In "The Seafarer," the compound Word "whales' home" exemplifies the Anglo-Saxon figure of speech known as a kenning. Kennings are metaphorical expressions that replace a noun with a descriptive phrase, often combining two Words to create a vivid image. In this case, "whales' home" refers to the sea, evoking the natural habitat of whales while enriching the imagery of the poem. This technique reflects the rich linguistic tradition of Old English poetry.
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