Beowulf Group

Question:

zzzzzz
zzzzzz
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What's a good kenning for "Beowulf"

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Posted by zzzzzz on Monday September 8, 2008 at 7:40 PM and tagged with beowulf, kenning.

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  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    A kenning is a metaphorical phrase, or compound word used to name a person, place or thing indirectly. Used primarily in Anglo-Saxon poetry, the epic poem "Beowulf" is full of kennings. For example, the words whale-road is used for the sea and "shepherd of evil" is used for Grendel. Other well known kennings include "battle sweat" for blood; "raven harvest" for corpse; and "sleep of the sword" for death.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/beowulf

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Monday September 8, 2008 at 8:34 PM


  2. suman1983

    eNotes Editor

    It should be noted in this regard different kennings have been used to describe a single object in different parts of “Beowulf”. For example ‘sea’ has been described as “sail road” and “swan road” in different sections of this Anglo-Saxon poem. Other good examples of kenning include: “the foamy-necked floater” (used for ‘ship’) and “sea wolf of the depths” (used for ‘Grendel’s mother’).

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    Posted by suman1983 on Monday September 8, 2008 at 10:00 PM