
Appositives An appositive is a noun or pronoun that is placed next to another noun or pronoun to identify or give additional information. • My friend Paulo sends me long letters from Brazil. • The appositive Paulo identifies the noun friend. ~ Renaming ~
Appositive Phrases An appositive phrase is an appositive plus any words that modify the appositive. • He is living and working in Harrisburg, the capital city. • The appositive phrase, in bold type, identifies Harrisburg. ~ Renaming ~
Kennings are often appositive phrases. Example: HROTHGAR, helmet-of-Scyldings, spake: “… • Helmet-of-Scyldings renames Hrothgar. • He protects his people as a helmet protects the head.
What phrase renames the dragon? Then for the third time that folk-destroyer, fire-dread dragon, rushed on the hero, where room allowed, battle-grim, burning.
What part of speech is fire-dread? Then for the third time that folk-destroyer, fire-dreaddragon, rushed on the hero, where room allowed, battle-grim, burning. Note: • The kenning, folk-destroyer, functions as a noun. • Fire-dreaddescribes what kind of dragon this is rather than renaming it.
What renames the fight that resulted? Now I turn to Grendel and say in full how the fight resulted, hand-fray of heroes. When heaven’s jewel had fled o’er far fields, that fierce sprite came, night-foe savage, to seek us out where safe and sound we sentried the hall.
Kennings rename, even when not in the appositive. Now I turn to Grendel and say in full how the fight resulted, hand-fray of heroes. When heaven’s jewel had fled o’er far fields, that fierce sprite came, night-foe, to seek us out where safe and sound we sentried the hall.
Metonymy • meta change • nym name i.e. rename Example: Refer to the king as the crown.
The analogy doesn’t always work! The battle-king, said he,far o’er the swan-road he wants to seek,the noble monarch who needed men! • Battle-king refers to Hrothgar, the monarch who needs men. • But it’s not completely metaphoric: Hrothgar is king.
The analogy doesn’t always work! Ring-giver • Refers to king • Because he gives rewards, not necessarily rings But the king is actually a giver.