Traits of Anglo-Saxon Poetry!

Traits of Anglo-Saxon Poetry!

1. Four stressed syllables per line (and any number of unstressed syllables. Only the stressed syllables count.)

2. Two to three of those stressed syllables will alliterate. (All vowel sounds count as the same.)

3. Each line will be broken by a caesura (with two stressed syllables on either side of the caesura).

4. Kennings were employed by the scop both for variety and to fit the needs of alliteration.

Kenning – a kenning is a compressed metaphor often

substituted for a noun in Anglo-Saxon poetry. The phrase is a

miniature riddle that implies a comparison in a picturesque way.

The kenning usually has two parts and is often hyphenated. The

following are kennings from one translation of Beowulf: “wave-way,”

“swan’s road,” and “whale’s way” for the sea; “word-hoard”, for

thoughts; “battle-blade” for sword; “folk-hammer” and “war flier”

for the dragon; and “war prince,” “shield-warrior,” “folk-king,” and

“gold-friend” for Beowulf. (McDougal, Littell – Literature (Purple

Level).

We sometimes still use kennings (though we don't call them that any more).

I.e.,

Accountant = "number cruncher".

Try your hand at the kenning.

Teacher =

Student =

Police Officer =

Lawyer =

Housewife =