Black song = war cry 3. The description of the sea as a "whale-road" is particularly evocative, as it helps create a powerful image of the sea as the habitat of enormous sea creatures, mysterious in their own right, such as whales, who use the sea as their "road" in the way that humans use roads. Sociology 110: Cultural Studies & Diversity in the U.S. CPA Subtest IV - Regulation (REG): Study Guide & Practice, The Role of Supervisors in Preventing Sexual Harassment, Key Issues of Sexual Harassment for Supervisors, The Effects of Sexual Harassment on Employees, Key Issues of Sexual Harassment for Employees, Distance Learning Considerations for English Language Learner (ELL) Students, Roles & Responsibilities of Teachers in Distance Learning. One of their favorite means of adding linguistic interest to their poems is the kenning. Beowulf Kennings THE Possessive Kenning Prepositional Kenning Almighty's enemy- referring to Grendel Line number: 467 Beowulf's Band- the people that came with him to Herot. To Scandinavian heroes, peoples, and cultures like Beowulf and the Danes, the sea was an important part of … ', Create an account to start this course today. All rights reserved. This helps highlight or augment the bravery of those who travel on these so-called "whale-roads," as they are choosing to travel with such enormous creatures. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. One such kenning comes in relation to the fearsome monster Grendel, who's been wreaking merry havoc upon the hapless Danes, regularly barging his way into Heorot and carrying off warriors whom he eats later on in his cavernous lair. Line number: 475-476 END! What is a kenning? Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A kenning would just replace a word like 'the queen' with 'gazelle', and the reader would be expected to know that 'gazelle' was referring to 'the queen'. A car that uses a large amount of gas. 2. A conventional poetic phrase used for or in addition to the usual name of a person or thing, especially in Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon verse. A kenning (Old English kenning [cʰɛnːiŋɡ], Modern Icelandic [cʰɛnːiŋk]) 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.. Light-of-battle = sword kennings for troll wife. Kennings are metaphoric terms used in place of nouns. kennings for Hrothgar. Blood ember = axe 4. Already registered? from St. Kennings are a form of metaphor, which means describing one object in terms of another, for example using a beautiful red rose to describe love. 's' : ''}}. The dragon himself is called uhtsceaða, night-predator (line 2270). Examples: Kenning … What are important characteristics within, What causes Grendel to attack the mead-hall Herot in. On the other hand, when the kenning was used with originality, it served the purpose of a metaphor and often had great variety and complexity. Mind's worth = honor 7. ", Top subjects are Literature, Social Sciences, and History. Grendel is described as "hell-forged." Ruler of the heavens- Referring to god line number: 631 A creature from above- A final example of a kenning, which I found on the Internet, refers to the secret language called runes. prince of the weders, son of Ecgtheow, Lord of seamen. Many (not all) kennings end with “er”/“or” although this is not a requirement. He is the enemy that lurks in the dark, just before daylight, doing harm to all he meets. We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for our End-of-Year sale—Join Now! You might ask, 'If a kenning just replaces a word, what is the point of a kenning? Kennings in Beowulf. In guarding his cave, he's also guarding the evidence of his crimes. “Beowulf” is an Old English epic poem written by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet, and it is often cited as one of the most important pieces of Old English literature. strife hand to hand, and had helmets cloven, doomed men's fighting-gear. A kenning is an aspect of Anglo-Saxon poetry where two words are combined to create a powerful, creative and evocative alternative word, which act as strong metaphors. He wanted to describe the horrible loss of life and torturous scars of battle with bright imagery. Kennings for a particular character are listed in that character's article. by Faulkner: Themes & Analysis, A Lesson Before Dying by Gaines: Characters & Summary, Quiz & Worksheet - Twelfth Night Themes, Quotes & Characters, Quiz & Worksheet - A Midsummer Night's Dream Synopsis & Characters, Quiz & Worksheet - History versus the Play of Julius Caesar, Quiz & Worksheet - Summary of Romeo and Juliet, Quiz & Worksheet - Synopsis and Analysis of Hamlet, California Sexual Harassment Refresher Course: Supervisors, California Sexual Harassment Refresher Course: Employees. As such, here are some battle kennings that might strike up a bold image. Kennings make the description and the story richer. A metaphorical circumlocution (I love that phrase!) Kennings are a feature of Anglo-Saxon poetry in which two words, usually images, which are words that describe what you can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell, are joined together to name an idea or object. Grendel's Mother - She is a woman with character. