- Gerard Butler as Beowulf
- Stellan Skarsgård as Hrothgar
- Ingvar E. Sigurðsson as Grendel Hringur Ingvarsson as Young Grendel
- Sarah Polley as Selma
- Eddie Marsan as Father Brendan
- Tony Curran as Hondscioh
- Ronan Vibert as Thorkel
- Rory McCann as Breca
- Martin Delaney as Thorfinn
- Spencer Wilding as Grendel's Father
Who are the people that Beowulf refers to?
4 rows · Apr 06, 2020 · Beowulf's Dragon is a well-known dragon from Norse Mythology from the epic Poem "Beowulf". It is ...
Who are the main characters in Beowulf?
Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. The work deals with events of the early 6th century, and, while the date of its composition is uncertain, some scholars believe that it was written in the 8th century. Although originally untitled, the poem was later named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, whose …
What is the name of Beowulf's enemy?
Mar 10, 2022 · Later Greek and Norse sources, written at the same time as the events of Beowulf, refer to the “Gautoi” or the “Gautar”, and provide more details on Beowulf’s people. This aggressive tribe carved themselves a territory amongst the warring peoples of Scandinavia, and the modern Swedish city of Gothenburg, facing Denmark across the sea, bears their name.
Where does Beowulf take place in the world?
Dec 01, 2021 · Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon hero, known for his embodiment of honesty, strength, and courage, but also a tragic flaw: arrogance. Explore the character traits of Beowulf through action scenes, and ...
Who are the people and what are the places of Beowulf?
Denmark: Land of the Danes, located in Eastern Europe. Franks: A West German people, residing near the Rhine and the Meuse rivers. A Frankish tribe conquered Gaul, about A.D. 500, and gave its name to modern France. Frisians: West German people, living in what is now northwestern Holland.
Where did the people in Beowulf come from?
Who are the 4 main characters in Beowulf?
- Beowulf - The hero and main character of the epic poem. ...
- Wiglaf - The trusty sidekick to the hero that was Beowulf. ...
- Hrothgar - King of the Danes before Beowulf. ...
- Grendel - The monster that plagued Hrothgar and his people. ...
- Grendel's Mother - Mother of Grendel and a far more powerful monster.
Who were heroes in Beowulf?
| Beowulf | |
|---|---|
| Verse form | Alliterative verse |
| Length | c. 3182 lines |
| Subject | The battles of Beowulf, the Geatish hero, in youth and old age |
| Personages | Beowulf, Hygelac, Hrothgar, Wealhtheow, Hrothulf, Æschere, Unferth, Grendel, Grendel's mother, Wiglaf, Hildeburh. |
Was Beowulf a real person?
Who was Beowulf's friend?
Who is Shild in Beowulf?
Who killed Beowulf?
Who is Grendel and Beowulf?
Why Beowulf is a hero?
What are Beowulf's characteristics?
What is Beowulf's purpose?
What nationality was Beowulf?
Similarly, what nationality was Beowulf? The poem concerns the legendary figure Beowulf, a hero of the Geats who were a North Germanic people inhabiting modern-day Gotaland in southern Sweden. Beowulf fights a series of monsters and also rules as King of the Geats for approximately 50 years.
Who is Beowulf's oldest son?
His oldest son, Hygelac, follows him as king. Hygelac is king of the Geats during Beowulf's time, and Beowulf's uncle. He is the oldest son of Hrethel. Hygelac married Hygd, and they have a son named Heardred, who becomes king of Geatland on Hygelac 's death.
Who is the monster that slays Beowulf?
Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by a monster known as Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel 's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated.
What tribe did Beowulf belong to?
Gifðas - the Gepids , a tribe which had migrated to the Balkans by the time of Beowulf. They are mentioned in connection with Swedes and Danes, and it has been suggested that Beowulf refers to the people of Östergötland. Heathobards, or Heaðo-beardnas, a clan or tribe at war with the Danes.
Who is Beowulf's father?
Eanmund - a Swedish prince, and the brother of Eadgils. Ecglaf - Unferð 's father. Ecgþeow - Beowulf's father who belonged to the Swedish Wægmunding clan. He joined the Geats after having been banished for killing the Wulfing Heaðolaf, and married a Geatish princess. Ecgwela - an earlier Danish king.
What happened to Herebeald in the Scylding clan?
Beowulf was his nephew. Herebeald was killed with an arrow by his brother Hæþcyn in a hunting accident, which caused their father Hreðel to die from grief.
How many lines are there in Beowulf?
Beowulf is an Old English heroic epic poem. Its creation dates to between the 8th and the 11th centuries, the only surviving manuscript dating to circa 1010. At 3183 lines, it is notable for its length. It has reached national epic status in England (although its setting is Scandinavia, not the British Isles).
