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All about kennings

On the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Word of mouth’ the poet Laurence Sail described kennings as ‘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. All about kennings. (from the Vikings to the present day).

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All about kennings

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  1. On the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Word of mouth’ the poet Laurence Sail described kennings as ‘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.

  2. 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 • Say something about the history of kennings 3. Work out what some kennings refer to

  3. At their simplest kennings can just be two words fused together with a hyphen to make a new noun. The two words can be the following: • noun/noun (swan-road = river) • noun/verb (skull-splitter = axe) • used to make a list describing an object, emotion, quality or animal, in any combination.

  4. An example of this kind of simple kenning (in riddle form) is: Round-facer No-smiler Still-stander Two-hander Night-friendly Heart-beater Time-keeper Sudden-shrieker What am I?

  5. An alarm clock

  6. The word kenning is derived from the Old Norse phrase kennaeittvið, which means "to express a thing in terms of another", and is found throughout Norse, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic literature. (The national flag of Norway)

  7. Characteristics of a kenning: • Originated in Anglo-Saxon Old English and Old Norse poetry • A type of figurative language, specifically a METAPHOR • Some kennings were coined by poets and used repeatedly in various works • Sometimes utilized ALLITERATION

  8. When English books were rare, all the "literature" in a particular part of the country might be all put together in one book. The great book we know as the "Exeter Book" was given to the library of Exeter Cathedral by the first bishop of Exeter, Leofric, who died in 1072. The Exeter book contains many riddles referring to things like a ‘thief-guest who was no wiser for having swallowed words’ (a bookworm)

  9. Now let’s look at some modern versions of kennings and see if we can work out what they’re about….. Ready?

  10. A famous kenning from 1970s advertising Lipsmackin' thirstquenchin' acetastin' motivatin' goodbuzzin' cooltalkin' highwalkin' fastlivin' evergivin' coolfizzin' What is it?

  11. Soda (i.e. Pop)!

  12. Don’t let this picture fool you! Think hard about this one! Silent wood-splitter Snow-surviver Print-maker Footless-wanderer Heart-speaker Breathless-voice What am I?

  13. I’m the lead in a pencil!

  14. Let me give you a clue about the next one! Multi-Tasking Carrier Narrow-Street Mobile Always-Controlled Engineless Force Breathless-Ribcage Used and Abused Four-Wheeled Wonder Corral-Convict What is it?

  15. Shopping Cart

  16. Kennings, when written or spoken as a list, can create short riddles: • Squidgy ball • Dotty skin • Vitamin casing • Sticky fingers • Sweet scent • Jigsaw pieces What am I?

  17. Kennings, when written or spoken as a list, can create short riddles: • Squidgy ball • Dotty skin • Vitamin casing • Sticky fingers • Sweet scent • Jigsaw pieces • What am I?

  18. Animals are good to describe in kenning form: • Quiet prowler • Night howler • Free mealer • Chicken stealer • Rusty splasher • Hunter dasher What am I?

  19. Animals are good to describe in kenning form: • Quiet prowler • Night howler • Free mealer • Chicken stealer • Rusty splasher • Hunter dasher • What am I?

  20. Flesh eater • Brain eater • Brain stealers • Brain munchers • Walking dead • Heartless Walker

  21. A Zombie • Flesh eater • Brain eater • Brain stealers • Brain munchers • Walking dead • Heartless Walker

  22. Sweet-clothed muffin • Dressed up treat • Small cake • Frosted delight • Cute cake • Chocholately Sensation • Cup of Joy

  23. Cupcake • Party muffin • Sweet-clothed muffin • Dressed muffin • Small cake • Frosted delight • Sprinkled diabetes • Cute cake • Chocholately Sensation • Cup of Joy

  24. Deadly Prowler • Striped Hunter • Throat Ripper • Jungle Dweller • Striped Feline • Sinister Stripe Bearer • Growl Giver • Mean Muggin’ Man-Killer • Striped Beauty • Death Kitten • Vicious Feline

  25. Tiger • Deadly Prowler • Striped Hunter • Throat Ripper • Jungle Dweller • Striped Feline • Sinister Stripe Bearer • Growl Giver • Mean Muggin’ Man-Killer • Striped Beauty • Death Kitten • Vicious Feline

  26. Falling light • Thirst giver • Watercolor wasteland • Painted sky • Golden horizon • Sinking color • Dehydration Station • Tomorrow’s Dawn • Sunflower through a Blazing Sky • Sandy Abyss • Oversized Sandbox

  27. Desert Sunset • Falling light • Thirst giver • Watercolor wasteland • Painted sky • Golden horizon • Sinking color • Dehydration Station • Tomorrow’s Dawn • Sunflower through a Blazing Sky • Sandy Abyss • Oversized Sandbox

  28. Painter’s Wand • Mark Leaver • Artists’ Emotions • Painter’s Dream(maker) • Color Smearer • Canvas Dirtyer • Imagination Mover • Artist’s Utensil • Mess Maker • Drop of Art

