KenningsHistory of the English Language

100508030 Kelly Huang

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

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

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.

Examples• The most famous example:

hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea

• Other examples:Thor-Weaponbattle-flamegore-cradleword-hoard

Examples• The most famous example:

hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea

• Other examples:Thor-Weapon a smith's hammerbattle-flamegore-cradleword-hoard

Examples• The most famous example:

hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea

• Other examples:Thor-Weapon a smith's hammerbattle-flame the way light shines on swords gore-cradleword-hoard

Examples• The most famous example:

hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea

• Other examples:Thor-Weapon a smith's hammerbattle-flame the way light shines on swords gore-cradle

a battlefield filled with motionless bodies

word-hoard

Examples• The most famous example:

hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea

• Other examples:Thor-Weapon a smith's hammerbattle-flame the way light shines on swords gore-cradle

a battlefield filled with motionless bodies

word-hoard a person's eloquence

• Old Norse kennings:

shield-testerprayer-smithyhead-anvil

• Old Norse kennings:

shield-tester warriorprayer-smithyhead-anvil

• Old Norse kennings:

shield-tester warriorprayer-smithy a man's hearthead-anvil

• Old Norse kennings:

shield-tester warriorprayer-smithy a man's hearthead-anvil the skull

• Anglo-Saxon kennings:

banhus ("bone-house")goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")beadoleoma ("flashing light")beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")battle-sweathell-serfsky-candle

• Anglo-Saxon kennings:

banhus ("bone-house") bodygoldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")beadoleoma ("flashing light")beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")battle-sweathell-serfsky-candle

• Anglo-Saxon kennings:

banhus ("bone-house") bodygoldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors") a generous princebeadoleoma ("flashing light")beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")battle-sweathell-serfsky-candle

• Anglo-Saxon kennings:

banhus ("bone-house") bodygoldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors") a generous princebeadoleoma ("flashing light") swordbeaga-gifa ("ring-giver")battle-sweathell-serfsky-candle

• Anglo-Saxon kennings:

banhus ("bone-house") bodygoldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors") a generous princebeadoleoma ("flashing light") swordbeaga-gifa ("ring-giver") a lordbattle-sweathell-serfsky-candle

• Anglo-Saxon kennings:

banhus ("bone-house") bodygoldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors") a generous princebeadoleoma ("flashing light") swordbeaga-gifa ("ring-giver") a lordbattle-sweat bloodhell-serfsky-candle

• Anglo-Saxon kennings:

banhus ("bone-house") bodygoldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors") a generous princebeadoleoma ("flashing light") swordbeaga-gifa ("ring-giver") a lordbattle-sweat bloodhell-serf demonsky-candle

• Anglo-Saxon kennings:

banhus ("bone-house") bodygoldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors") a generous princebeadoleoma ("flashing light") swordbeaga-gifa ("ring-giver") a lordbattle-sweat bloodhell-serf demonsky-candle sun

• Less common in Modern English

• Some common modern examples:"beer-goggles""rug-rats""tramp-stamps""bible-thumpers"

• 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"

• 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"

• 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"

• 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"

• 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"

• 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

• 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

Reference• Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms• http://archive.org/stream/AGlossaryOfLiteraryTer

ms/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

Reference• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower-back_tattoo• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Ru

grats-logo.jpg• http://www.troll.me/images/tommy-pickles/and-yo

u-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