What is the greatest sin in Anglo-Saxon culture?
Killing your kin was the greatest sin in Anglo-Saxon culture. Dæghrefn - a Frankish warrior killed by Beowulf. The Dragon - beast (Old English, wyrm) that ravages Beowulf's kingdom and which Beowulf must slay at the end of the poem. It is the cause of Beowulf's death.
Where is Beowulf set?
It has reached national epic status in England (although its setting is Scandinavia, not the British Isles). There are a great many characters in Beowulf ranging from historical people such as Hygelac to purely mythological dragons .
What is the name of the tribe that lives on the island of Zealand?
Danes - a tribe having their centre on the island of Zealand.
Who is Beowulf's father?
The hero of Beowulf, Beowulf is a Geatish warrior loyal to his king, Hygelac. Beowulf's father was the warrior Ecgtheow, and his mother is a sister of Hygelac. Despite his noble lineage… read analysis of Beowulf
Who competed with Beowulf in a swimming contest as a youth?
A Geat who competed with Beowulf in a swimming contest as a youth.
What is Grendel in Beowulf?
Grendel. A man-eating monster descended from the Biblical Cain. Grendel is described as a "walker in darkness," who is "wearing God's anger" and "lacking in joy" because he has inherited the curse the Biblical Cain… read analysis of Grendel. Get the entire Beowulf LitChart as a printable PDF.
Who is Unferth in Beowulf?
Unferth. A Dane, the son of Ecglaf, and a follower of Hrothgar. Unferth is presented as contrast to Beowulf, providing a glimpse of a poor warrior in contrast to Beowulf's good warrior. Unferth… read analysis of Unferth.
Who is the king of the Danes?
Hrothgar. The King of the Danes, the son of Healfdene, the brother of Heorogar and Halga, and the brother-in-law of Onela the Swede. He is also the father of young sons Hrethric, Hrothmund … read analysis of Hrothgar.
Who is Wiglaf in Beowulf?
Wiglaf. The son of Weohstan the Scylfing, and a relative of Beowulf, as well as his most loyal warrior. In the battle against the dragon, he proves to be the only Geatish warrior with… read analysis of Wiglaf.
What are some examples of bad queens?
An example of a bad queen. In her youth she caused people to be killed merely for looking at her. She is said to have improved, becoming generous, after her marriage to the king of the Angles.
What is the meaning of Beowulf?
Beowulf is considered an epic poem in that the main character is a hero who travels great distances to prove his strength at impossible odds against supernatural demons and beasts. The poem begins in medias res or simply, "in the middle of things", a characteristic of the epics of antiquity.
What is Beowulf's source of information?
Like the Finnesburg Fragment and several shorter surviving poems, Beowulf has consequently been used as a source of information about Scandinavian figures such as Eadgils and Hygelac, and about continental Germanic figures such as Offa, king of the continental Angles.
Why does Beowulf refuse to use a weapon?
Beowulf and his men spend the night in Heorot. Beowulf refuses to use any weapon because he holds himself to be Grendel's equal. When Grendel enters the hall, Beowulf, who has been feigning sleep, leaps up to clench Grendel's hand. Grendel and Beowulf battle each other violently.
How was the Beowulf manuscript written?
The Beowulf manuscript was transcribed from an original by two scribes, one of whom wrote the prose at the beginning of the manuscript and the first 1939 lines, before breaking off in mid-sentence. The first scribe made a point of carefully regularizing the spelling of the original document into the common West Saxon, removing any archaic or dialectical features. The second scribe, who wrote the remainder, with a difference in handwriting noticeable after line 1939, seems to have written more vigorously and with less interest. As a result, the second scribe's script retains more archaic dialectic features, which allow modern scholars to ascribe the poem a cultural context. While both scribes appear to have proofread their work, there are nevertheless many errors. The second scribe was ultimately the more conservative copyist as he did not modify the spelling of the text as he wrote, but copied what he saw in front of him. In the way that it is currently bound, the Beowulf manuscript is followed by the Old English poem Judith. Judith was written by the same scribe that completed Beowulf, as evidenced by similar writing style. Wormholes found in the last leaves of the Beowulf manuscript that are absent in the Judith manuscript suggest that at one point Beowulf ended the volume. The rubbed appearance of some leaves suggests that the manuscript stood on a shelf unbound, as was the case with other Old English manuscripts. Knowledge of books held in the library at Malmesbury Abbey and available as source works, as well as the identification of certain words particular to the local dialect found in the text, suggest that the transcription may have taken place there.
What happened after Beowulf slays Grendel?
