Characters

~ A Geat, and the hero of the poem, son of Ecgtheow,
nephew of Hygelac, later, king of the Geats. ~

~ Not the hero of the poem. A Danish king, son of Scyld.
This Beowulf is sometimes called Beow. ~

Breca

~ Engages in a swimming contest with
Beowulf when they were younger,
King of the Brondings~

~ Beowulf's father, married to King Hrethel's only daughter,
He slays a man and escapes to Denmark. Hrothgar pays his wergild.~

Grendel

~ The monster who threatens Hrothgar's kingdom.
Beowulf kills him in Heorot by ripping off his arm,
causing Grendel's mother to seek revenge.~

Grendel's Dam(mother)

~ Grendel's hag-like mother, sometimes called a Troll-wife.
She dwells at the bottom of a mere (a large swampy pond) in a cave.~

Healfdene

~ Danish king; son of Beowulf the Dane;
father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, and Halga.~

Heardred

~ Geatish king, Hygelac's son. Beowulf counsels him.
Slain by Swedish king Onela.
Avenged by Beowulf who, with Eadgils, kills Onela.~

Hengest

~ Hnaef's brother, he leads the Danes after Hnaef is slain.~

Hnaef

~ King of the Danes, brother of Hengest and Hildeburh,
slain by Finn's men, given Germanic funeral.~

Hrethel

~ Geatish king, Hygelac's father. Grandfather of Beowulf.
Dies of grief after Haethcyn accidentally kills his own brother, Herebeald.~

Hrethric

~ Hrothgar's son, elder brother to Hrothmund. Killed when
Hrothulf usurps the Danish throne after Hrothgar's death.~

Hrothgar

~ King of the Danes, son of Healfdene and brother of Heorogar.
He wishes to make peace with the Heathobards.~

Hrothmund

~ Hrothgar's nephew, son of Halga.~

Hygd

~ Hygelac's queen. Mother of Heardred.
Beowulf gives her the necklace which Wealhtheow gave him.~

Hygelac

~ Geatish king and uncle to Beowulf.
Historical character verified by external evidence.~

Scyld Sceafing

~ Founder of Hrothgar's mighty Danish
royal house; son of Sceaf.~

Unferth

~ Son of Ecglaf, slew his brother; taunts Beowulf early in
the poem, but later he lends his sword, Hrunting, to Beowulf
just before Beowulf's battle with Grendel's mother.~

Wealhtheow