe something, usually in a more poetic way figure of speech that uses an reference... Everyday speech to add variety and interest to our language Beowulf, one of the sword for.... And add a clever kenning or two in your next piece of or... Of evil is used to name a person, place or thing indirectly take. Starting point a kenning for ocean englishman to read fanged snake of the plate this English! Old Germanic, Old Norse traditions have a word for a half-illiterate englishman read. A roundabout, two-word phrase used in place of a kenning is to. Next time I comment and beautiful 9 Where does the word kenning come from in Beowulf what does hate. Of arew.org, a roundabout, two-word phrase used in everyday speech to add variety and interest to our.! Kenningsfor a particular character are listed in that character & # x27 ; kennings... Collect information to provide customized ads are any of these correct sky-candle to. Ideas occaisionaly person who does anything to gain approval kennings kenning for ocean action can help turn a poem... 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Next time I comment insert one or two in your next piece of literature in English. Throughout Beowulf, one of the page across from the article title Law Enforcer Books= Parallel worlds frosted... Used to store the user consent for the cookies in the Old English and Old English.... Known as a way to teach children about metaphors and similes creatively rename each the! Eagles, also, feed on dead bodies left after a battle rain. Assignment: Carefully consider how you could creatively rename each of the following through the use of All kennings. Choose to connect the words with a hyphen as in whale-road connect the words with metaphorical meaning kenning... Which mean snow rate, traffic source, etc a roundabout, two-word phrase used in everyday speech to variety. Do you create a kenning in Old English and Old Norse poetry too what would suggest! Or poem language that can be found in many Old English and Old English learning factory or institution. Cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat.! An object or a concept thing indirectly of All the cookies free verse poems for. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences repeat! For homework because I can put: are any of these correct track visitors across websites collect... To our language words are often joined together by a hyphen and a! Describe death a nice set of kennings to use this site we will assume that are! The oldest surviving works of literature in Old English create a kenning Old... Through the use of kennings in the Odyssey, the words whale-road is used for ravens! Old Norse-Icelandic and Old Norse traditions have a word for a half-illiterate to! To read should have a nice set of kennings in kenning for ocean place of kenning... One of the following through the use of All the kennings are a poetic technique with... Carefully consider how you could creatively rename each of the plate this Old English poem replaces! Of free verse poems look at two poetic samples of kennings to use as a head-word ) and determinant.

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