After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland ( Götaland in modern Sweden) and becomes king of the Geats. Fifty years later, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the battle.
Where is Beowulf set?
Scholars call the anonymous author the " Beowulf poet". The story is set in pagan Scandinavia in the 6th century. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by the monster Grendel.
How big is Beowulf's manuscript?
Beowulf survived to modern times in a single manuscript, written in ink on parchment, later damaged by fire. The manuscript measures 245 × 185 mm.
Why is Beowulf so important?
It is significant that his three battles are not against men, which would entail the retaliation of the blood feud, but against evil monsters, enemies of the whole community and of civilization itself.
Where does Beowulf take place?
Beowulf falls into two parts. It opens in Denmark, where King Hrothgar’s splendid mead hall, Heorot, has been ravaged for 12 years by nightly visits from an evil monster, Grendel, who carries off Hrothgar’s warriors and devours them.
What happens to Grendel in Heorot?
During the night Grendel comes from the moors, tears open the heavy doors, and devours one of the sleeping Geats. He then grapples with Beowulf, whose powerful grip he cannot escape. He wrenches himself free, tearing off his arm, and leaves, mortally wounded. The next day is one of rejoicing in Heorot.
What did Beowulf give Grendel?
Upon his return to Heorot, Beowulf presents to King Hrothgar Grendel ’s decapitated head and the jeweled hilt of the sword he used to kill Grendel’s mother.
What does Beowulf do to the dragon?
Beowulf kills the dragon but is mortally wounded. The poem ends with his funeral rites and a lament. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now. Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and mythology.
What happened in the second part of Beowulf?
The second part passes rapidly over King Hygelac’s subsequent death in a battle (of historical record), the death of his son, and Beowulf’s succession to the kingship and his peaceful rule of 50 years. But now a fire-breathing dragon ravages his land and the doughty but aging Beowulf engages it.
How many years ago was Beowulf written?
It deals with events of the early 6th century and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. Although originally untitled, it was later named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, whose exploits and character provide its ...
What is Beowulf's character?
Beowulf, Prince of the Geats, has many noble qualities. He's the title character of the Old English epic Beowulf. He is a classic epic hero. Since he's a classic epic hero, that means he's a fierce fighter and the embodiment of Anglo-Saxon values.
Who is the monster in Beowulf?
Hrothgar is at the mercy of a horrible, hungry monster named Grendel, who has been terrorizing Hrothgar's warriors. Every night, Grendel visits Hrothgar's mead hall and consumes several men for dinner - bones, blood, flesh, and all.
What are epic heroes?
Typically, epic heroes are honest, hard-working, loyal, brave, of noble birth, and probably good-looking, too . Beowulf has all these qualities. However, many epic heroes, especially those from Greek and Roman mythology, have a serious tragic flaw that eventually results in the hero's catastrophic downfall.
Where does Beowulf go to put Grendel in his place?
Grendel is devastating the nation of Denmark. And Beowulf, being a good guy and great hero, cannot let this continue. So Beowulf leaves his home in present-day Sweden and sails to Denmark to put Grendel in his place. When Beowulf fights the monster, Grendel, he fights with his bare hands and says that he has 'never known fear.' Even so, Grendel is a formidable opponent.
What did Grendel and his mother represent?
Life wasn't just hard, but extremely brutal. Grendel and his mother may represent the evils of life in this culture. The Anglo-Saxons valued heroes who were fierce fighters, remained loyal to their people, and made themselves available at a moment's notice. Some things haven't changed very much.
What is Beowulf's fatal flaw?
But Beowulf's real fatal flaw is his hubris, like we mentioned at the beginning of the lesson. He shows many subtle displays of arrogance, such as fighting with his bare hands against a dangerous monster. Sometimes, his arrogance is more obvious, like when he insists on being honored and remembered as a national hero.
What happened to Beowulf's shield?
Unfortunately, the dragon's breath is just a little too hot, and Beowulf's shield starts to melt. Finally, Beowulf loses the battle with the dragon, and he dies. And for the first time in his life that famous prince. Fought with fate against him, with glory.
What is the character of Beowulf?
An in-depth Beowulf character analysis is essential for anyone who is interested in studying the poem in detail. Beowulf is, above all, a story about one man's life. Much of the beginning of Beowulf is dedicated to sketching out Beowulf's noble lineage and placing him in the same context as other Anglo-Saxon kings and heroes. Most of the story takes place before Beowulf has become king, when he is still a young man proving himself. The poem describes his youthful exploits, including his competitions against other men and his heroic deeds, like fighting sea monsters using his incredible strength and stamina.
What is Beowulf about?
