Web weaver, form-friend,
Makes task easy in the end;
Highly thought of, often used,
Except by those who are confused.
Answer is on my scratchpad
An oft cited example from Old English is hamera laf which literally translates as "hammer leavings." A looser, but more accurate translation of meaning, would be "what the hammer leaves behind." The idea of hammer leavings escapes the modern day reader, but the speakers of Old English would immediately know this.... a sword (what is left after a smith's hammer has done its work).
J.R.R. Tolkien made use of the kenning in many of the songs and poems found in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. My favorite of these is found in the riddle game Bilbo Baggins and Gollum play in dark caverns beneath the Iron Hills.
The answer of course is a fish......
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Glad is the heart that beats not for itself alone
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Re (tilly) 1: Perl Kenning #1
by tilly (Archbishop) on Jan 10, 2002 at 22:37 UTC | |
by earthboundmisfit (Chaplain) on Jan 10, 2002 at 22:56 UTC | |
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Re: Perl Kenning #1
by chaoticset (Chaplain) on Feb 20, 2002 at 20:11 UTC |