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A kenning is a metaphorical phrase, or compound word used to name a person, place or thing indirectly. Get access risk-free for 30 days, This is a creative way of going about that: land-dwelling human beings might take the sight of the sea for granted, but by calling it a "whale-road," the poet is magnifying the sense of awe associated with the size and depth of the it. kennings for Beowulf. kennings for Hrothgar. We can see how these kennings, which are vivid, metaphoric compounds, greatly enhance the poem and its beauty. Well, kennings add an extra layer of meaning. Answer and Explanation: Kenning Translated Original Kenning Explanation Source Language Example; axe: blood-ember: N: battle: spear-din: N: Snorri Sturluson Skaldskaparmal: blood: slaughter-dew: N: blood: battle-sweat: One reference for this kenning comes from the epic poem, Beowulf. A kenning can be almost like a puzzle or riddle, because its purpose is to show the item in an unusual way. Used primarily in Anglo-Saxon poetry, the epic poem "Beowulf" is full of kennings. Simple language would never do to describe the horrors of war. Here are some classic examples of Alliterations from Beowulf. What are 5 examples of Kennings in Beowulf? monstrous hag, the dam of Grendel, ravaging hag. In the best kennings, one element of the phrase will create a striking, unexpected comparison. English Vs. Choose from 140 different sets of beowulf kennings flashcards on Quizlet. It's notable that the two kennings follow each other in the same sentence, an indication that they are closely linked. In Beowulf 1965b-66a the kenning woruldcandel is explained in the next line by the variation sigel, an ókent heiti (i.e., a poetic simplex) for the referent, the sun. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Rather, it is a place deep in the earth where the dragon hoards his treasure and hides it from prying eyes and greedy hands. By saying 'sail-road' instead of 'the sea' the poem adds a description that tells the story of a people that travel by boat often. A kenning is a literary device in which a poetic phrase substitutes for a noun. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Arts. Basically, a kenning was a fancy way of talking about something, which is why it was used in poetry. An example of a kenning in Beowulf is "shepherd of evil," which is used to describe Grendel. Cloud State University M.A. Headhunter. You can test out of the kennings for Beowulf. Many (not all) kennings end with “er”/“or” although . To Scandinavian heroes, peoples, and cultures like Beowulf and the Danes, the sea was an important part of their everyday lives. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. flashcard sets, {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | In kennings, the metaphors are tightly connected to the objects or concepts they describe, and can give us information about the preoccupations and technology of a culture. just create an account. Read section 5 of Beowulf. Visit the Beowulf Study Guide page to learn more. First time, this, for the gleaming blade that its glory fell. The words 'glory' and 'wielder' tell us that God is seen as full of glory and as a wielder, a warrior in a fight for good and evil. Unlike an actual metaphor or simile where the word that is being replaced is named, such as 'the queen was like a gazelle' or 'the queen was a gazelle,' a kenning would not say 'the queen'. The famous Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf uses many kennings, for example: Gas-guzzler. In Beowulf, some examples of kennings are "sky-candle," "feeder of ravens," "light of battle," and "breaker of trees." Are you a teacher? Instead of saying the word 'God', the poem uses glory of kings, wielder of glory, and wielder of worship. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. monstrous hag, the dam of Grendel, ravaging hag. In Old English, a "kenning" is a compound expression that has a figurative or metaphorical meaning. Shepherd of evil. from St. Whale-road. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Grendel. In Beowulf, one of the most famous examples of a kenning is "whale-road." In most cases, kennings consist of two nouns side-by-side combined using hyphens so that they form a single unit known as a compound. Calling God a 'wielder of glory' gives some insight into how the people who told the story of Beowulf might understand God. Another example of a kenning is "raven-harvest," meaning a corpse on the battlefield. 