In Old Norse Viking literature, kenning was a trend. It was a way to show off one’s creativeness in word choice as well as a way to challenge other writers during that time. This blog post is to present a list of interesting kennings from Norse literature that can help you fully understand some Norse literature.
What are kennings?
Kennings are the stylistic devices or creative word choices by the Old Norse artists. They would choose other way of expression to refer to their ideas. It is a form of periphrasis referring to something indirectly. So instead of calling out the name of that object, the writers would use another special trait of it to illustrate.
For example, they would not say directly “the king” or “the chieftain”. But they would say: “the golden ring giver”, “the ruler of people on earth” or “the securer of glory” to name but a few.
Lists of interesting kennings
Kennings for animals
| Whale | Sea-pig Boar of Vidblindi |
| Wolf | Greedy One Heath-Beast Stud-Horse The hound of roaring sea of corpses Witch-beast Odin’s Hound |
| Bear | Gib-cat Bustler Roarer Scratcher Horse chaser |
| Serpent | Dragon Whale of the heath Adder Ring of the Meadow Lind worm |
| Eagle | Inciter Storm-shearer Soarer |
| Raven | Crow Eagle of Odin Yearly flier |
Kennings for description
| Gold | Fire of the River Shining light of river Rain of Draupnir Lair of Fafnir Serpent’s flame Sea-flame Aegir’s fire Hair of Sif Freya’s tears |
| Silver | Snow Hoar-Frost Ice Purse-snow Snow of Flagous |
| Brave Man | Man of War Tyr-valiant |
| Weak Man | Sheath Son of wretchedness Sulker Feeble one Dog Vile one |
| Generous Man | Distributor of Gold Gold-giver Prince of men |
| Greedy Man | Wealth-hiding Gift tardy Calculator |
| Fool | Clown Dolt Oaf |
| Wise Man | Wise in Speech |
| Fashionable | Glittering |
| Noisy Man | Brawler Sheath Cleaner Fawner |
| Foe | Attacker Shooter against one |
| Friend | Bench fellow Advisor |
Kennings for Gods/Goddesses
| Odin | Allfather Hanged Gd Raven god Father of the slain Lord of hosts God of the slain High One Ygg Son of Borr Victory Father Valhalla’s ruler |
| Thor | Warder of Earth Defender of Asgard Destroyer of trolls Earth’s son Helper of men |
| Baldur | The Shining God |
| Njord | God of wealth bestowed |
| Freyr | God of fertile season |
| Freya | Gullveig Odr’s girl Crier of gold |
| Heimdall | Son of Nine Mothers |
| Tyr | Fosterer of Wolf One handed god Feeder of Wolf |
| Bragi | Maker of Music and Poetry |
| Vidar | Slayer of Fenrir Silent god |
| Vali | Slayer of Hodr |
| Hodr | Baldur’s slayer |
| Ullr | Hunting god |
| Hoenir | Companion of the swift |
| Loki | Evil companion of Odin Thief of the giants Father of monsters |
Kennings for war
| Sword | Shining Leak Blood Snake Man’s Measure Heimdall’s Head Wound Wand Odin’s Fire Wand of Battle Wound flame |
| Battle | Sport of Freyr Dinning of Showering Weapons Storm of Odin Storm of Sheltering Shields Spear-Storm Clashing Tempest Crashing Wind Clash |
| Helm | Cowl |
| Shield Wall | Hall and Roof Wall and Floor |
| Shield | Tent Sun of the Ship Moon of the Ship Ship of Ullr Hrungnir’s Feet Land of Weapon |
| Arrows | Wound Bees Hail of the Bow Hail of Battle Wound Burst Sleet of Battle |
| Weapons | Fire of Blood |
