What is a kenning?

What is a kenning?

• A. A direct synonym for a noun
• B. A descriptive phrase used to avoid prosaic repetition
• C. The main character's flaw in a story
• D. An article of punctuation such as a comma or period

Answer: (B)

Kenning is a descriptive, metaphorical phrase that stands in for a noun, often forming a compound like two or more words and sometimes hyphenated. It adds vivid imagery and variety, a hallmark of Old English and Norse poetry, and helps poets avoid repeating the same simple noun in a line—so a sea might be called the whale-road, for example. It’s not a direct synonym; it describes the thing in a creative way rather than naming it exactly. It isn’t about a character flaw or about punctuation, so the description that fits best is a descriptive phrase used to avoid prosaic repetition.

Kenning is a descriptive, metaphorical phrase that stands in for a noun, often forming a compound like two or more words and sometimes hyphenated. It adds vivid imagery and variety, a hallmark of Old English and Norse poetry, and helps poets avoid repeating the same simple noun in a line—so a sea might be called the whale-road, for example. It’s not a direct synonym; it describes the thing in a creative way rather than naming it exactly. It isn’t about a character flaw or about punctuation, so the description that fits best is a descriptive phrase used to avoid prosaic repetition.