Now, what happened here? The skalds would probably consider this a gross misuse of their art, but I wondered if I could write something by just using existing kennings.
The steed of Aegir's daughters travelled the swan road.
It went where the glory of the elves turns red.
There the feeder of the eagle sought Roman grain,
Sif's hair, the serpents lair.
Battle dew sprinkled over the breaker of rings,
While the tree-breaker howled,
Giant-slayer crushed the skull of trolls.
Battle's horse fed on the raven's harvest,
Cold and blue in winter's raiment
The stars of his brow no longer twinkled.
Instead of Kraki's seed he had found the flame farewell,
And now feasts in the hall of the hanged one...
|
strange -
Written by fellpony (1749 comments posted) 23rd August 2008 |
| there is something about kennings that stings the mind and makes my hair stand on end. I don't know a lot of the things these kennings refer to but they still stir me. They work, and I don't know why. |
Written by Veronica_Milvus (768 comments posted) 23rd August 2008 |
| I am sad to say that I know nothing about Kennings and would not recognise one if I fell over it, so I will resort to wikipedia, and maybe review later. |
Yes!
Written by Katanga (1537 comments posted) 23rd August 2008 |
I learnt this new word just now and will have to research in due sourse!
I feel stupid - doh!
John  |
Written by Phil (7001 comments posted) 23rd August 2008 |
Like Sue, I have a 'weakness' for kennings. Rarely ineffective.
First discovered many years ago when I read Beowolf.
Phil |
Written by grace (173 comments posted) 24th August 2008 |
Well, this is quite a story, from the waves rolling to the sun, through his quest for gold and reward as a bloodied warrior, onward to his honourable death and a place in Odin's 'Hall of the slain.'
Well, I know little of these things but that's my translation, forgive me if I'm completely wrong.
A thoroughly impressive poem which I enjoyed for its challenge and quality of writing,
Pamx |
Written by Josie (2847 comments posted) 24th August 2008 |
I didn't know either what kennings were Fledermaus. Tell me if this is correct:
At their simplest kennings are two words fused together to make a new noun, eg: swan-road; tree-breaker; giant-slayer. I got this from "All About Kennings - BBC website".
Then I also read that it was a magic poetic phrase and further "A figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name or noun, especially in Old English and Old Norse poetry; for example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle. "
Could you enlighten us. Perhaps an interesting article in the non-fiction side explaining your poem would help me, ignorant as I am. Thanks Fledermaus. I need enlightenment here.
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Written by Fledermaus (3506 comments posted) 24th August 2008 |
Thanks everyone,
Grace caught most of them. If I replace the kennings with their meaing this would be:
The ship travelled the sea.
It went where the sun turns red.
There the warrior sought gold,
treasure, loot.
Blood sprinkled over the king,
While the wind howled,
There was thunder.
A wolf fed on the corpse,
Cold and blue in the snow
His eyes no longer twinkled.
Instead of gold he had found death,
And now is in Valhall...
|
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3590 comments posted) 25th August 2008 |
A great device for making the grand gesture in poetry, I think , though it seems to me that if you use a lot of them, like you have here,it comes across as some sort of cryptic coded message and unless you know what they mean you couldn't translate it.
I wonder if they were ever used that way?
cheers
jane |
Written by Josie (2847 comments posted) 26th August 2008 |
| I'm afraid that this was far above my head Fledermaus, but I can see that you have put in a lot of work to confuse us all. ha ha Well done! |
Written by Fledermaus (3506 comments posted) 30th August 2008 |
Thanks BBS and Josie.
I doubt if they were ever used like this, but it was a nice exercise. |
Hi Ron
Written by jean.day (2387 comments posted) 4th September 2008 |
I did find the poem confusing - but when you gave us the shorter version, which I thought was a good poem on its own - then the original made much more sense to me.
I certainly have learned something. |
Ah! Now . . .
Written by Katanga (1537 comments posted) 4th September 2008 |
. . . I get it!
Thank you, Fledermaus, for posting your 'translation'.
I am really impressed - like fellpony, I find a strange 'mystical' power in these kennings. I must look into them further . . .
Greatly enjoyed on an enlightened re-read!
Cheers!
John |
Written by Fledermaus (3506 comments posted) 7th September 2008 |
Thanks Jean and John,
Somehow it seems that there were a number of standard metaphors the skalds used. A few of the poems/stories in the Edda mention them explicitly; For instance where one of the giants describes how everything in the world is called by man, elves and gods... |
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