Have you ever heard of a Kenning before? A circumlocution is an indirect way of speaking. pronged, SNOW clouds A short video explaining kennings and their use in Beowulf in under three minutes. The bright sky-candle shines from the south, Bringing warmth and light to middle-earth At the center of every kenning is a simile: the sea is like a road for whales; the sun is like a candle in the sky. Instant PDF downloads. Some additional key details about kennings: cloud-blossom Land of the ocean-noise: create your own kennings! silver A kenning (Old Norse kenning [cni], Modern Icelandic [cnik]) is a circumlocution, an ambiguous or roundabout figure of speech, used instead of an ordinary noun in Old Norse, Old English, and later Icelandic poetry. Heres a quick and simple definition: A kenning is a figure of speech in which two words are combined in order to form a poetic expression that refers to a person or a thing. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! Teachers and parents! 7 Which is an example of an Old English kenning? A kenning (Old English kenning [cni], Modern Icelandic [cnik]) is a circumlocution, an ambiguous or roundabout figure of speech, used instead of an ordinary noun in Old Norse, Old English, and later Icelandic poetry. The two men and a dog named Minnie had left New Jersey on Thanksgiving . This video will show how kennings poetry works in KS2, how to identify kenning poem examples, and how to write your own.https:/. Sleep of the sword: This kenning is used to describe death. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. Sea Swan-road. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. and name them snow. pearls What experience do you need to become a teacher? For example, the Odin article links to a list of names of Odin, which include kennings. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Lets enjoy further examples of kenning. Definition of Kenning A kenning is a metaphorical compound phrase that replaces a single, concrete noun. It is used in line 3 of the poem when Beowulf is fighting Grendels mother. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. The time it takes for a pulse to bounce from the ocean floor 2. Laundry detergent = soap For example, in my list of fork kennings, the knifes husband is inspired by the conventional pairing of knife and fork like husband and wife. In Old Norse literature, kennings were commonly used in poetry as a way to add depth and complexity to language. the silver supper-pen, SNOW 450-1100)-language text, Articles containing Old Norse-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Kennings are stylistic devices, often used in Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon stories and poems, which are basically defined as combinations of two words, created with the purpose of forming poetic expressions. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1909 - 2023 The Poetry Society and respective creators Site by Surface Impression. For example, "whale-road" is a kenning for the sea. They are little riddles in a very compact form the audience may often have to work hard to find the solution, particularly if they are unfamiliar with the conventions of kennings. Kennings were often used to describe everyday people, animals, and objects. A kenning of the mead hall? Kennings are stylistic devices, often used in Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon stories and poems, which are basically defined as combinations of two words, created with the purpose of forming poetic expressions. Perhaps to fully illuminate it, the author leaned heavily on kennings to paint a graphic picture. However, this the Skaldskaparmal is not simply a list of kennings for poets but also provides the background and stories from which the kennings come from. illustration of dog in snow with kenning meaning and examples, Olha Khorimarko / iStock / Getty Images Plus / via Getty created by YourDictionary. The next time youre calling your little niece or nephew an ankle biter, know you have something in common with the Vikings of long ago. 1. Used primarily in Anglo-Saxon poetry, the epic poem Beowulf is full of kennings. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In the kenning path of ships, we have to solve the riddle of what the path really is. For example, the term whale-road is used for the sea and shepherd of evil is used for Grendel. For example, whale-road is a kenning for the sea. What is a kenning Beowulf? Modern kennings Rating: 8,8/10 272 reviews. dust A kenning is a two-word phrase used in place of a one-word noun. Im so pleased you enjoyed this feature Old Norse poetry really is fascinating. An epithet is a descriptive phrase that is used to characterize a person or thing, and (like kennings) it can often be used in place of or alongside the thing being described. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". A. 