Anglo-Saxon Riddles & Literary Devices: Alliteration and Kenning

What is a Kenning? A kenning is a two word poetic phrase constructed of nouns that is substituted for the usual name of a person or things The word “kenning” is derived from am Old Norse phrase kenna eitt vio, “to express a thing in terms of another” and is found throughout Norse, Old English, and Celtic Literature. Used for memorization and to make descriptions interesting Example: In Old English the sea could be called: The sail road The swan road The bath way The whale way

Let’s Play A Game!!!! Guess the Kenning! Tree Breaker Flame Farewell Raven Harvest Blood-worm Taming Wand

Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words. Ancient poets often used alliteration instead of rhyme. Examples: The sweet smell of success. A dime a dozen. Bigger and better. “While I nodded, nearly napping” – Poe “And sings a solitary song, that whistles in the wind”- Wordsworth

Identify the three alliterations in this excerpt from Beowulf: Now Beowulf bode in the burg of the Scylding, Leader beloved, and long he ruled in fame with all folk since his father had gone