A kenning is a stylistic device typical of Norse and Anglo-Saxon poetry. This device uses metaphorical two-word phrases to describe something or someone, instead of simply using a single word. In the line we are analyzing here, the narrator says "Edgetho's brave son" instead of simply saying Beowulf. This is an example of kenning. As a matter of fact, the epic poem "Beowulf" has several instances of kenning, such as "shepherd of evil" for the monster Grendel.