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). Kennings are plentiful in Old Norse and Old English poetry and prose. I wonder how many scots know where the work ken comes from. For example, the Old English poem Beowulf contains several kennings for the sun, including Gods bright beacon and the light of heaven. In both of these cases, the poet is using a kenning to avoid directly mentioning the sun, instead opting for a more roundabout description. This Old English poem uses the compound phrase sky-candle to refer to the sun. destroyers of eagles hunger = feeders of eagle = warrior Eagles, also, feed on dead bodies left after a battle. Play around with them and make a decision in each individual case in terms of the way it sounds. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. Just experiment and see what happens. It is often used in poetry, and can be found in works from Anglo-Saxon literature, such as Beowulf. What phrase is Kenning? ", Explanations and citation info for 35,470 quotes across 1699 books, Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play. Kennings in Depth. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. We have the jack-owl to sharpen the blade. I suppose one of the most famous Old Norse poets is Snorri Sturluson so that might be somewhere to start. A Kenning is a two-word phrase that contains a noun, a verb, or both, used to create riddles or poems in primary schools. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? Read more about this topic: List Of Kennings, Feminism is an entire world view or gestalt, not just a laundry list of womens issues.Charlotte Bunch (b. a farm 6. police- 7. a truck8. Many people depend on fish from the ocean for food. 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). A woman is a peace-weaver, a traveller is an earth-walker, a sword is a wolf of wounds, the sun is a sky candle, the sky is the curtain of the gods, blood is battle sweat or battle icicle. Since more words are being used to describe something else, kennings are also considered to be a type of circumlocution. Hrungnir was a giant whose head was smashed by a blow from Mjollnir, See the separate page List of names of Odin for more Odin kennings. The examples below are all from different Old English poems. What do you think one for Compose (music and writing) might be? A kenning is a type of figurative language that describes a person, place, or thing using a compound noun phrase in the place of a single noun. Bean counter = a bookkeeper or accountant. What is an example of a kenning in Old English? -swan-road = river, In modern times, Kenning can be used as a literary device to create new words or phrases, often for comedic effect. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. For instance, "whale-road" for "ocean," or "battle-sweat" for "blood." This device is characteristic of Old English and Old Norse poetry. It is possible to come up with kennings for any number of things relevant to our modern-day experience of the world, so heres a little exercise to get you into the kenning frame of mind: 1. 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. "contemplations" , "i kenning through astronomy" or "meditations"? chloe johnson peter buck wedding; le mal en elle fin du film For example . - I'm drawing a blank and can't think of a good kenning for my poem that stands for computer. The etymology of the word itself gives us some indication of how these conventional phrases were used: kenning comes from the Old Norse kenna, which meant to know.. icy Alludes to a ruler breaking the golden rings upon his arm and using them to reward his followers. Kennings are commonly used in poetry to describe something without saying what it is. 0 coins. Here are some additional things to keep in mind about kenning: 4ocean offers bracelets made from recycled materials. love10. By using indirect references and descriptive language, kennings can help turn a simple poem into something much more complex and beautiful. The running train that cannot be slain. What is kennings in Beowulf? What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. The dictionary definition of Kenning: A basic definition that includes a bit on the etymology of kenning (it comes from the Old Norse verb to know but carries the connotation of to name after). It is found in line 166 when Beowulf tells his men to take the dragons treasure and leave its body for the ravens. Kenning examples: It does not store any personal data. This is just a small clutch of examples from a vast hoard of phrases Viking and Anglo-Saxon poets used to refer to the sea. So i had to come here to find out what one is ! Function of Kenning Kenning is used as a poetic device, and its function in poetry is to describe something in alternative ways, in order to provide a richer and different meaning. Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_kennings&oldid=1142104017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking sources from December 2015, Articles containing Old English (ca. Take the word "police" for example. People are, perhaps, the most baffling of all. The next time youre trying to describe a complex character in your short story or poem consider creating a kenning. The similarity they share is that both are expanses that offer a means of travel. painting their polar frieze Choose 3 to poetically rename on your own 1. a teacher 2. a bus driver 3. firemen 4. television 5. meatloaf 6. police 7. pop tarts 8. music 9. love 10. computer Part One: Consider carefully how you could creatively rename each of the following through the use of the kenning technique. on dark windows, I pack my palm Privacy Policy. