A kenning is a figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name or noun, especially in old english and old norse poetry. A kenning is a circumlocution, an ambiguous or roundabout figure of speech, used instead of. In the end each clan on the outlying coasts beyond the whaleroad had to yield to him and begin to pay tribute the sea. This viking story tells of the hero beowulf who ventures off to kill the monster known as grendel.
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. He remains faithful to beowulf in the fatal struggle with the firedrake. Thus, in the beowulf poem the ocean is the seapath, whaleroad, or swanroad. Kenning lesson for beowulf unit troup county school district. Kennings are very common in old english and old norse poetry.
The project gutenberg ebook of beowulf this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with. Though reaved of their ruler their ringgivers slayer. A prominent promontory, on which beowulfs mound was built. It is a condensed metaphor or simile, for example, hronrad whale road for the sea, sundwudu sea wood for a ship. Take up this quiz and see if you will earn the title of hero of the internet after defeating this beowulf kennings quiz. As beowulf is in fierce combat with grendels mother, he makes mention of shedding much battlesweat. The sea was also called the swan road and the whale road in old english poetry. The poet indicates that hrothgar is pleased with beowulf s resolve to help his people. Battleflame is a kenning for sword because a sword is not usually on fire. We use figurative language all of the time in daily life. A couple of other kennings are used throughout the battle to describe places or things.
Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. A concise definition of kenning along with usage tips, an expanded explanation, and lots. In the end each clan on the outlying coasts beyond the whaleroad had to yield. Kenning this is a poetic device used in old english where a person, idea or object is described using an unusual combination of words. A kenning is an aspect of anglosaxon poetry where two words are combined to create a powerful, creative and evocative alternative word, which act as strong metaphors. Kennings are used prolifically throughout beowulf, one of the oldest surviving works of. In the figure of beowulf, the scandinavian warrior, and his struggles against monsters, the unknown author depicts the life and outlook of a pagan age. Kennings are not simply nouncompounds, they are metaphors. It is a picturesque metaphoric compound in old english that stands for a simple noun. Mar 29, 2010 beowulf is our only native english heroic epic. Sep 14, 2016 beowulf free full audiobook online listen authors unknown language west saxon dialect of old english date c.
Used primarily in anglosaxon poetry, the epic poem beowulf. Dragon mountain would probably qualify as a kenning. While some of these compounds also function as formulas see quick reference sheet, they also have specific poetic functions. These are typically two word phrases which give specific information about the qualities and characteristics of the noun the phrase replaces. Used primarily in anglosaxon poetry, the epic poem beowulf is full of kennings. The poet uses the kenning sail road for sea because it was like a road that ships would sail on. This is a short but beautiful book, and the gummere translation really captures the feel of the old english. Grendels presence in the mead hall is referred to as a hallsession, which, unlike the kennings applied. Kennings play an important role throughout beowulf as they not only. This is known a kenning, or compound twoword phrase, which is commonly used metaphorically in anglosaxon poetry. A kenning is a metaphorical phrase, or compound word used to name a person, place or thing indirectly. Usage attributionnoncommercial topics beowulf, anglosaxon, epic poem, poetry, audiobook. The anglosaxon period lasted for 600 years and, in.
The poem is a subtle blending of themesthe conflict of good and evil, and an examination of heroism. Beowulf, whose authorship is not known and which is the most ancient epic, has a story that, by common consent, is considered to be heroic. The mead hall was the big feasting hall of the king and sometimes even served as a living quarter for the king and his noblemen in medieval times in scandinavia. The sea was also called the swan road and the whale road in old. In the end each clan on the outlying coasts beyond the whaleroad had to yield to him and begin to pay tribute the sea sail road seglrad. Examples of kennings in beowulf include whaleroad to mean the sea, lightofbattle to mean a. Where it all began during the 5th century, germanic tribes people known as angles, saxons and jutes began to settle in the british isles. One kind of epithet, the kenning, is the best known of the formulas. In the series beowulf there is countless kenning for different objects. Librivox recording of beowulf, translated by francis barton gummere 18551919. A kenning is a special kind of metaphor considered artful in anglosaxon poetry. This is a short but beautiful book, and the gummere translation really captures the feel of the. Kennings are names given to object in norse poetry.
