Kennings

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.
 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"
 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.

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?
 Animals are good to describe in
kenning form:
 Quiet prowler
 Night howler
 Free mealer
 Chicken stealer
 Rusty splasher
 Hunter dasher
 What am I?
 Round-facer
No-smiler
Still-stander
Two-hander
Night-friendly
Heart-beater
Time-keeper
Sudden-shrieker
 What am I?
A famous kenning from 1970s
advertising
Lipsmackin' thirstquenchin' acetastin'
motivatin' goodbuzzin' cooltalkin'
highwalkin' fastlivin' evergivin'
coolfizzin'
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!

 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?
A supermarket
trolley!
 Exercise
 As a group, think of a creative kenning for the
following…

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7.
 1. Zombie
 Flesh eater
 Brain eater
 Brain stealers
 Brain munchers
 Walking dead
 Heartless Walker
 Average American
 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?
2. Cupcake
 Party muffin
 Sweet-clothed muffin
 Dressed muffin
 Small cake
 Frosted delight
 Sprinkled diabetes
 Cute cake
 Chocholately Sensation
 Cup of Joy
 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!
 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
 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.
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
 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.
5. Clown
 Kiddy creeper
 Funny terrorer
 Painted face
 Big shoes
 School dropouts
 Creepy carnivaler
 Painted Jester
 Red-Nose Bandit
 Children’s Nightmare
 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.
 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
 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!
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
 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.
Kennings Review
Take a few minutes to identify the following kennings….
1. gas guzzler 7. cancer stick
2. muffin top 8. boob tube
3. rug rat 9. couch potato
4. land line 10. tree hugger
5. eye candy 11. ankle biter
6. battle sweat