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 By the end of the lesson we will be able to:
(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. The two words can be the following:
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 national flag of Norway)
The word kenning is derived from the Old Norse phrase kenna eitt við, 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. 1. Define what a kenning is?
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.