All about kennings from the Vikings to the
All about kennings (from the Vikings to the present day) By the end of the lesson we will be able to: 1. Define what a kenning is 2. Say something about the history of kennings 3. Work out what some kennings refer to
Define Kenning • Kenning - a literary device in which a noun is renamed in a creative way using a compound word or union of two separate words to combine ideas If you tell your friends that your parents are the "car loaners" -- then you have created a kenning.
A way of describing something indirectly They are a kind of ‘mini riddle’ - but one which is very much aimed at listeners rather than readers.
At their simplest kennings can just be two words fused together to make a new noun. The two words can be noun/noun (swan-road = river) or noun/verb (skull-splitter = axe) and can be used to make a list describing an object, emotion, quality or animal, in any combination.
An example of this kind of simple kenning is: Round-facer No-smiler Still-stander Two-hander Night-friendly Heart-beater Time-keeper Sudden-shrieker What am I? An alarm clock
Now let’s look at some modern versions of kennings and see if we can work out what they’re about…. . Ready?
A famous kenning from 1970 s advertising Lipsmackin' thirstquenchin' acetastin' motivatin' goodbuzzin' cooltalkin' highwalkin' fastlivin' evergivin' coolfizzin' What is it?
Don’t let this picture fool you! Think hard about this one! I go through the wood in silence And come out onto the snow Where I leave my print although I have no footsteps Where I speak your heart although I cannot breathe What am I? I’m the lead in a pencil!
Let me give you a clue about the next one! Grab the beast by the horns Wrestle it down the narrow streets ‘til you break its will to skitter its own way Subdue it, burden its ribcage Let your children ride and then let it stray Who cares? They’ll send a herdsman to round it up at the end of the day What is it?
A supermarket trolley!
So now can you: 1. Define what a kenning is? 2. Say something about the history of kennings (where could I find a book full of them? ) 3. Try some of the simple ones yourself. Writing them about animals is a good place to start Over to you……
Over to you…… 5 -7 minutes Rename each of the following through the use of the kenning technique. 1. Television 2. Pop tarts 3. Music 4. Love 5. Paper towels
Alliteration
What is Alliteration? Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sound in two or more neighboring words or syllables. Also known as Initial Rhyme. Here are some examples: • the wild winds of winter • Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Let’s look at another example… WEATHER Whether the weather be fine Or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold Or whether the weather be hot, We'll weather the weather Whatever the weather, Whether we like it or not. -- Anonymous
What is the purpose of Alliteration? The purpose of alliteration is to create a consistent pattern that catches the mind's eye and focuses attention.
The railroad tracks ran right through the center of town. Alliteration makes the reader read faster, thereby adding a sense of speed and intensity to the sentence.
Alliterative poems tend to be tongue twisters. They are written for the fun they bring when they are read! She sells seashells by the seashore!
Proper alliteration is NOT a repetition of letters; it is a repetition of sound. For example, never and knight alliterate because they begin with the same consonant sound. Conversely, even though tin and thank begin with the same letter, they do not alliterate because they don’t begin with the same consonant sound.
Exit Ticket: Due before you leave Assignment: Create an alliterative/kennings poem. Notebook paper is fine. Guidelines: 1. Your poem must be at least 5 lines (no less) 2. Use complete sentences that make sense. 3. Use correct punctuation. 4. Include at least 3 examples of alliteration in your poem. 5. Include at least 1 kenning example in your poem. 6. LABEL your alliteration examples and LABEL your kenning example.
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