LITERATURE QUESTIONS
EARLY BRITISH LITERATURE
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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Ring Giver
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Edgetho’s son
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He would weep, wise with many winters.
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Blade bathed in blood
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Detailed explanation-1: -A kenning is commonly a simple stock compound such as “whale-path” or “swan road” for “sea, ” “God’s beacon” for “sun, ” or “ring-giver” for “king.”
Detailed explanation-2: -Kennings are often metaphorical compounds (adj/noun) and are usually found in Old English. Examples from Beowulf : swan’s road = sea, ring-giver = king or lord.
Detailed explanation-3: -A kenning is a word that’s created through the combination of two unrelated words. For example, “four-eyes” or “arm-candy.” These words are contemporary versions. In Old English, some examples include: “mind’s worth, ” meaning “honor, ” and “spear din, ” meaning “battle.”
Detailed explanation-4: -A “ring-giver” is an Anglo-Saxon term for king or overlord. To quote Beowulf: A ring-giver (or “kenning”) was one who gives arm-rings or neck-rings (also known as torcs) of precious metals to brave warriors to gain and/or reward their service in battle.
Detailed explanation-5: -Mind-reader = someone who knows what you are thinking. Tree-hugger = an environmentalist. Showstopper = a performance that receives a prolonged applause. Ankle-biter = a small child. Fender bender = a car accident. Bookworm = someone who reads a lot.