kenning
Viking metaphor-word
A kenning is a figurative compound expression used in place of a simple noun, characteristic of Old Norse and Old English poetry.
Instead of saying "sea," a poet might write "whale-road"; instead of "sword," "battle-light." Kennings compress metaphor into tight formulas: The ring-giver rewarded his warriors.
The device creates riddling elegance, asking readers to decode familiar things through unfamiliar combinations.
One's vocabulary reserve
- hyphenatedLinked by a dash
- circumlocutionIndirect, wordy expression
- substitutionExchange of one for another
- descriptorWord that describes something
Norse heroic poet
- Old NorseMedieval Scandinavian language
- sagaExtended heroic narrative
- VikingsMedieval Scandinavian seafarers
- runesOld Germanic script
word-hoard · Beowulf · Valhalla · Odin · Thor · mead-hall · Norsemen · Asgard
Implied identity comparison
- metonymySubstituting associated name
- synecdochePart standing for whole
- circumlocutionIndirect, wordy expression
- symbolismRepresenting concepts through images
imagery · conceit · allegory · personification · analogy · substitution · indirection · allusion
word-hoard
One's vocabulary reserve
- hyphenatedLinked by a dash
- circumlocutionIndirect, wordy expression
- substitutionExchange of one for another
skald
Norse heroic poet
- Old NorseMedieval Scandinavian language
- sagaExtended heroic narrative
- VikingsMedieval Scandinavian seafarers
runes · word-hoard · Beowulf · Valhalla · Odin · Thor · mead-hall · Norsemen · Asgard · Freya
metaphor
Implied identity comparison
- metonymySubstituting associated name
- synecdochePart standing for whole
- circumlocutionIndirect, wordy expression
symbolism · imagery · conceit · allegory · personification · analogy · substitution · indirection · allusion · wordplay
imagery
Vivid descriptive language
- verseMetered poetic passage
- epicImpressively grand in scope
- alliterationMatching initial consonants
meter · diction · epithet · ode · elegy · ballad · stanza · bard · rhyme · rhythm
- vocabularyword, words, new words, term, terms
- VikingsViking, longships, longship, raiding, Norse settlers
- IcelandReykjavik, volcano, volcanoes, geyser, geysers
- literary devicesmetaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, alliteration
- figurative languagemetaphor, simile, figure of speech, analogy, personification
- Norse Sagasaga, Asgard, Midgard, Odin, Thor
kenningproper name
Individual's official identifier
denotation · plain language · literalism · proper noun · dictionary definition
kenningplain speech
Unembellished verbal expression
everyday language · prose · colloquialism · vernacular · common parlance
knowledge, known, knowing, unknown, knowingly, ken, kens, kenned