  29. Paintbrush • Painter’s Wand • Mark Leaver • Artists’ Emotions • Painter’s Dream(maker) • Color Smearer • Canvas Dirtyer • Imagination Mover • Artist’s Utensil • Mess Maker • Drop of Art

  30. Trees with words • Writer’s mind • Knowledge paper • Reader’s escape • Many words • Rustic pages • Shelf-filler • Worded World • Fire fuel • Page -Turner • Ancient Scriptings

  31. Book • Trees with words • Writer’s mind • Knowledge paper • Reader’s escape • Many words • Rustic pages • Shelf-filler • Worded World • Fire fuel • Page -Turner • Ancient Scriptings

  32. Name that kenning! 1. gas guzzler: _________________ 2. headhunter : _________________ 3. showstopper: _________________ 4. rug rat : _________________ 5. land line : _________________ 6. eye candy : _________________ 7. pigskin : _________________ 8. fender bender: _________________ 9. couch potato : _________________ 10. tramp stamp: _________________

  33. Answer Key 1. gas guzzler – a vehicle that has poor gas mileage (alliteration, striking imagery) 2. headhunter – a person who finds executive positions for job seekers (consonance with the “h” sound, striking imagery) 3. showstopper = a performance receiving long applause 4. rug rat – a mischievous child (alliteration, striking imagery) 5. land line – a traditional telephone (alliteration) 6. eye candy – a person or thing with visual appeal but little substance (striking imagery) 7. pigskin - football 8. fender bender – small crash 9. couch potato – a person who gets little exercise (assonance and striking imagery) 10. tramp stamp – a tattoo on the lower back (rhyme, striking imagery)

  34. Challenge! Now that you have mastered modern kennings, try to translate some from literature: • slaughter-dew: _______________ • raven-harvest: _______________ • moons of the forehead: _______________ • swan road: _______________ • sea-steed: _______________

  35. Challenge! Now that you have mastered modern kennings, try to translate some from literature: • slaughter-dew: rain • raven-harvest: dead animal • moons of the forehead: eyes • swan road: river/lake • sea-steed: ship

  36. from Beowulf: • Battle-adornèd = armed and armored (for battle)"Go to the bench now, battle-adorned." • Battle-gear = armor"'Mid the battle-gear he saw a blade triumphant, old-sword of Eotens, with edge of proof, warriors' heirloom, weapon unmatched." • Battle sweat = blood"That war-sword then all burned, bright blade, when the blood gushes o'er it, battle-sweat hot; but the hilt I brought back from my foes." • Giver-of-rings = king"Ne'er heard I of host in haughtier throng more graciously gathered round giver-of-rings!" • Light-of-battle = sword"But the warrior found the light-of-battle was loath to bite, to hard the heart." • Shepherd-of-evils = Grendel"Soon then saw that shepherd-of-evils that never he met in this middle-world, in the ways of earth, another wight with heavier hand-gripe." • Heaven's candle = the sun"Then blazed forth light. 'Twas bright within as when from the sky there shines unclouded heaven's candle." • Whale-path = sea or ocean"For he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve, till before him the folk, both far and near, who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate, gave him gifts: a good king he!"

  37. Kennings Related to Nature • Ancestor's watch = a stone circle • Bane of wood = fire • Boreas's burning = snow blindness • Branches of fjord, Wave-swine = ship • Dragon's bile = poison • Feather's fall = falling snow • Frozen road = ice-covered river • Green clearing = a shaman's gathering place • Northern kiss = cold wind • Ribs of Ull = skis • Serpent's lair = gold • Ship of night = the moon • Sky's black cloak = nightfall • Sky candle = the sun • Thor's laughter = thunder • Weather of wolves = harsh winter • White death = killed by an avalanche • Wind racers = horses • Winter's blanket = snow • Winter spear = icicle

  38. Kennings Related to Battle • Battle metal = weapons • Black song = war cry • Blood ember = axe • Dew of slaughter = blood • Feeding the eagle = killing enemies • Mind's worth = honor • Traveling the Hell road = dying • War needles = arrows • Weather of weapons = large-scale battle

  39. Kennings Related to People • Bear shirt = Norse warrior • Bringer of rings = chieftain or king • Children of battle = soldiers • Feller of life-webs = slayer • Feeder of eagles/ravens = warrior • Lord of laughter = composer, poet • Ring rich = a generous person • Rune caller = wizard • Slayer of giants = Thor • Wolf's joint = wrist

  40. So now can you: 1. Define what a kenning is? • 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……

  41. Project Assignment: • In your groups, create a Google Slide Presentation with one of the following: • Riddle (recall the PowerPoint with examples) with kennings as clues • Poem or SHORT story with kennings • AT LEAST 8 kennings (riddle clues) • 3 images (do not have to be give-away clues!). • Your FIRST slide should have your group name and each group member’s name • Your SECOND slide should have your riddle/poem with the 8 kennings underlined---the images should be on this slide. You can use more slides for your riddle/poem, if needed. • Your LAST slide should have the answer so everyone has a chance to figure out what your kennings are referring to before actually finding out.

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