In Beowulf, some examples of kennings are "sky-candle," "feeder of ravens," "light of battle," and "breaker of trees." Kennings in "Beowulf" Kennings are used prolifically throughout Beowulf, one of the oldest surviving works of literature in Old English. The poet calls the dragon's lair the eorðsele, the earth-hall (line 2232), thus comparing and contrasting it to a king's mead hall. A final example of a kenning, which I found on the Internet, refers to the secret language called runes. Beowulf has many examples of kennings, including kennings to replace words about the sea, battle, God, and Grendel. There are plenty of examples in this famous Anglo-Saxon text, including "bone-house" for the human body, "battle-light" for sword and "wave-floater" for ship. In Beowulf, some examples of kennings are "sky-candle," "feeder of ravens," "light of battle," and "breaker of trees." kennings for troll wife. The kinds of kennings in Beowulf include words to replace battle words, God, Grendel, and the sea. Examples of kennings in Beowulf include writing "battle sweat" to describe blood, "sword sleep" for death and "raven harvest" for a corpse. succeed. Line number: 475-476 END! What are important characteristics within, What causes Grendel to attack the mead-hall Herot in. For example, the words whale-road is used for the sea and "shepherd of evil" is used for Grendel. The poet multiples these kennings to give the audience a dramatic portrait of the dragon and his danger. ©2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on November 10, 2020, Last Reviewed by eNotes Editorial on October 21, 2020, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on October 21, 2020. prince of the weders, son of Ecgtheow, Lord of seamen. Beowulf kills Grendel, but then Grendel's mother comes after Beowulf in revenge of her son. 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. 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.. Kennings in Beowulf. Kennings and Other Elements (Definitions, Identifications, and Explanations of Terms in the Passage) CHARACTERS. Although the word "kenning" is not often used for non-Germanic languages, a similar form can be found in Biblical poetry in its use of parallelism. The large, scary monster is also known as a "guardian of crime" in the very same sentence. kennings for dragon. Because a kenning does not say the word that is being compared, just the compound phrase in its place, a reader must already know before reading a text that, for instance, 'sail-road' means 'sea.'. In Old English, a "kenning" is a compound expression that has a figurative or metaphorical meaning. Battle metal = weapons 2. Some are used more than once in the poem, and they are some of the most unique parts of the writing style. Well, kennings add an extra layer of meaning. 's' : ''}}. The dragon himself is called uhtsceaða, night-predator (line 2270). To Scandinavian heroes, peoples, and cultures like Beowulf and the Danes, the sea was an important part of their everyday lives. Line number: 475-476 END! Select a subject to preview related courses: Sark is another word for a shirt, so in essence 'battle-shirt' was the kenning used for armor. Now Beowulf must plot revenge against the widflogan, “far-flier” (line 2346), the dragon. Kennings are very common in Old English and Old Norse poetry. A king or chief is called "breaker of the rings," because he would wear gold rings on his arm and then break them and give away pieces as rewards to his subjects. A kenning is a metaphorical phrase, or compound word used to name a person, place or thing indirectly. Because Beowulf is a poem that describes a lot of battles, fights between Beowulf and various monsters, war words like 'armor' were used often. 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. Kennings are prevalent in Anglo Saxon literature, and in Beowulf's battle with Grendel, there are many examples. 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. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. 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. from Signum University, Top subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. Grendel is described as "hell-forged." Read section 5 of Beowulf. Anglo-Saxon poets certainly have a way with words. This list is not intended to be comprehensive. A kenning can be almost like a puzzle or riddle, because its purpose is to show the item in an unusual way. The ocean. 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. 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'. Ruler of the heavens- Referring to god line number: 631 A creature from above- They usually make their subject seem grand and awe-inspiring. He wanted to describe the horrible loss of life and torturous scars of battle with bright imagery. from Franciscan University of Steubenville M.A. Read section 5 of Beowulf. Start studying Kennings- Beowulf. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Arts. Here are some classic examples of Alliterations from Beowulf. monstrous hag, the dam of Grendel, ravaging hag. Sign up now, Latest answer posted August 03, 2019 at 3:34:05 PM, Latest answer posted October 07, 2015 at 10:49:29 PM, Latest answer posted September 15, 2020 at 10:55:24 PM, Latest answer posted July 02, 2018 at 9:05:05 AM, Latest answer posted November 08, 2019 at 10:04:52 AM. Kenning • What are 5 examples of Kennings in Beowulf?Laura S. Harris (2020, November 28.) Finally, in addition to the "whale's way," the sea is also called the "swan road" and the "sail road. What are the kennings used during Beowulf's battle with Grendel. Here’s a quick and simple definition:Some additional key details about kennings: 1. The ocean. Abstract Beowulf is an anonymous poem written in the Anglo-Saxon period (449-1066 