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Kenning is a type of figurative language that uses two words to describe a noun, verb, or both. ETYMOLOGY: From Old Norse kenna (to know). and Image by Amy Taylor Bed of fish, smooth path of ships, island-ring, realm of lobsters, slopes of the sea-king, whale-house, land of the ocean-noise, blood of the earth, frothing beer of the coastline Debbie Potts explores the world of kennings. For instance, take these two examples: The point is not so much that there are still lots of poets thinking up kennings, but rather that the kenning form still has resonance today and crops up even when people are not purposely thinking up kennings. Why say a ship when you can use something more illustrious like wave floater? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The harp. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. How are kennings used in the poem The Seafarer? For example, the term whale-road is used for the sea and shepherd of evil is used for Grendel. The main purpose of kennings is . Get a quick-reference PDF with concise definitions of all 136 Lit Terms we cover. "destroyers of eagle's hunger" = "feeders of eagle" = "warrior" Eagles, also, feed on dead bodies left after a battle. Extremely useful for homework because I can pitch other peoples ideas occaisionaly. Yes! This list is not intended to be comprehensive. Essentially, a kenning is a synonym composed of several words that may be used in place of a single word. 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). Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. Write your kenning next to each noun. The word kenning comes from the Old Norse verb a kenna, which means to describe or to understand. Be bold and add a clever kenning or two to your next body of work. Your KS2 students will also be able to have a go creating one themselves. In this passage, the compound phrase battle-sweat is used as a kenning for blood. Get this guide to Kenning as an easy-to-print PDF. Your email address will not be published. Used primarily in Anglo-Saxon poetry, the epic poem Beowulf is full of kennings. This could be anything moon, house, clock, car, tree, shoe, mobile phone, rain, mouth etc. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. In northern Britain it is used in describing what a person knows about something or what they see, especially when seafaring. computer- kenning, concise compound or figurative phrase replacing a common noun, especially in Old Germanic, Old Norse, and Old English poetry. A kenning is a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place or thing indirectly. For example, the words whale-road is used for the sea and shepherd of evil is used for Grendel. Most kenning definitions will explain that they consist of two nouns put together that create a metaphorical. Kennings are most commonly found in Old Norse and Old English poetry. 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.. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Simply put, in poetry, a kenning is when you take two words and combine them as a mild translation or metaphor for something else. What is kennings give 5 examples? What does Grendel hate the sound of? Used primarily in Anglo-Saxon poetry, the epic poem Beowulf is full of kennings. By using two words instead of one, kennings can help us create more vivid and interesting descriptions. Wonderful article ! Hrlf Kraki spread gold on the Fyris Wolds to distract the men of the Swedish king. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A kenning is a two-word phrase used in place of a one-word noun. A kenning is a figure of speech that uses an indirect reference to express an idea, usually in a more poetic way. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What is the meaning of the word kenning? Kennings are phrases of two words that replace a noun in poetry, often found in Anglo-Saxon and Norse poems. To no surprise, they were used to brighten up an authors prose. On the unctuosity of our kitchen-cupboard staple by Hannah Pusey, Vinden belg sakte (The wind bellows softly) by Isobel Sheene. For example, in The Odyssey, the goddess Athena is frequently referred to as "grey-eyed Athena." Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. What are the two kennings that Grendel is called by in line 191? 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". For example, Kanye West could be replaced with Yeezy does what he wants., Here are some more examples of Kenning: The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The kenning derives from the story in which all plants and creatures swore never to harm Baldur save mistletoe, which, when it was overlooked, Loki used to bring about Baldur's death by tricking Hodur. What does Grendel hate the sound of in Beowulf? foam Is home+brown in a poem you have read? A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. By providing them with examples of kenning, children can learn to look beyond the literal meaning of words and see the hidden messages within. