1. History of the English Language 100508030 Kelly Huang
Kennings
History of the English Language
Kelly Huang

2. Definition
A descriptive phrase in place of the ordinary name for something
A compound expression in Old English and Old Norse poetry with metaphorical meaning

3. Origin Kenning: late 19th century
Old Norse, from kenna 'know, perceive ';
related to ken 'know'

4. Introduction
A form of compounding in Old English, Old Norse, and Germanic poetry
Somewhat like a riddle
Particularly common in Old English literature and Viking poetry.

5. Examples The most famous example:
hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea
Other examples:
Thor-Weapon
battle-flame
gore-cradle
word-hoard

6. Examples The most famous example:
hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea
Other examples:
Thor-Weapon  a smith's hammer
battle-flame
gore-cradle
word-hoard

7. Examples The most famous example:
hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea
Other examples:
Thor-Weapon  a smith's hammer
battle-flame  the way light shines on swords
gore-cradle
word-hoard

8. Examples The most famous example:
hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea
Other examples:
Thor-Weapon  a smith's hammer
battle-flame  the way light shines on swords
gore-cradle 
a battlefield filled with motionless bodies
word-hoard

9. Examples The most famous example:
hron-rade or hwal-rade ("whale-road") sea
Other examples:
Thor-Weapon  a smith's hammer
battle-flame  the way light shines on swords
gore-cradle 
a battlefield filled with motionless bodies
word-hoard  a person's eloquence

10. Old Norse kennings:
shield-tester
prayer-smithy
head-anvil

11. Old Norse kennings:
shield-tester  warrior
prayer-smithy
head-anvil

12. Old Norse kennings:
shield-tester  warrior
prayer-smithy  a man's heart
head-anvil

13. Old Norse kennings:
shield-tester  warrior
prayer-smithy  a man's heart
head-anvil  the skull

14. Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
beadoleoma ("flashing light")
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle

15. Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
beadoleoma ("flashing light")
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle

16. Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle

17. Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle

18. Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord
battle-sweat
hell-serf
sky-candle

19. Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord
battle-sweat  blood
hell-serf
sky-candle

20. Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord
battle-sweat  blood
hell-serf  demon
sky-candle

21. Anglo-Saxon kennings:
banhus ("bone-house")  body
goldwine gumena ("gold-friend of warriors")
 a generous prince
beadoleoma ("flashing light")  sword
beaga-gifa ("ring-giver")  a lord
battle-sweat  blood
hell-serf  demon
sky-candle  sun

22. Less common in Modern English
Some common modern examples:
"beer-goggles"
"rug-rats"
"tramp-stamps"
"bible-thumpers"

23. Less common in Modern English
Some common modern examples:
"beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated
"rug-rats"
"tramp-stamps"
"bible-thumpers"

24. Less common in Modern English
Some common modern examples:
"beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated
"rug-rats"  children
"tramp-stamps"
"bible-thumpers"

25. Less common in Modern English
Some common modern examples:
"beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated
"rug-rats"  children
"tramp-stamps"
"bible-thumpers"

26. Less common in Modern English
Some common modern examples:
"beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated
"rug-rats"  children
"tramp-stamps"  trashy tattoos
"bible-thumpers"

27. Less common in Modern English
Some common modern examples:
"beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated
"rug-rats"  children
"tramp-stamps"  trashy tattoos
"bible-thumpers"

28. Less common in Modern English
Some common modern examples:
"beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated
"rug-rats"  children
"tramp-stamps"  trashy tattoos
"bible-thumpers" loud preachers or intolerant Christians

29. Less common in Modern English
Some common modern examples:
"beer-goggles“ the way one's judgment of appearances becomes hazy while intoxicated
"rug-rats"  children
"tramp-stamps"  trashy tattoos
"bible-thumpers" loud preachers or intolerant Christians

30. Reference Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms
Oxford Dictionaries
Literary Terms and Definitions: K

31. Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower-back_tattoo