KENNINGS What is a Kenning A Kenning is

KENNINGS What is a Kenning? A Kenning is a compressed metaphor or description using two nouns to describe a subject, place or object.

�Examples - Using a Kenning in a Sentence �Story keeper - Book. �Word fisher - Poet. �Web maker - Spider. �Sky climber - Mountain. �Kenning is used in poetry to create different effects, They can be combined to make a poem called a Kennings in which a collection of kenning lines are combined to describe an object. �Why don't you try writing a poem using a kenning and enter it into one of our poetry competitions. �For information on poetry terms other than a kenning visit our poetry glossary – poetry terms

�There are many examples of kennings in Beowulf and they are used with great variety throughout the story. Some more examples include: “helmet bearers” for warriors, “earth-hall” for burial mound or barrow, “stone-cliffs” for rocks, wall, cliffs of stone, “stouthearted” for bravery and “shieldwarrior” for fighter behind the shield. Many of these words appear in other readings of Anglo Saxon poetry.

Beowulf: The Poetry of Beowulf �The kenning is another poetic device that was used by the oral poet. �Examples of kennings from Beowulf: �gold-shining hall= Herot �guardian of crime= Grendel �strong-hearted wakeful sleeper= Beowulf �cave-guard and sky-borne foe= dragon

Beowulf: The Poetry of Beowulf Create modern-day kennings for things you see around you. �giver of words �word-wand �? �?