1. Kennings

2. What is a Kenning?
A kenning is a compound figurative or phrase that aims to replace the noun. 
It frequently consists of two words that describe the noun.
It is a way of describing something indirectly, like a metaphor or simile.

3. Where did Kennings come from?
Kennings originate from the Anglo- Saxon. 
But they were also used by other Scandinavian cultures (i.e. Vikings).
The word kenning is derived from the Old Norse phrase kenna eitt við, which means "to express a thing in terms of another"

4. Early examples
One of the earliest forms of kenning in literature comes from the poem Beowulf where:
“whale road” describes the sea.
“skull splitter” describes an axe. 
“mead bearer” describes a woman.

5. 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?

6. Animals are good to describe in kenning form:
Quiet prowler
Night howler
Free mealer
Chicken stealer
Rusty splasher
Hunter dasher
What am I?

7. Round-facer
No-smiler
Still-stander
Two-hander
Night-friendly
Heart-beater
Time-keeper
Sudden-shrieker
What am I?

8. A famous kenning from 1970s advertising
Lipsmackin' thirstquenchin' acetastin' motivatin' goodbuzzin' cooltalkin' highwalkin' fastlivin' evergivin' coolfizzin'

9. Don’t let this picture fool you! Think hard about this one!
I go through the wood in silence
And come out onto the snow
Where I leave my print although I have no footsteps
Where I speak your heart although I cannot breathe
What am I?
I’m the lead in a pencil!

10. Let me give you a clue about the next one!
Grab the beast by the horns
Wrestle it down the narrow streets
‘til you break its will to skitter its own way
Subdue it, burden its ribcage
Let your children ride and then let it stray
Who cares?
They’ll send a herdsman to round it up at the end of the day
What is it?

11. A supermarket trolley!

12. Exercise
As a group, think of a creative kenning for the following… 2. 3. 4. 1. 5. 7. 6.

13. 1. Zombie Flesh eater Brain eater Brain stealers Brain munchers
Walking dead
Heartless Walker
Average American

14. Riddle I use my head but have no thought,
I hear your screams, and yet, I want,
I have a face but see you not,
Do you know the purpose I sought?

15. 2. Cupcake Party muffin Sweet-clothed muffin Dressed muffin Small cake
Frosted delight
Sprinkled diabetes
Cute cake
Chocholately Sensation
Cup of Joy

16. Riddle I am sweet and creamy on your tongue,
Your weight will gain when I am done,
I rise real high yet am one,
Try to dress me and have some fun!

17. 3. Tiger Pretty Kitty Dangerous Cat Deadly Cat Striped Hunter
Throat Ripper
Jungle Prowler
Striped Feline
Sinister Stripes
Growl Giver
Mean Muggin’
Striped Beauty
Death Kitten
Vicious Feline
Jungle Cat

18. Riddle I strike aggressively when you’re too close,
I defend my cubs when they need it most,
I roar real proud when you’re down,
You cannot scream when I’m around.

19. 4. Sunset Orange sky Dry ground Falling light Thirst giver
Watercolor wasteland
Painted sky
Golden horizon
Sinking color
Romantic Setting
Cracked Plains
Dehydration Station
Tomorrow’s Dawn
Sunflower through a Blazing Sky
Sandy Abyss
Oversized Sandbox

20. Riddle My golden sun send you astray, I get colder when you’re away,
Though many plants make nests in me,
This isn’t a place where you want to be.

21. 5. Clown Kiddy creeper Funny terrorer Painted face Big shoes
School dropouts
Creepy carnivaler
Painted Jester
Red-Nose Bandit
Children’s Nightmare

22. Riddle I make fun of the stupidest things,
I fumble through a circus like I have broken wings,
I can lift your spirits at that time of day,
But in some dreams, they pray for me to go away.

23. 6. Paintbrush Painter’s Object 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

24. Riddle I can create but have no personal thought,
The mess I make is a bloody spot,
I may mean anger or distress,
I am often mixed with others…that’s the best!

25. 7. 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

26. Riddle I send you away to glorious places,
I have the ability to fit in the tiniest spaces,
The beauty in my words are often known,
I sometimes end up in groups or often alone.

27. Kennings Review
Take a few minutes to identify the following kennings….
1. gas guzzler cancer stick
2. muffin top boob tube
3. rug rat couch potato
4. land line tree hugger
5. eye candy ankle biter
6. battle sweat