In Anglo-Saxon society, the _____ was responsible for carrying on the history, culture, beliefs, and legends of the English people.
1 kenning
2 scop
3 comitatus
4 witan
Have you looked up these four words in a dictionary?
You could use this one.
http://dictionary.reference.com/
What do you think is the best answer?
kenning
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the roles and responsibilities of each option. Let's break it down:
1. Kenning: A kenning is a compound word or phrase used in Old English and Old Norse poetry to describe something indirectly. It is a stylistic device rather than a specific role or responsibility.
2. Scop: In Anglo-Saxon society, a scop was a poet or minstrel who composed and recited poetry or songs. They were responsible for preserving and transmitting the history, culture, beliefs, and legends of the English people through their compositions. This aligns closely with the given description.
3. Comitatus: Comitatus refers to a warrior band or a group of warriors led by a chieftain. They were bound by loyalty, honor, and obligation to protect and support their lord. While they played a significant role in Anglo-Saxon society, their primary responsibility was not specifically carrying on the history, culture, beliefs, and legends of the English people.
4. Witan: The witan were a council of nobles and wise men who advised the king in Anglo-Saxon England. Their function was more focused on providing counsel and making decisions rather than actively carrying on the history, culture, beliefs, and legends.
Based on the given information, the correct answer is: 2. scop.