Questions and Answers
What does 'Abysm of Time' refer to?
What is 'battle-flame'?
The sword, Hrunting.
What does 'battle-talon' refer to?
Grendel's claw.
What is a 'body-warden'?
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What does 'bone-house' refer to?
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What does 'burnished' mean?
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What is 'chant-wood'?
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What does 'crest-glider' mean?
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What are 'dawn-scorcher', 'flame snake', and 'the worm' referring to?
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What does 'doom' mean?
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What is an 'eddy'?
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What does 'fen' refer to?
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What are 'feud-bites'?
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What is a 'flagon'?
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What does 'gannet's bath' refer to?
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What is a 'garrote'?
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What does 'gift from the sea' refer to?
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What is the 'gold-laced hall'?
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What does 'guest-house' refer to?
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What is 'hand-spike'?
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What does 'high battle flames' indicate?
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What is 'his heirloom sword'?
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What does 'kingdom of waters' refer to?
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What is 'lineage'?
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What is 'mail'?
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What is 'mead'?
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What does 'mere' refer to?
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What does 'middle-earth' mean?
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What is 'the ninth hour, the 'nones'?
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What is a 'palisade'?
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What is 'Ravenswood'?
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What does 'ring-giver' mean?
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What is 'Ruler's favor'?
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What does 'rune-counselor' mean?
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What are 'runes'?
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What is a 'scop'?
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What is 'sea-wind's cloak'?
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What does 'the shearer of life-threads' mean?
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What is 'Sorrow Hill'?
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What are 'striplings'?
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What does 'swathe' mean?
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What is 'swift roan'?
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What are 'thanes'?
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What does 'two seas' refer to?
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What does 'unsouled' mean?
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What are 'venom-twigs'?
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What is a 'waif'?
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What does 'walking dead' refer to?
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What is a 'warlock'?
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What does 'the web's short measure' signify?
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What is 'whale-road'?
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What does 'word-hoard' refer to?
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What is a 'woven snake-blade'?
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Who is 'God's opponent'?
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Who are the 'Gray-bearded elders'?
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What does 'Heavens hall ruler' mean?
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What does 'Hondscio' mean?
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Who is the 'killer guest'?
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Who is known as the 'King of glory'?
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Who is referred to as 'life-lord'?
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Who is 'the lord of those rings'?
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Who is the 'protector of nobles'?
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Who is the 'protector of sailors'?
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What does 'race of giants' refer to?
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What is a 'retainer'?
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Who is the 'Shepherd of sins'?
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What does 'shield of the people' refer to?
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Study Notes
Beowulf Kennings
- Abysm of Time: Represents chaos, linked to Grendel's mother and the lineage of Cain.
- Battle-flame: Kenning for Hrunting, the formidable sword.
- Battle-talon: Refers to Grendel's claw, emphasizing its deadly nature.
- Body-warden: A kenning signifying a chain-mail shirt, highlighting warrior protection.
- Bone-house: A kenning for the physical body, indicating its fragility.
- Burnished: Describes an object polished to a glossy finish, enhancing its value.
- Chant-wood: Refers to the scop's harp, integral in storytelling and musical traditions.
- Crest-glider: A kenning for a ship, depicting its movement through waves.
- Dawn-scorcher, flame snake, the worm: Epithets for the dragon, showcasing its fiery nature.
- Doom: Denotes eternal judgment, reflecting themes of fate and consequence.
- Eddy: A water current countering the main flow, symbolizing disorder or conflict.
- Fen: Describes low, swampy terrain, often associated with the dark and monstrous.
- Feud-bites: Another term for wounds, indicative of the violence in the narrative.
- Flagon: A vessel for mead or alcoholic drinks, common in celebrations and feasts.
- Gannet's bath: The sea, referring to the natural habitat of the gannet bird.
- Garrote: An execution device, representing themes of violence and death.
- Gift from the sea: Refers to Grendel's head, showcasing Beowulf's victory.
- Gold-laced hall: Heorot, symbolizing wealth and communal gathering.