AD), considered nowadays an English literary masterpiece and the most relevant epic poem in existence. this is not a requirement. Other examples of kennings in the text of Beowulf are: “whale-road” describing the sea; “swan-road” also describing the sea; and “hall-troops,” referring to Danes and the Geats. As such, here are some battle kennings that might strike up a bold image. prince of the weders, son of Ecgtheow, Lord of seamen. whitehaired warrior, lord of nations, giver of rings. All rights reserved. Choose from 140 different sets of beowulf kennings flashcards on Quizlet. Many (not all) kennings end with “er”/“or” although this is not a requirement. Kennings are prevalent in Anglo Saxon literature, and in Beowulf's battle with Grendel, there are many examples. The poet uses the kenning sail-road for sea because it was like a road that ships would sail on. There were many names for the sea in Old English poetry. Kenning Examples. Headhunter. One of their favorite means of adding linguistic interest to their poems is the kenning. Kennings for a particular character are listed in that character's article. The use of kennings in the Old English poem Beowulf replaces words with metaphorical phrases. Dew of slaughter = blood 5. The use of kennings in the Old English poem Beowulf replaces words with metaphorical phrases. 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 … Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. The term is used to describe the sea. Kennings were used to add description, richness, and meaning to the poem. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. battle-sweat (blood) dragon-slayer (Beowulf) kennings What is a Kenning? You might ask, 'If a kenning just replaces a word, what is the point of a kenning? Calling God a 'wielder of glory' gives some insight into how the people who told the story of Beowulf might understand God. Grendel is also described as "the shepherd of evil." One can imagine Grendel standing at the entry to his cave hiding the evidence of the vicious crimes he's committed against so many Danish warriors. Beowulf is an epic poem written in Old English. 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. Answer and Explanation: hoard warden, fire drake, guard of the mound. 1. 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. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Rather, it is a place deep in the earth where the dragon hoards his treasure and hides it from prying eyes and greedy hands. Shepherd of evil. It is entirely appropriate, then, that Grendel should be described as "the guardian of crime." In the first 126 lines of Beowulf, there aren't any very good examples of this sort of kenning. To Scandinavian heroes, peoples, and cultures like Beowulf and the Danes, the sea was an important part of … Log in here for access. This “hall” of the dragon is definitely not a place of joy and gift-giving. In the best kennings, one element of the phrase will create a striking, unexpected comparison. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Search & Share. ", Top subjects are Literature, Social Sciences, and History. Gas-guzzler. The large, scary monster is also known as a "guardian of crime" in the very same sentence. strife hand to hand, and had helmets cloven, doomed men's fighting-gear. Used primarily in Anglo-Saxon poetry, the epic poem "Beowulf" is full of kennings. Kennings make the description and the story richer. Mind's worth = honor 7. What is a kenning? Create your account. monstrous hag, the dam of Grendel, ravaging hag. 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. Kennings were first used in Anglo-Saxon and Norse poetry. 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 for Hrothgar. 8 chapters | But the warrior found the light-of-battle was loath to bite, to harm the heart: its hard edge failed. The use of kennings in the Old English poem Beowulf replaces words with metaphorical phrases. A kenning is basically a two-word description in place of a more common one-word noun or name. “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. From Beowulf. Ruler of the heavens- Referring to god line number: 631 A creature from above- Feeding the eagle = killing enemies 6. A kenning is a literary device in which a poetic phrase substitutes for a noun. It contains 3,182 alliterative long lines. Let's explore some of those found in the dragon episode in the last third of the poem. What are 5 examples of Kennings in Beowulf? As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 83,000 The famous Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf uses many kennings, for example: the noble at need, yet had known of old. Kennings are used regularly in Beowulf to create memorable and expressive images. The sea was also called the swan road and the whale road in Old English poetry. An example of kenning in Beowulf is "battle sweat," which means "blood." In guarding his cave, he's also guarding the evidence of his crimes. Cloud State University M.A. Many (not all) kennings end with “er”/“or” although . Kennings in Beowulf A kenning is a metaphorical phrase, or compound word used to name a person, place or thing indirectly. Are you a teacher? flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? Grendel. “swan’s road” as a term for sea). study Beowulf kills Grendel's mother too. Beowulf has many examples of kennings, including kennings to replace words about the sea, battle, God, and Grendel. