What are 3 examples of kennings in Beowulf?
What are 3 examples of kennings in Beowulf?
Used primarily in Anglo-Saxon poetry, the epic poem “Beowulf” is full of kennings. For example, the words whale-road is used for the sea and “shepherd of evil” is used for Grendel. Other well known kennings include “battle sweat” for blood; “raven harvest” for corpse; and “sleep of the sword” for death.
How did Burton Raffel translation Beowulf?
Himself a poet, Raffel made a translation that intentionally uses free verse to facilitate ease of reading. Not only does Raffel depart from the original vocabulary of Beowulf, but he also sometimes mischaracterizes the early medieval cultures that the epic describes.
Why are kennings used in Beowulf?
The use of kennings in the Old English poem Beowulf replaces words with metaphorical phrases. The purpose of a kenning is to add an extra layer of description, richness, and meaning. Beowulf has many examples of kennings, including kennings to replace words about the sea, battle, God, and Grendel.
What is kennings and its example?
A kenning is a figure of speech in which two words are combined in order to form a poetic expression that refers to a person or a thing. For example, “whale-road” is a kenning for the sea. Kennings are most commonly found in Old Norse and Old English poetry.
Where did Burton Raffel translation Beowulf?
Lafayette home
Literary scholar Burton Raffel, 87, dies at his Lafayette home; translated ‘Beowulf’
Why is Burton Raffel important?
He is best known for his vigorous translation of Beowulf, still widely used in universities, colleges and high schools….
| Burton Raffel | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Writer, translator |
| Nationality | American |
| Notable works | Beowulf translation |
What are two kennings in Beowulf?
In Beowulf you find many kennings for king, including: Ring-giver. Treasure-giver. Gold-giver.
What is kennings and examples?
A kenning is a figure of speech in which two words are combined in order to form a poetic expression that refers to a person or a thing. For example, “whale-road” is a kenning for the sea. In fact, one could say that every kenning involves an implied simile (“the sea is like a road for whales”).
What are some kennings in the Wanderer?
Kennings sometimes get lost in translation, but the version of “The Wanderer” we’re using maintains many of them. One of them is “earth-stepper” (line 6) in place of “wanderer” or “traveler.” Another, more obviously metaphorical kenning is “wealth-chamber,” used to refer to the mind or heart in line 14.
Who is Mr Burton Raffel?
Burton Nathan Raffel (April 27, 1928 – September 29, 2015) was an American writer, translator, poet and professor. He is best known for his vigorous translation of Beowulf, still widely used in universities, colleges and high schools.
Why does Raffel translate Beowulf this way?
By translating Beowulf this way, Raffel is simplifying the writing and turning it into a more modern style of writing by not using kennings, therefore, taking away from the original story’s metaphorical aspect and straying way from the Anglo-Saxon style of literature but making it more understandable to the less than advanced reader.
How many lines are there in Beowulf?
lines, Beowulf, with approximately 3,200 lines, is relatively short. The epic tells the story of Beowulf (his name may mean “bear”), a Geat from Sweden who crosses the sea to Denmark in a quest to rescue King Hrothgar from the demonic monster Grendel. This epic hero, who emerges from the misty reaches of the English past,
Why is king Hroðgar called Beowulf’s friend?
However, the Beowulfpoet also uses the kenning goldwine,literally “gold-friend,” of both Kings Hroðgar and Beowulf, because the relationship between lord and retainer was much more complicated than that suggested by the mercenary arrangement of services offered in return for profit.
What is king Beowulf called sincgifan?
For instance, King Beowulf is called sincgifanin line 2311 but goldgyfan”giver of gold” in line 2652 where the poet needs to alliterate on a different consonant.
