Kennings
History 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-Weapon
battle-flame
gore-cradle
word-hoard
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
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
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
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
• Old Norse kennings:
shield-tester
prayer-smithy
head-anvil
• Old Norse kennings:
shield-tester  warrior
prayer-smithy
head-anvil
• Old Norse kennings:
shield-tester  warrior
prayer-smithy  a man's heart
head-anvil
• Old Norse kennings:
shield-tester  warrior
prayer-smithy  a man's heart
head-anvil  the skull
• Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
beadoleoma ("flashing light")
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle
• Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
beadoleoma ("flashing light")
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle
• Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle
• Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle
• Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle
• Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord
battle-sweat  blood
hell-serf
sky-candle
• Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("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
• Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("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
• 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/AGlossaryOfLiteraryTerms
/glossary_djvu.txt
• Oxford Dictionaries
• http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ken
ning
• Literary Terms and Definitions: K
• http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_K.html
• http://www.spiritsnextmove.net/wpcontent/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/andyou-wonder-why-im-called-a-rugrat-thumb.jpg
• http://www.unionversity.com/wpcontent/uploads/2010/10/male_tramp_stamps_5.jp
g
• http://fixmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/win
gedheart1.jpg