Kennings

1. Kennings History of the English Language 100508030 Kelly Huang

2. Definition • A descriptive phrase in place of the ordinary name for something • A compound expression in Old English and Old Norse poetry with metaphorical meaning

3. Origin • Kenning: • late 19th century • Old Norse, from kenna 'know, perceive'; related to ken 'know'

4. Introduction • A form of compounding in Old English, Old Norse, and Germanic poetry • Somewhat like a riddle • Particularly common in Old English literature and Viking poetry.

5. Examples • The most famous example: hron-radeor hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea • Other examples: Thor-Weapon battle-flame gore-cradle word-hoard

6. Examples • The most famous example: hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea • Other examples: Thor-Weapon  a smith's hammer battle-flame gore-cradle word-hoard

7. Examples • The most famous example: hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea • Other examples: Thor-Weapon  a smith's hammer battle-flame  the way light shines on swords gore-cradle word-hoard

8. Examples • The most famous example: hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea • Other examples: Thor-Weapon  a smith's hammer battle-flame  the way light shines on swords gore-cradle  a battlefield filled with motionless bodies word-hoard

9. Examples • The most famous example: hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea • Other examples: Thor-Weapon  a smith's hammer battle-flame  the way light shines on swords gore-cradle  a battlefield filled with motionless bodies word-hoard  a person's eloquence

10. Old Norse kennings: shield-tester prayer-smithy head-anvil

11. Old Norse kennings: shield-tester  warrior prayer-smithy head-anvil

12. Old Norse kennings: shield-tester  warrior prayer-smithy  a man's heart head-anvil

13. Old Norse kennings: shield-tester  warrior prayer-smithy  a man's heart head-anvil  the skull

14. Anglo-Saxon kennings: banhus("bone-house") goldwinegumena ("gold-friend of warriors") beadoleoma ("flashing light") beaga-gifa ("ring-giver") battle-sweat hell-serf sky-candle

15. Anglo-Saxon kennings: banhus ("bone-house")  body goldwinegumena ("gold-friend of warriors") beadoleoma ("flashing light") beaga-gifa ("ring-giver") battle-sweat hell-serf sky-candle

16. Anglo-Saxon kennings: banhus ("bone-house")  body goldwinegumena ("gold-friend of warriors")  a generous prince beadoleoma ("flashing light") beaga-gifa ("ring-giver") battle-sweat hell-serf sky-candle

17. Anglo-Saxon kennings: banhus("bone-house")  body goldwinegumena ("gold-friend of warriors")  a generous prince beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword beaga-gifa ("ring-giver") battle-sweat hell-serf sky-candle

18. Anglo-Saxon kennings: banhus ("bone-house")  body goldwinegumena ("gold-friend of warriors")  a generous prince beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord battle-sweat hell-serf sky-candle

19. Anglo-Saxon kennings: banhus ("bone-house")  body goldwinegumena ("gold-friend of warriors")  a generous prince beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord battle-sweat  blood hell-serf sky-candle

20. Anglo-Saxon kennings: banhus ("bone-house")  body goldwinegumena ("gold-friend of warriors")  a generous prince beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord battle-sweat  blood hell-serf  demon sky-candle

21. Anglo-Saxon kennings: banhus ("bone-house")  body goldwinegumena ("gold-friend of warriors")  a generous prince beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord battle-sweat  blood hell-serf  demon sky-candle  sun

22. Less common in Modern English • Some common modern examples: "beer-goggles" "rug-rats" "tramp-stamps" "bible-thumpers"

23. Less common in Modern English • Some common modern examples: "beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated "rug-rats" "tramp-stamps" "bible-thumpers"

24. Less common in Modern English • Some common modern examples: "beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated "rug-rats"  children "tramp-stamps" "bible-thumpers"

25. Less common in Modern English • Some common modern examples: "beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated "rug-rats"  children "tramp-stamps" "bible-thumpers"

26. Less common in Modern English • Some common modern examples: "beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated "rug-rats"  children "tramp-stamps"  trashy tattoos "bible-thumpers"

27. Less common in Modern English • Some common modern examples: "beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated "rug-rats"  children "tramp-stamps"  trashy tattoos "bible-thumpers"

28. Less common in Modern English • Some common modern examples: "beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated "rug-rats"  children "tramp-stamps"  trashy tattoos "bible-thumpers" loud preachers or intolerant Christians

29. Less common in Modern English • Some common modern examples: "beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated "rug-rats"  children "tramp-stamps"  trashy tattoos "bible-thumpers" loud preachers or intolerant Christians

30. Reference • Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms • http://archive.org/stream/AGlossaryOfLiteraryTerms/glossary_djvu.txt • Oxford Dictionaries • http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/kenning • Literary Terms and Definitions: K • http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_K.html • http://www.spiritsnextmove.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Thor-Avengers.jpg

31. Reference • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower-back_tattoo • http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Rugrats-logo.jpg • http://www.troll.me/images/tommy-pickles/and-you-wonder-why-im-called-a-rugrat-thumb.jpg • http://www.unionversity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/male_tramp_stamps_5.jpg • http://fixmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/wingedheart1.jpg