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Beowulf

  

by Unknown

  • Beowulf /
  • Characters
SHMOOP PREMIUM Summary SHMOOP PREMIUM SHMOOP PREMIUM
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  • Topics
  • Character Roles (Protagonist, Antagonist...)
  • Tools of Characterization

  • Intro
  • Summary
  • Themes
  • Quotes
  • Characters
  • Beowulf
  • Grendel
  • King Hrothgar
  • Wiglaf
  • Unferth
  • Aeschere
  • Beow
  • Breca
  • Ecgtheow
  • Grendel's Mother
  • Halfdane
  • Heardred
  • Heorogar, Halga, and their sister
  • Herebeald and Haethcyn
  • Hrethel
  • Hrethric, Hrothmund, and Freawaru
  • Hygd
  • Hygelac
  • Onela
  • Ongentheow
  • Shield Sheafson
  • Wealhtheow
  • Wulf and Eofor
  • Analysis
  • Questions
  • Photos
  • Quizzes
  • Flashcards
  • Best of the Web
  • Write Essay
  • Infographics
  • Teaching
  • Lit Glossary
  • Table of Contents
  • SHMOOP PREMIUM

Beowulf Characters

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Meet the Cast

Beowulf

(Click the character infographic to download.) Faster than a sea monster! Stronger than a demon! More powerful than a dragon! It's… Beowulf, a medieval Geatish warrior willing to take on any c...

Grendel

(Click the character infographic to download.) Grendel is a man-eating demon (never a good sign) that lives in the land of the Spear-Danes and attacks King Hrothgar's mead-hall, Heorot, every e...

King Hrothgar

(Click the character infographic to download.) Past His PrimeHrothgar is the king of the Spear-Danes when Beowulf arrives in their land, ready to fight the demon Grendel. We're going to let that se...

Wiglaf

(Click the character infographic to download.) Right Hand ManThink of all the handy hero helpers in epic literature. Samwise to Frodo. Samwell to Jon Snow. Sam—er, Wiglaf to Beowulf.Wiglaf is a...

Unferth

(Click the character infographic to download.) Ungrateful UnferthUnferth is, to put it bluntly, mad jealous. He's not as cool as big B (and everyone knows it), so Unferth tries to undermine him unj...

Aeschere

Aeschere is an old Danish warrior and a good friend of King Hrothgar. He is killed and beheaded by Grendel's mother when she avenges the death of her son, and Hrothgar is deeply grieved by his loss.

Beow

Despite the similarity in names, Beow isn't actually related to Beowulf as far as we know. Instead, Beow is one of the kings of the Danes, the son of Shield Sheafson. Beow is the father of Halfdane...

Breca

Breca is a childhood friend of Beowulf's. Breca and Beowulf engage in a strange swimming contest where they take on the open sea while wearing full armor and carrying swords, supposedly to defend t...

Ecgtheow

Ecgtheow, Beowulf's father, once found himself in a blood-feud with the tribe called the Wulfings because he had killed a man named Heatholaf. Ecgtheow sought refuge with King Hrothgar of the Danes...

Grendel's Mother

Grendel's mother, another demonic descendant of Cain, attempts to avenge her son's death by attacking Heorot Hall. Although she manages to kill one man, she is alarmed by the strength and prowes...

Halfdane

Halfdane, one of the kings of the Spear-Danes, is the grandson of Shield Sheafson. He is also the father of Heorogar, Hrothgar, Halga, and a daughter who marries Onela the Swede.

Heardred

Heardred is the only son of King Hygelac and Queen Hygd. Eventually, Heardred is killed in battle, leaving his cousin Beowulf to become king of the Geats.

Heorogar, Halga, and their sister

Heorogar, Halga, and their unnamed sister are the siblings of Hrothgar, king of the Spear-Danes.

Herebeald and Haethcyn

Herebeald and Haethcyn are the sons of King Hrethel and the brothers of Hygelac. In a tragic accident, Haethcyn accidentally kills his brother Herebeald. As a result, King Hrethel retires from publ...

Hrethel

Hrethel, the previous king of the Geats, was the father of Hygelac, Herebeald, Haethcyn, and a daughter, and the foster-father of his great-nephew Beowulf. Although the exact details are somewhat u...

Hrethric, Hrothmund, and Freawaru

Hrethric, Hrothmund, and Freawaru are the children of King Hrothgar and Queen Wealhtheow of the Spear-Danes. Hrethric and Hrothmund are young princes and neither of them is yet ready to succeed the...

Hygd

Hygd is the wife of Hygelac and Queen of the Geats.

Hygelac

Hygelac, the king of the Geats, is Beowulf's lord and ring-giver. As a "ring-giver," it is Hygelac's job to give land and treasures to his "thanes," or lords, in order to reward them for their loya...

Onela

Onela, son of Ongentheow, is the king of the Swedes, the rival tribe to the Geats. In an attempt to forge alliances and prevent blood feuds, Onela marries a Danish princess, the daughter of Halfdan...

Ongentheow

Ongentheow, king of the Swedes and father of Onela, was killed in battle by the Geat warrior Eofor. Although Eofor was avenging his brother Wulf, who died at Ongentheow's hands, the fact that a Swe...

Shield Sheafson

Shield Sheafson is the founder of the tribe of the Spear-Danes, a great warrior who manages to establish a little dynasty. Shield Sheafson's funeral is one of the first scenes in Beowulf, reminding...

Wealhtheow

Wealhtheow, Queen of the Spear-Danes and wife of King Hrothgar, appears briefly in Beowulf as the mistress of Heorot Hall. One of Wealhtheow's most important duties is the ceremonial carrying of a...

Wulf and Eofor

Wulf and Eofor are two Geatish brothers who are part of a blood-feud between the Geats and their rival tribe, the Swedes. Ongentheow, king of the Swedes, killed Wulf in battle; in return, Wulf's br...
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