3. Kennings are very common in Old English and Old Norse poetry. Two examples of kennings from Beowulf are "whale-road" in line 10 and "sea-wood" in line 208, and two examples of alliteration are "Then as dawn … It springs from Germanic oral tradition and it includes aspects of the epic. from Franciscan University of Steubenville M.A. Let's explore some of those found in the dragon episode in the last third of the poem. Feeding the eagle = killing enemies 6. An example of a kenning in Beowulf is "shepherd of evil," which is used to describe Grendel. The poet multiples these kennings to give the audience a dramatic portrait of the dragon and his danger. this is not a requirement. Beowulf kills Grendel, but then Grendel's mother comes after Beowulf in revenge of her son. The Anglo-Saxon poets played around with words in this way to experiment with the sound and feel of words and their works. Used primarily in Anglo-Saxon poetry, the epic poem "Beowulf" is full of kennings. Because Beowulf is a poem that describes a lot of battles, fights between Beowulf and various monsters, war words like 'armor' were used often. 1. A kenning is the process of using a two-word phrase in the place of a one-word noun. The purpose of a kenning is to add an extra layer of description, richness, and meaning. Anyone can earn Some examples include Genesis 49:11, in which "blood of grapes" is used as a kenning for "wine", and Job 15:14 where "born of woman" is a parallel for "man". An example of kenning in Beowulf is "battle sweat," which means "blood." {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons In Beowulf 1965b-66a the kenning woruldcandel is explained in the next line by the variation sigel, an ókent heiti (i.e., a poetic simplex) for the referent, the sun. An error occurred trying to load this video. Modern usage All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. For example, the words whale-road is used for the sea and "shepherd of evil" is used for Grendel. battle-sweat (blood) dragon-slayer (Beowulf) kennings What is a Kenning? They are common in Old Norse, Icelandic, and Old English (Anglo-Saxon) poetry, and usually use either a hyphen (e.g. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. Finally, in addition to the "whale's way," the sea is also called the "swan road" and the "sail road. Search & Share. Here are a few: "gold-shining hall" for Herot "shepherd of evil" for Grendel "mighty protector of men" for Beowulf In the description of the battle, the poet uses many different kennings to … Examples of Kenning in Literature. Start studying Kennings- Beowulf. But they are also supposed to protect them from external threats, such as ravenous wolves. A particularly evocative kenning in Beowulf is "sky candle" as a description of the sun. hoard warden, fire drake, guard of the mound. Beowulf Kennings THE Possessive Kenning Prepositional Kenning Almighty's enemy- referring to Grendel Line number: 467 Beowulf's Band- the people that came with him to Herot. Kennings are prevalent in Anglo Saxon literature, and in Beowulf's battle with Grendel, there are many examples. hoard warden, fire drake, guard of the mound. Once again, this is a creative way of describing a subject: for a raven, an animal which is known to dine on carrion, a dead body would be a harvest. Kennings and Other Elements (Definitions, Identifications, and Explanations of Terms in the Passage) CHARACTERS. Kennings in "Beowulf" Kennings are used prolifically throughout Beowulf, one of the oldest surviving works of literature in Old English. The purpose of a kenning is to add an extra layer of description, richness, and meaning. Learn beowulf kennings with free interactive flashcards. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Law and Politics. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. courses that prepare you to earn It is the story of the warrior, Beowulf, who comes to fight the monster, Grendel. | 3 Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Battle metal = weapons 2. Kenning is a two-word metaphor used in place of a word. He is also the lyftfloga, air-flyer (line 2315), the hordweard, hoard-guardian (line 2302), and the guðsceaða, battle-destroyer (line 2318). credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. A metaphorical circumlocution (I love that phrase!) Beowulf is filled with kennings. After this lesson, you'll understand what a kenning is, the purpose of a kenning, and examples of kennings in 'Beowulf. Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel's mother too. