kennings

Kennings are a figure of speech in which a descriptive, metaphorical phrase stands in for a common noun, rather than naming it directly. They are especially characteristic of Old Norse and Old English poetry, and more broadly of the Germanic literary tradition. Kennings typically take the form of compound or periphrastic expressions that evoke attributes, functions, or associations of the thing named.

Originating in the oral poetry of Germanic peoples, kennings flourished in skaldic verse of Norse Scandinavia and in Old English epic and lyric poetry, including Beowulf. They served to heighten imagery, fit strict metrical patterns, and showcase a poet’s linguistic creativity within a tightly structured, alliterative or stress-based framework.

Most kennings are two-part or multi-part compounds. Common examples include “whale-road” for the sea, “ring-giver” for the king, and “bone-house” for the body. A “word-hoard” can stand for a poet’s vocabulary or speech. Kennings are often built from nouns joined with other nouns or descriptors, creating vivid, compact imagery that rewards reader or listener with interpretive engagement.

Scholars analyze kennings as a key device for expanding metaphor, signaling cultural values (such as wealth, kingship, and the sea’s power), and shaping the aesthetic of Germanic poetry. In modern times, kennings influence poetry and fantasy literature, where writers evoke a Norse-inspired atmosphere. Some kennings have become conventionalized or “dead kennings,” retaining form but losing their original freshness of metaphor.