THE USE OF KENNINGS IN ANGLO-SAXON LITERATURE

The kenning was an interesting literary technique used by ancient Anglo-Saxon poets for many centuries. I. Kennings were first used as synonyms. A. Alliteration in Old Norse works required that at least two words begin with the same sound. B. Synonyms were required so that a line of poetry could be alliterated. C. Kennings were developed as synonyms for use in alliterating poetry. II. The early kennings were comparatively simple in structure. A. A \simple kenning " will be defined as a kenning which expresses a single idea or thought. B. Examples of early kennings are \world-candle " (sun), \sun-table " (sky), and \horse of the sea " (ship). C. Kennings became so popular in their early stages that about one-third of the text of Beowulf is composed of them. D. Some kennings became so common that they became cliches, such as \ring-giver" for every prince. III. Kennings gradually increased in complexity. A. The courtly language used by the Norse court-poets while performing before no-bility caused kennings to increase in sophistication. B. Kennings came to be \compounded " upon one another: for example, if \ship " was a \sea-stallion " and the sea was the \whale-road", then a ship became a \stallion of the whale-road". IV. Compound kennings. A. A \compound kenning " will be defined as one or more kennings used inside of another kenning. B. Compound kennings became \miniature riddles". 1 C. An example of a compound kenning is: \provider to the swans of the mead of battle": \mean of battle " is blood, swans of blood are ravens, and a provider to ravens is a warrior. V. Kennings were eventually phased out; kennings were deciphered by Snorri Sturluson in the Prose Edda