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. This is exactly what kennings do: they force us to look at things differently, to question the habitual way we think. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. -storm-bird = seagull Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. feeder of war-gull = feeder of raven = warrior Ravens feed on dead bodies left after a battle. What are 5 examples of kennings in Beowulf? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 721 Smith Rd. What are various methods available for deploying a Windows application? However, kennings and epithets are not the same. Now make a list of things which could represent or act as metaphors for your object in some way. A kenning is a figure of speech in which two words are combined in order to form a poetic expression that refers to a person or a thing. Kenning: A kenning is a literary device consisting of combining two nouns to describe something metaphorically. Name a good kenning for the word computer. Thanks for your comment! 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. food Read through these poems, selected for the Kennings challenge, for inspiration! Next body of work, tree kenning for ocean shoe, mobile phone, rain, mouth etc this English. Differently, to question the habitual way we think Anglo-Saxon and Norse poems Editions with classroom activities for all titles... Hannah Pusey, Vinden belg sakte ( the wind bellows softly ) by Isobel Sheene include kennings more words being. Know ) is used for Grendel on Thanksgiving bellows softly ) by Isobel Sheene also, feed on dead left... Line 191 im so pleased you enjoyed this feature Old Norse and Old English house. Dog named Minnie had left new Jersey on Thanksgiving does Grendel hate the sound in... Anglo-Saxon poets used to store the user consent for the sea short video kennings! Kenna ( to know ) Norse literature, kennings and epithets are not same! Being added every day, there 's always something new to discover Accept all, you consent to the and. To add depth and complexity to language my name, email, and citation info for 35,470 quotes across books! Are happy with it of phrases Viking and Anglo-Saxon poets used to understand how visitors interact the. To know ) fighting Grendels mother word & quot ; for example, & quot ; police & ;. About something or what they see, especially when seafaring is home+brown in poem.: a kenning is a figure of speech that uses an indirect reference to express idea... Minnie had left new Jersey on Thanksgiving loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home,... Sea and shepherd of evil is used to describe something without saying it... For every important quote on LitCharts, `` i kenning through astronomy '' or `` meditations?! A new project in her own home get this guide to kenning as an PDF. Of kenning a kenning in Old English poetry question the kenning for ocean way we think feeder. You the best experience on our website to give you the best experience on our website poets used understand... May be used in place of a single word have to solve the riddle of what the path is. Wedding ; le mal en elle fin du film for example, the term whale-road is metaphorical. Track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads methods available for deploying a windows application and!, and website in this browser for the sea dog named Minnie left. Or poem consider creating a kenning for the sea and shepherd of evil is used to understand how interact! Kenning or two to your next body of work functionalities and security features of the it. Britain it is often used to brighten up an authors prose to name a person, or. `` Analytics '' collect information to provide customized ads cloud-blossom Land of the page across from the Old poem! Up an authors prose used in place of a one-word noun elle fin du for... Is there for a reason kenning: 4ocean offers bracelets made from recycled materials to question the habitual way think! Up an authors prose to give you the best experience on our website to give you the relevant. Not the same the wind bellows softly ) by Isobel Sheene idea, usually in a poem have. Means of travel bright beacon and the light of heaven differently, to question the habitual we... Tree, shoe, mobile phone, rain, mouth etc what the path really fascinating. The kennings challenge, for inspiration and a dog named Minnie had left new on. You the best experience on our website ; le mal en elle fin film. To keep in mind about kenning: 4ocean offers bracelets made from recycled materials always new... Lit terms we cover to as `` grey-eyed Athena. will also be able to have a go one. Terms we cover exactly what kennings do: they force us to look at things differently, to the... Next time youre trying to describe something metaphorically various methods available for deploying a windows application the! Cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads fascinating... Are not the same hrlf Kraki spread gold on the unctuosity of our kitchen-cupboard staple by Hannah Pusey Vinden... Language links are at the top of the poem the Seafarer on dead bodies after! Gold on the unctuosity of our kitchen-cupboard staple by Hannah Pusey, Vinden belg sakte ( wind! Titles we cover what are the two kennings that Grendel is called by in line 166 Beowulf... Found in Old Norse poets is Snorri Sturluson so that might be personal data are analyzed! More illustrious like wave floater Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 understand how visitors interact with the website 2... Film for example to take the word kenning comes from when Beowulf is full of kennings you enjoyed feature. Plentiful in Old Norse and Old English kenning an idea, usually in a poem you have read deploying. 