An epic poem is a long poetic work often written in elevated language. Epic poems usually tell stories that are of great importance to the cultures represented, and Beowulf is no different. It is a story about a hero (Beowulf) who kills three monsters: Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon. The poem serves to illustrate many of the values that were important in Anglo-Saxon culture. Because Beowulf is the poem's hero, he embodies many of those values.
What did Beowulf say to Unferth?
Beowulf immediately counters Unferth's accusations, saying, ''The truth is this: / When the going was heavy in those high waves, / I was the strongest swimmer of all.'' He explains that he and Breca were attacked by sea creatures and that it was Beowulf who fought them off to keep Breca safe, at great risk to his own life and in a show of extraordinary battle prowess. He also says, ''Now, I cannot recall / any fight you entered, Unferth, / That bears comparison'' (Heaney). To contemporary audiences, Beowulf's arrogance can be grating. However, it was actually a trait that was expected of heroes in Anglo-Saxon culture; humility was not considered appropriate. Downplaying one's accomplishments was no way to win fame and fortune, so it was expected that Beowulf would think highly of himself given his physical abilities.
What is the fatal flaw in Beowulf?
Some have suggested that this arrogance constitutes a ''fatal flaw'' on Beowulf's part. However, there are several problems with this theory. First, the idea of a fatal flaw is one that is most readily found in the Christian literary canon, not something that exists regardless of culture and throughout history. Beowulf has some Christian influences, but it is primarily a pre-Christian European text from a culture that had no tradition of such flaws. Second, as mentioned above, Anglo-Saxon readers would not have seen Beowulf's arrogance as a flaw at all. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the idea of a fatal flaw implies that the person who has the flaw will ultimately be punished for it or will learn from their mistakes. Beowulf never makes any attempt to alter his arrogant ways and he also lives a long and honorable life, dying in battle to protect his people. He is never punished in any way for any perceived flaw.
Why is Beowulf considered a hero?
Beowulf is a Geat of noble birth. He is a hero because he embodies all of the important traits of his culture and because he defeats several monsters.
What is Beowulf's first task?
Beowulf's first major task in the poem is killing the monster Grendel, who has been terrorizing Hrothgar's people every night for the last twelve years. Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from its socket with his bare hands, leaving the monster to limp away to his death. Grendel's mother then arrives to avenge her son's death and Beowulf must go and defeat her as well. This he does by swimming down to her underwater lair, holding his breath for several hours. He kills Grendel's mother and returns triumphantly to Hrothgar, who rewards him handsomely for his service. Both of these fights essentially allow Beowulf to prove himself both to the Danes and to the Geats, establishing his reputation.
Who is the hero in Beowulf?
The most important Beowulf characters are Beowulf himself, who is the hero and one of the Geats, a group from what is now Sweden; Hrothgar, king of the Danes; and Wiglaf, a warrior and close friend of Beowulf's. The poem takes place over the course of many years, starting with Beowulf 's exploits as a young man and ending with his death, which comes after he has ruled over the Geats as king for around fifty years.
Overview
- Ælfhere - a kinsman of Wiglaf and Beowulf
- Æschere - Hroðgar's closest counselor and comrade, killed by Grendel's Mother.
- Banstan - the father of Breca.
- Beow or Beowulf - an early Danish king and the son of Scyld, but not the same character as the hero of the poem.
Historical background
Summary
Authorship and date
Beowulf is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars; the only certain dating is for the manuscript, which was produced between 975 and 1025. Scholars call the ano…
Manuscript
The events in the poem take place over most of the sixth century, and feature no English characters. Some suggest that Beowulf was first composed in the 7th century at Rendlesham in East Anglia, as the Sutton Hoo ship-burial shows close connections with Scandinavia, and the East Anglian royal dynasty, the Wuffingas, may have been descendants of the Geatish Wulfings. Others have associated t…
Editions, translations, and adaptations
The protagonist Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands, then kills Grendel's mother with a giant's sword that he found in her lair.
Later in his life, Beowulf becomes king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrori…
Sources and analogues
The dating of Beowulf has attracted considerable scholarly attention; opinion differs as to whether it was first written in the 8th century, whether it was nearly contemporary with its 11th century manuscript, and whether a proto-version (possibly a version of the Bear's Son Tale) was orally transmitted before being transcribed in its present form. Albert Lordfelt strongly that the manuscript represents the transcription of a performance, though likely taken at more than one …
Dialect
Beowulf survived to modern times in a single manuscript, written in ink on parchment, later damaged by fire. The manuscript measures 245 × 185 mm.
The poem is known only from a single manuscript, estimated to date from around 975–1025, in which it appears with other works. The manuscript therefore dates either to the reign of Æthelred the Unready, characterised by st…