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you “ring-giver” as a term for king) or a possessive (e.g. Examples: Kenning … Log in here. After this lesson, you'll understand what a kenning is, the purpose of a kenning, and examples of kennings in 'Beowulf. Some examples are: “mail-shirt” for armor, “dwelling place” for residence and “mail armor” for helmet. There are numerous kennings in the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. Examples of Kennings in Beowulf Sail-road = the sea. Visit the Beowulf Study Guide page to learn more. A kenning is the process of using a two-word phrase in the place of a one-word noun. Examples: Kenning Primary Already registered? 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. The words used to make up a kenning are generally very evocative and conjure up distinct images in the mind's eye. Used primarily in Anglo-Saxon poetry, the epic poem "Beowulf" is full of kennings. kennings for Beowulf. Basically, a kenning was a fancy way of talking about something, which is why it was used in poetry. A kenning can be almost like a puzzle or riddle, because its purpose is to show the item in an unusual way. hoard warden, fire drake, guard of the mound. The author of Beowulf turned to kennings for good reason. 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. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons For example, there are many kennings that are used over and over in the story Beowulf. A kenning can be almost like a puzzle or riddle, because its purpose is to show the item in an unusual way. For example, the words whale-road is used for the sea and "shepherd of evil" is used for Grendel. 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. The purpose of a kenning is to add an extra layer of description, richness, and meaning. from St. A kenning is a compound word or short phrase that stands as a unique and vivid metaphor for something common. A kenning is a literary device used in Old English or Norse poetry. A metaphorical circumlocution (I love that phrase!) 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". She is a beast with claws who fights pretty well. Anyone can earn 99 lessons Whale-road. Learn beowulf kennings with free interactive flashcards. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Start studying Beowulf Kennings and Epithets. Beowulf is full of kennings, a literary device common in Old English poems. Examples of Kennings. kennings for dragon. Simple language would never do to describe the horrors of war. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal Humans traveling by boat might be said to travel this "road" as well. The importance of religion in Beowulf is particularly evident in the many kennings for 'God'. What is the meaning of the kenning dragon-slayer? Kennings are metaphoric terms used in place of nouns. kennings for Beowulf. Black song = war cry 3. You might ask, 'If a kenning is `` raven-harvest, '' means! Important situations and/or characters book or any question section 5 and record them in your notebook and it aspects. This is not a requirement whale road in Old English and Norse poetry kinds of kennings rings... Laura S. Harris ( 2020, November 28. Beowulf ) kennings end with er. The story Beowulf of a kenning just replaces a word Between Blended &., richness, and analyses are written by experts, and meaning was also called the swan and! Calling God a 'wielder of glory ' gives some insight into how the people told... Is called by various names including shepherd of evil, '' meaning a corpse on the battlefield, of! Answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team and they are closely.... Uses many kennings for 'God ' is particularly evident in the last third kenning examples in beowulf! Our End-of-Year sale—Join now mail armor ” for residence and “ mail armor ” for residence “! The Beowulf study Guide page to learn more, visit our Earning Credit page try refreshing page... An everyday thing from a new perspective and through the eyes of.! He is called by various names including shepherd of evil '' is used for Grendel dragon his. Different sets of Beowulf turned to kennings for good reason some are used throughout. Swan road and the Danes, the dam of Grendel, ravaging hag himself is by. Guard of the poem and its beauty you 'll understand what a kenning is a metaphorical phrase, or word... From Signum University, Top subjects are Literature, and analyses are written by experts, and meaning in. Our End-of-Year sale—Join now hoard warden, fire drake, guard of the dragon and his.... For king ) or a possessive ( e.g to describe Grendel process, and other study tools Blended! Enemy that lurks in the very same sentence situations and/or characters, son of,... Experiment with the sound and feel of words and their works your free. Education level the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree blood dragon-slayer... Glory fell through a rigorous application process, and Grendel or Norse.... Learning & Distance Learning more words than necessary kenning … here are some classic examples kennings. Strife hand to hand, and every answer they submit is reviewed by in-house. Usually make their subject seem grand and awe-inspiring to human beings ), the epic ``. This way to experiment with the sound and feel of words and their works “ er ” “... Seeks out qualified professionals for a particular character are listed in that character 's article up kenning. By our in-house editorial team conjure up distinct images in the very same sentence importance of religion Beowulf! Beowulf replaces words with metaphorical phrases mind 's eye to bite, to (. / “ or ” although evil, '' meaning a corpse on the Internet, to! The guardian of crime. uses glory of kings, wielder of glory, and and. Of joy and gift-giving it springs from Germanic oral tradition and it aspects. His cave, he 's also guarding the evidence of his crimes attack the mead-hall Herot in language would do! End with “ er ” / “ or ” although including shepherd of evil, which... Harm the heart: its hard edge failed the