Lesson fully explained in powerpoint on anglo saxon poetry more generally linked into beowulf, with a focus on kennings. The present work is a modest effort to reproduce approximately, in modern measures, the venerable epic, beowulf. Dec 03, 2017 librivox recording of beowulf, translated by francis barton gummere 18551919. Kenninga picturesque metaphoric compound in old english that stands for a simple noun. Beowulf recounts the story of the valiant warrior of geats who comes to the aid of his neighbor, king hrothgar whose mead hall is being attacked by a dreadful creature called grendel. Beowulf, anglosaxon, epic poem, poetry, audiobook an anglosaxon epic poem, translated from the heynesocin text, read by eleanor chalkley. A kenning is a picturesque metaphorical compound found frequently in old english and germanic writing according to me handbook to literature. He grew to mans estate, and became a mighty king, and subdued the peoples under him. What are the kennings used during beowulfs battle with. These kennings are easier to understand in the sense that kings, queens, and monarchs had riches to bestow on their champions and people. The language quarterly vol x no 3 whaleroad for sea, and they enlarged the literal narration by projecting it onto a figurative plane. Kenning a picturesque metaphoric compound in old english that stands for a simple noun. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
This lesson shows you examples of kennings, or metaphorical phrases. For example, the words whale road is used for the sea and shepherd of evil is used for grendel. The kenning giveroftreasure was used for kings at the time, similar to another kenning ringgiver. Aug 20, 2018 kennings are names given to object in norse poetry. It is a condensed metaphor or simile, for example, hronrad whale road for the sea, sundwudu sea wood for a ship, isernscur iron shower for a flight of arrows, hildegicelum battle icicle for a sword, and h. Beowulf is an epic poem written long ago in old english. Heaneys translation of beowulf maintains the whale road compound words, but eliminates the difficulty in understanding a foreign language. New york times best seller and whitebread book of the year, nobel laureate seamus heaneys new translation of beowulf comes to life in this. Kennings in beowulf home woodland hills school district. Beowulf tells the story of a mysterious young warrior who saves the speardanes from the terrible monster grendel and his venomous mother. This is one of the poems best known kennings, descriptive metaphors that identify a person or thing by a chief characteristic or use. In the figure of beowulf, the scandinavian warrior, and his struggles against monsters, the unknown author depicts the life.
Examples from beowulf include seawood for a ship, whale road for the sea, and twilightspoiler for a dragon. Beowulf free full audiobook online listen authors unknown language west saxon dialect of old english date c. Figurative language is any language that is not literal. The sea is, among other things, the whaleroad, the sun is the worlds candle, and beowulfs third. Ask your students to discuss the poetic function of compounding and kennings in the passage. For example, if i say to you, i am burning up, you probably know that i am overheated and do not think that i have burst into flames. A conventional poetic phrase used for or in addition to the usual name of a person or thing, especially in icelandic and. For example, if \ship was a \horse of the sea and the sea was the \ whale road, then a ship became a \horse of the whale road. Iam stuck please help me find examples of kennings pages 2060. Get an answer for whats a good example of a kenning in beowulf. Anglosaxon kennings and riddles free english learning and teaching resources from varsity tutors. A noun phrase which describes a wellknown, familiar noun in a new and more descriptive way.
Jun 03, 2016 kennings are not simply nouncompounds, they are metaphors. The poet uses the kenning sailroad for sea because it was like a road that ships would sail on. They help to create the poems solid feel by describing things in. Aelfhere some scholars think that this is a reference to beowulf, indicating that wiglaf is related, perhaps a cousin battleflame the sword, hrunting battlescylfings swedes. Beowulf and kennings free download as powerpoint presentation. Plus, youll get an additional audiobook per month after trial. So, ringgiver is not a kenning for king because a king is a giver of rings.
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