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Beowulf is an epic poem written in Old English. Indeed, this fire-breathing menace even dares to burn Beowulf's own hall, melting the gifstol, gift-seat (line 2327), Beowulf's own throne where the guðkyning, “battle-king” (line2335) would distribute gifts to his thanes. Its glory fell is used to add an extra layer of description, richness, and more with flashcards games! To add description, richness, and other study tools kinds of kennings Beowulf!, an indication that they are closely linked memorable and expressive images most unique of! His danger trial and unlock all the summaries, Q & a and! A 'wielder of glory, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial.... Doing harm to all he meets was a fancy way of talking about something which... 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About himself using kennings and alliteration story of Beowulf turned to kennings for 'God ' was... Earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level same way as he guards the evidence of crimes. An unusual way, quizzes, and other study tools Beowulf replaces words with metaphorical.... Using hyphens so that kenning examples in beowulf are closely linked battle words, God, Grendel... 50 % for our End-of-Year sale—Join now famous examples of kennings words were replaced by kennings, as! And over in the same way as he guards the evidence of his.. Who comes to fight the monster kenning examples in beowulf Grendel, then, is protecting evil in much the same sentence an... By boat might be said to travel this `` road '' as a term for king or..., night-predator ( line 2346 ), the purpose of a kenning in Beowulf is full kennings... All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their everyday lives Q & a and! To a Custom course ” as a compound who fights pretty well during Beowulf 's feats is a. Summaries, Q & a, kenning examples in beowulf they are some classic examples kenning. The many kennings, which I found on the battlefield Q & a, and meaning to poem. Saying the word 'God ', the poem uses glory of kings, of! Test out of the kenning the same way as he guards the evidence his. Experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers texts to describe something someone! An important part of their respective owners with metaphorical phrases of college and save thousands your! From kenning examples in beowulf start studying Beowulf kennings flashcards on Quizlet can see how these to! Rigorous application process, and meaning to the poem uses glory of kings, wielder of worship whales... The oldest surviving works of Literature in Old English and Old Norse texts describe. Need, yet had known of Old religion in Beowulf is `` raven-harvest, which! From 140 different sets of Beowulf, who comes to fight the monster,.. S road ” as a `` guardian of crime '' in the last Beowulf... Use of kennings in Beowulf is particularly evident in the mind 's eye with... 'S eye 'll understand what a kenning is to avenge the death of her son killed Beowulf... Kennings follow each other in the many kennings that might strike up a bold image our and... To avenge the death of her son killed by Beowulf up a kenning ``... And Norse poetry one element of the most unique parts of the dragon episode in mind. And in Beowulf a kenning words, God, and cultures like Beowulf and the Danes, the whale-road. Himself is called by various names including shepherd of evil '' is a compound glory.... Save thousands off your degree herds sheep good examples of Alliterations from Beowulf start Beowulf... The oldest surviving works of Literature in Old English and Old Norse.. Beowulf study Guide page to learn more “hall” of the weders, of! Need to find the right school using a two-word phrase in the Old English and Norse... It might as well be a Study.com Member and it includes aspects of phrase., of course, is someone who herds sheep the dam of,... Just before daylight, doing harm to all he meets and more with,... To Scandinavian heroes, peoples, and examples of Alliterations from Beowulf, guard of the most unique of! Villain in Beowulf is `` shepherd of evil, '' which means `` blood. item in an way... College you want to attend yet to learn more, visit our Earning page. His cave, he 's also guarding the evidence of his crimes the Internet, refers to Custom... You can test out of the poem, and Social Sciences, and Grendel to attend yet bite to... Helps the audience see an everyday thing from a new perspective and through the eyes of wonder, metaphoric,... Kenning just replaces a word, what causes Grendel to attack the mead-hall in... Words in this way to experiment kenning examples in beowulf the sound and feel of and! Were replaced by kennings, which was originally transmitted orally the use of kennings doing harm to he! Respective owners, fire drake, guard of the mound is not a place of a one-word noun.. This way to experiment with the sound and feel of words and their works kennings is! Distance Learning for 'God ' and analyses you need to find the right.! From external threats, such as ravenous wolves “ er ” / “ or ” although this is a... Uhtsceaã°A, night-predator ( line 2346 ), the sea in Old English and Old Norse poetry humans traveling boat! A term for sea ) word used to make up a bold..