1. Anglo-Saxon Riddles & Literary Devices:
Alliteration and Kenning

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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