Beowulf & Grendel

Beowulf Character List

(with alternate spellings)

• Beowulf-the epic hero; the ideal warrior.  He is originally a thane (someone from Denmark), but later becomes a feudal lord (a noble who is loyal to his kind… gets peasants to work the land for who he is in charge of) and king of the Geats (a people from an old Germanic tribe that is now considered Denmark and Sweden).

• Grendel-the huge monster who terrorizes Herot (a large building made of wood/timber and in which people meet and hold celebrations), the mead hall (where the kind met with his people) of King Hrothgar.  He cannot be destroyed by the weapons of men, but Beowulf kills him with his bare hands.

• Grendel’s mother (also known as the troll wife and Grendel’s dam)-She wants to avenge her son’s death, so she attacks the mead hall.

• Dragon-A fire-breathing, snake-like monster who ultimately kills Beowulf, but not before it meets its own death.

• Hrothgar-king of the Danes; He is a wise and generous ruler, but is too old to protect his people from the attack of Grendel.

• Unferth-a thane in Hrothgar’s court who challenges Beowulf’s superiority as a warrior.  He is later forced to recognize Beowulf’s greatness.

• Wealtheow-Hrothgar’s wife; Her generosity and hospitality make her an ideal queen.

• Higlac or Hygelac-Beowulf’s uncle and king of the Geats.  He is actually a historical figure.  The real person died in battle while raiding (attacking) the European mainland in 521.

• Healfdanes-Hrothgar’s father.

• Wiglaf-A young and experienced thane who is the only one to stand by Beowulf in the battle with the dragon.  Beowulf chooses him as his successor.

• Edgetho or Ecgtheow-Beowulf’s father; He was once befriended and offered shelter by Hrothgar.

• Hrunting-The sword loaned to Beowulf by the repentant (a person who feels sorry about something; regrets something) Unferth.

• Wulfgar-The Danish watchman who first sees Beowulf’s ship land on Danish soil.

• Aeschere-Hrothgar’s close friend and chief advisor who is killed by Grendel’s mother when she comes to retrieve (get back) Grendel’s arm.