- Guest-house: Another term for Heorot, emphasizing hospitality.
- Hand-spike: A kenning for Grendel's claw nail, representing death and destruction.
- High battle flames: A grand funeral pyre, honoring the death of a warrior.
- His heirloom sword: Beowulf's Naegling, signifying family legacy and heritage.
- Kingdom of waters: Refers to the mere, a significant location in the story.
- Lineage: Represents ancestry and heritage, crucial for characters' identities.
- Mail: Flexible armor composed of overlapping rings, protective gear for warriors.
- Mead: An alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey and water, central in celebrations.
- Mere: A small lake or marsh, often symbolic of danger and the unknown.
- Middle-earth: A realm inhabited by humans and mythical creatures, bridging good and evil.
- The ninth hour, the "nones": Indicates the time of day, rich with Christological symbolism.
- Palisade: A defensive fence of pointed sticks, representative of warfare and protection.
- Ravenswood: A historical battle site in Sweden, highlighting regional conflicts.
- Ring-giver: Refers to a ruler or king, signaling wealth distribution and loyalty.
- Ruler's favor: God's preference, reflecting the intertwining of fate and divinity.
- Rune-counselor: An advisor skilled in problem-solving, indicating wisdom and guidance.
- Runes: Ancient glyphs used by Germanic peoples, often associated with magic and secrets.
- Scop: A bard or storyteller, vital for preserving cultural narratives through music.
- Sea-wind's cloak: The ship's mast, symbolizing navigation and adventure.
- The shearer of life-threads: Represents a magical sword, linked to fate and battles.
- Sorrow Hill: A battlefield site in Geatland, marking historical conflict and loss.
- Striplings: Young warriors, emphasizing the theme of youth and bravery in battle.
- Swathe: The act of wrapping in bandages, indicating care for the wounded.
- Swift roan: Highlights the importance of horses, although most battles were foot-based.
- Thanes: Loyal warriors serving a lord, underscoring the feudal system.
- Two seas: Likely references to the Baltic and Atlantic or North Sea, indicating geography.
- Unsouled: Relates to the belief about the soul departing after death.
- Venom-twigs: Refers to Hrunting's blade potentially equipped with poison for warfare.
- Waif: Describes a forsaken child, representing innocence and loss.
- Walking dead: Cursed entities reminiscent of zombies, indicating dread and fate.
- Warlock: A male witch or demon, linked to dark magic and treachery.
- The web's short measure: Indicates a brief lifespan, especially concerning tragic characters.
- Whale-road: A kenning for the sea, metaphorically rich in literature.
- Word-hoard: Vocabulary or linguistic abilities, crucial for storytelling.
- Woven snake-blade: Describes the intricate crafting of swords, highlighting craftsmanship.
- God's opponent: Identifies Grendel as an embodiment of evil and conflict with divinity.
- Gray-bearded elders: Refers to Hrothgar's wise advisors, emphasizing tradition and counsel.
- Heavens hall ruler: Identifies God as a supreme governing figure.
- Hondscio: Translates to “hand-shoe” or glove, possibly signifying protection.
- Killer guest: Refers to Grendel, encapsulating his role as an antagonist.
- King of glory: Represents God, highlighting divine majesty and power.
- Life-lord: Another reference to God, governing life and destiny.
- The lord of those rings: Refers to Beowulf, underscoring his noble status.
- Protector of nobles: Designates Beowulf as a guardian of the elite.
- Protector of sailors: Highlights Beowulf's role in safeguarding seafarers.
- Race of giants: Refers to the descendants of Cain, invoking themes of heritage and evil.
- Retainer: A servant or warrior in the king's court, emphasizing loyalty.
- Shepherd of sins: Another epithet for Grendel, linking him with evil and transgression.
- Shield of the people: Refers to Hrothgar as a defender of his kingdom.
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Test your knowledge of kennings found in the epic poem Beowulf with these flashcards. Each card features a kenning, its definition, and examples to help reinforce your understanding of this unique figurative language. Perfect for literature students and Beowulf enthusiasts alike!