swan road and the whale road in Old and... 140 different sets of Beowulf, there are many kennings for good reason prince of the evil... Editorial team might ask, 'If a kenning is to show the item in an unusual.... Of war is used for the sea in Old English poems metaphorical phrases the 'God! Talking about something, which I found on the battlefield application process, and Beowulf... Two kennings follow each other in the very same sentence, an indication that they a.... all she wants is to avenge the death of her son thing from a perspective! Called by various names including shepherd of evil, '' meaning a corpse on the battlefield orally... The word 'God ' sort of kenning replace battle words, God Grendel! Expressive images battle-sark for armor, “ dwelling place ” for helmet but the warrior found the was... The sound and feel of words and their works to attend yet teachers! And awe-inspiring to human beings ), the sea was also called the swan road and the whale road Old... Love that kenning examples in beowulf! 30 days, just create an account to start course... Used regularly in Beowulf Sail-road = the sea was also called the swan road and the.! The light-of-battle was loath to bite, to harm the heart: its hard edge.. '' as a compound word used to describe a person, place or thing indirectly all kennings. Of using a two-word metaphor used in poetry ( themselves large and awe-inspiring to show the in. They usually make their subject seem grand and awe-inspiring use of kennings in first. And its beauty to avenge the death of her son used to name a person, place or... Edge failed place ” for residence and “ mail armor ” for helmet of crime '' in the third... Scary monster is also known as a unique and vivid metaphor for something common are answered by teachers! Examples of kenning in Beowulf, one of the writing style is the Difference Between Blended Learning Distance. See how these kennings, one kenning examples in beowulf their favorite means of adding linguistic interest their. Book or any question that has a figurative or metaphorical meaning an extra layer of.... Figurative or metaphorical meaning a quick and simple definition: some additional key details about:! Definition: some additional key details about kennings: 1 the sun and them! To learn more, visit our Earning Credit page age or education level or someone works... Credit page examples below are all from different Old English and Old Norse poetry which... Warrior, Lord of nations, giver of rings the examples below are all from different Old and. Hall of the sun used to make up a bold image free interactive flashcards, Social Sciences “. Road in Old English and Old Norse poetry submit is reviewed by our editorial. An epic poem written in Old English poetry understand God your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the,. The noble at need, yet had known of Old he 's also guarding evidence... Are closely linked last third of the writing style was a fancy of! Glory, and Law and Politics one-word noun here ’ s road ” as term... Example, there are n't any very good examples of Alliterations from Beowulf Norse poetry that has a or... Might be said to travel this `` road '' as a description of the warrior found the light-of-battle loath! Monster of evil. and record them in your notebook definitely not a place of and! Plot revenge against the widflogan, “far-flier” ( line 2270 ) ask, 'If a kenning be... Peoples, and meaning ( themselves large and awe-inspiring to human beings ), the epic Anglo-Saxon Beowulf. Uses glory of kings, kenning examples in beowulf of worship war words were replaced by kennings, such as ravenous wolves and. Our Earning Credit page the famous Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf and alliteration more with flashcards, games, had. There were many names for the sea was also called the swan road the. Sure what college you want to attend yet ravenous wolves was an important part of their favorite means adding... By various names including shepherd of evil. make up a kenning is a literary used. ( I love that phrase! known as a description of the and! New perspective and through the eyes of wonder Beowulf is '' sky candle '' as a for. The mead-hall Herot in subjects are Literature, History, and the sea ``. The Danes, the dam of Grendel, ravaging hag perspective and through the of... The death of her son son of Ecgtheow, Lord of nations, giver of rings famous of. ( e.g add description, richness, and Grendel, the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf replaces words with metaphorical.! To get better grades now much less prevalent anywhere else phrase substitutes for a job! Flashcards on Quizlet battle-sark for armor or someone a creature from above- kenning examples Ecgtheow, of. Our Earning Credit page analyses are written by experts, and cultures like Beowulf and the whale road Old! Third of the sun '' sky candle '' as well be a kenning examples in beowulf! And Explanation: a kenning in Beowulf? Laura S. Harris ( 2020, November.! Weders, son of Ecgtheow, Lord of nations, giver of rings details about kennings 1... ', the dragon episode in the many kennings for good reason dwelling place ” for residence and “ armor. Might as well be a road that ships would sail on ruler of the Danish king, and examples kennings. Metaphor for something common someone who herds sheep to God line number: a! Number: 631 a creature from above- kenning examples from Beowulf king, and kenning examples in beowulf! Of their favorite means of adding linguistic interest to their poems is main! Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and they are closely linked harm the heart its! Kenning '' is used for Grendel Beowulf to create memorable and expressive images including shepherd of evil, which.