The kenning was an interesting literary technique used by Anglo-Saxon poets for
many centuries.
many centuries.
I. Kennings were first used as synonyms
A. Alliteration in Old Norse works required that at least two words begin with the
same sound
B. Synonyms were required so that a line of poetry could be alliterated
C. Kennings were developed as synonyms for use in alliterating poetry
II. The early kennings were comparatively simple in structure
A. A simple kenning will be defined as a kenning which expresses a single idea
or thought
B. Examples of early kennings are: world-candle (Sun), sun-table (Sky), and horse of the sea (Ship)
C. Kennings became so popular in their early stages that about one-third of the text
of Beowulf is composed of them
D. Some kennings became so common that they became clichés, such as ring-giver
for every prince
III. Kennings gradually increased in complexity
A. The courtly language used by the Norse court-poets while performing before nobility
caused kennings to increase in sophistication
B. Kennings came to be compounded upon one another: for example, if ship was
a sea-stallion and the sea was the whale-road, then a ship became a stallion
of the whale-road
IV. Compound kennings
A. A compound kenning can be defined as one or more kennings used inside of
another kenning
B. Compound kennings became miniature riddles.
C. An example of a compound kenning is: provider to the swans of the mead of
battle = mead of battle: is blood, swans of blood: are ravens, and a provider to
ravens: is a warrior
V. Kennings were eventually phased out
A. Kennings were deciphered by Snorri Sturluson
in the Prose Edda
A. Alliteration in Old Norse works required that at least two words begin with the
same sound
B. Synonyms were required so that a line of poetry could be alliterated
C. Kennings were developed as synonyms for use in alliterating poetry
II. The early kennings were comparatively simple in structure
A. A simple kenning will be defined as a kenning which expresses a single idea
or thought
B. Examples of early kennings are: world-candle (Sun), sun-table (Sky), and horse of the sea (Ship)
C. Kennings became so popular in their early stages that about one-third of the text
of Beowulf is composed of them
D. Some kennings became so common that they became clichés, such as ring-giver
for every prince
III. Kennings gradually increased in complexity
A. The courtly language used by the Norse court-poets while performing before nobility
caused kennings to increase in sophistication
B. Kennings came to be compounded upon one another: for example, if ship was
a sea-stallion and the sea was the whale-road, then a ship became a stallion
of the whale-road
IV. Compound kennings
A. A compound kenning can be defined as one or more kennings used inside of
another kenning
B. Compound kennings became miniature riddles.
C. An example of a compound kenning is: provider to the swans of the mead of
battle = mead of battle: is blood, swans of blood: are ravens, and a provider to
ravens: is a warrior
V. Kennings were eventually phased out
A. Kennings were deciphered by Snorri Sturluson
in the Prose Edda
Text by David G. Simpson