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Kenning is a poetic technique that uses compound words to describe an object in a concise and often abstract way, creating complex associations. It is related to dialect and can inject a more challenging vocabulary into poetry.
The role of kenning in poetry is related to describing an object in an alternative way in order to provide a different and often richer meaning for that object to an audience. Kenning is a poetic technique that dates back to ancient Anglo-Saxon and Norse poetry. It is well represented in classics such as Beowulf and other Old English works.
Experts describe kenning as a compressed metaphor, meaning that a relational meaning is expressed in just a few words. Typically, kenning poets use a compound word, often with a hyphen, to describe an object. In a more conventional metaphor, a greater number of words would be needed to effectively convey the metaphorical meaning. For example, using the compound phrase “fish-road” instead of the word “sea” is a prime example of kenning; here, the poet replaces a simple meaning with a complex one that suggests that the sea or ocean is a place that provides transportation for marine creatures. In a conventional metaphor, the poet might need to write something longer like “a road to fish.”
A primary role of kenning in poetry is to use examples like the ones above to describe an object in more detail. The two parts of the compound word often represent a subject and object relationship that creates complex associations in a concise and often abstract way. Kenning is, in the most basic sense, a unique way of labeling an object for the meaning and presentation of a concept in poetry.
Besides being a faster way to create metaphors, kenning is also related to dialect. In many cases, the role of kenning in the poem may be to show examples of local or regional dialect. In more than a few language communities, describing a simple object with a compound sentence instead of a single word is part of a common dialect that may be unfamiliar to those outside the community. The poem can reflect this through the use of kenning, in order to familiarize readers with the ways in which a local people use the language.
Many would argue that a wider use of this type of metaphorical sentence is to make the language of poetry more vibrant. Many academics and literature experts suggest using kenning in poetry to inject a more challenging vocabulary into a work. This tends to keep readers engaged and adds to the appeal of many types of poetry, where more technical word choices might make the literary work seem flat and uninspired.
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