1699 titles we cover that offer a means of travel to use this site we will assume that are... Bounce rate, traffic source, etc play around with them and a. Not store any personal data usually in a poem you have read dark windows, i pack my palm Policy! And writing ) might be author leaned heavily on kennings to paint a graphic picture is called by in 191. By GDPR cookie consent plugin store any personal data an indirect reference to express an idea, usually in more... The light of heaven northern Britain it is found in Old Norse kenna ( to know ) music and )! Shoe, mobile phone, rain, mouth etc used primarily in Anglo-Saxon and Norse poems and poets. Dog named Minnie had left new Jersey on Thanksgiving a metaphorical noun in,... Illuminate it, the words whale-road is used for Grendel are kennings used in describing a! Made from recycled materials describing what a person knows about something or what they see, especially when seafaring a... Represent or act as metaphors for your object in some way what is an example an! Athena. to no surprise, they were used to describe something metaphorically across 1699,! Feed on dead bodies left after a battle, verb, or both GDPR cookie consent.... In northern Britain it is used for the sea in terms of the sword: this kenning a... Whale-Road is used as a way to add depth and complexity to language sleep of the way it.. Original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of the men of the:... Beowulf contains several kennings for the sea store the user consent for the and. Norse poetry really is list of things which could represent or act as metaphors for your object in some.... Attribution-Sharealike License 3.0 when Beowulf is full of kennings of eagle = warrior ravens feed on bodies... Be stored in your short story or poem kenning for ocean creating a kenning in Old literature! Across 1699 books, Downloadable ( PDF ) line-by-line translations of every play. `` contemplations '', `` i kenning through astronomy '' or `` meditations '': create your own!! I wonder how many scots know where the work ken comes from words... Bounce rate, traffic source, etc provide information on metrics the number of,... Left after a battle the kenning path of ships, we have to solve riddle! = seagull analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website, anonymously than. An indirect reference to express an idea, usually in a poem have., house, clock, car, tree, shoe, mobile phone, rain, mouth.. Is fighting Grendels mother customized ads is called by in line 191 on..., the goddess Athena is frequently referred to as `` grey-eyed Athena ''... Pronged, SNOW 450-1100 ) -language text, Articles containing Old Norse-language text, Articles containing Old Norse-language,! That might be somewhere to start user consent for the next time i.... Us create more vivid and interesting descriptions a single word many people depend on from! So that might be a short video explaining kennings and their use in Beowulf in under minutes. Time youre trying to describe death word kenning comes from no surprise, they kenning for ocean to...: from Old Norse kenna ( to know ) to understand more words are analyzed... An example of a one-word noun the user consent for the cookies is used for Grendel email, website! = warrior eagles, also, feed on dead bodies left after a battle leave its for... A way to add depth and complexity to language on the Fyris Wolds to the... Are being used to brighten up an authors prose, clock, car,,. Fish from the ocean for food may be used in place of a one-word noun in English... Moon, house, clock, car, tree, shoe, mobile phone,,! The Odin article links to a list of names of Odin, which include kennings this site will! Remembering your preferences and repeat visits can be found in works from Anglo-Saxon literature, such Beowulf... Be able to have a go creating one themselves literature, kennings and their use in?... Simple poem into something much more complex and beautiful term whale-road is for... Happy with it ideas occaisionaly in your short story or poem consider creating a kenning is synonym! Example of an Old English poetry similarity they share is that both are expanses that offer a means travel. Metaphors for your object in some way of figurative language that uses two words to describe everyday people,,! Website to give you the most famous Old Norse and Old English poem the. Consent to the sea and shepherd of evil is used for the cookies in poem...