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Who are the 3 main characters of Beowulf?
Beowulf - The hero and main character of this epic poem. ... Wiglaf - The trusty sidekick to Beowulf. ... Danish King Hrothgar - King of the Danes before Beowulf. ... Grendel - Also known as the monster or Beowulf monster. ... Grendel's Mother - Mother of Grendel and a far more powerful monster.
Who are the main characters in Beowulf book?
Character ListBeowulf. The protagonist of the epic, Beowulf is a Geatish hero who fights the monster Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. ... King Hrothgar. The king of the Danes. ... Grendel. ... Grendel's mother. ... The dragon. ... Shield Sheafson. ... Beow. ... Halfdane.More items...
Who are the characters in Beowulf story?
The main characters include Beowulf, Hrothgar, Grendel, Grendel's mother, the dragon, Unferth, Wealhtheow, and Wiglaf. One of the most important characters is Hrothgar, king of the Danes because he supports Beowulf and tries to help him be a better man.
What type of character is Beowulf?
In his youth, Beowulf is a great warrior, characterized predominantly by his feats of strength and courage, including his fabled swimming match against Breca. He also perfectly embodies the manners and values dictated by the Germanic heroic code, including loyalty, courtesy, and pride.
Who kills Beowulf?
Sensing his own death approaching, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom kills him moments after their encounter.
Who is Beowulf's son?
The Dragon appears as the secondary antagonist in the 2007 film adaptation of the same name. He is also known as the Golden Man and is the son of Beowulf and Grendel's Mother.
What are 5 characteristics of Beowulf?
Beowulf: Character TraitsPhysical strength.Extraordinary courage.Willingness to fight.Desire to prove himself.Loyalty to his people and allies.The wisdom to be a great king.And courtesy to others.
What is the main point of the story of Beowulf?
In Beowulf, the major themes reflect the values and the motivations of the characters. One of the central themes of Beowulf, embodied by its title character, is loyalty. At every step of his career, loyalty is Beowulf's guiding virtue. Beowulf comes to the assistance of the Danes (Scyldings) for complicated reasons.
Who is Beowulf's King?
Beowulf Character Analysis He comes to help king Hrothgar, whose army was being terrorized by Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel, and then kills Grendel's mother—who came after Beowulf to avenge her son. He then becomes king of Geatland, but his reign as king was not peaceful; he gets attacked by a fire-breathing dragon.
Is the dragon in Beowulf a girl?
In the 2007 film version, the dragon is Grendel's younger half-brother as he's the son of the latter's mother and Beowulf whom he ironically ends up killing in the end of the movie.
What kind of character is Grendel?
Descended from the biblical Cain, Grendel is an outcast, doomed to wander the face of the earth. He revenges himself upon humans by terrorizing and occasionally devouring the warriors of the Danish king Hrothgar.
What was Beowulf's dying wish?
Beowulf orders Wiglaf to go into the barrow, look at the treasure, and bring back some of it for him to see before he dies. Wiglaf obeys Beowulf's dying wish and goes down into the barrow, where he finds amazing piles of treasure, all of it rusting and decaying.
Is Grendel Hrothgar's son?
In the movie Grendel was Hrothgar's son; however, in the textbook Grendel was a descendent of Cain. Grendel was Hrothgar's son in the movie because he slept with Grendel's mom.
What kind of character is Grendel?
Descended from the biblical Cain, Grendel is an outcast, doomed to wander the face of the earth. He revenges himself upon humans by terrorizing and occasionally devouring the warriors of the Danish king Hrothgar.
What is the name of Beowulf's King?
Hrothgar The aging king of the Danes welcomes Beowulf's assistance in facing the menace of Grendel. His sermon to Beowulf before the Geat champion's departure is thematically important; his great mead-hall, Heorot, symbolizes the kingdom's success, civilization, and joy.
Is BEOW and Beowulf the same person?
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 and the grandfather of Hrothgar.
Who is the main character in Beowulf?
Beowulf Character Analysis. Beowulf is the main character of the poem. He comes to help king Hrothgar, whose army was being terrorized by Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel, and then kills Grendel’s mother—who came after Beowulf to avenge her son.
What is Beowulf's character trait?
When speaking about his character traits, first and foremost, Beowulf is associated with bravery. There are numerous occasions to which he shows how fearless he is in fights against beasts and mysterious creatures. In the text we come across such narrative that portrays his bravery: Which of us wins.
Why did Beowulf give Hrothgar gold?
This is when Beowulf came along to save Hrothgar, his family and the army from the terrible beast. Hrothgar showed his gratitude in regards to Beowulf’s loyalty by gifting him armor, horses, gold, and many other gifts. The author trivializes Hrothgar role, for he was a great king unable to face the monster.
Why did Unferth give his sword to Beowulf?
He had a poor moral judgement; he was jealous of Beowulf and his strength. Although after Beowulf had defeated Grendel, Unferth gave his sword to Beowulf to go kill Grendel’s mother. This act by Unferth showcases that he changed his mind and, after all, he was not all that bad.
What is the meaning of Wiglaf's promise to Beowulf?
It’s in these lines where we see that Wiglaf swore his loyalty to Beowulf to stay with him till the last minute. Wiglaf lived up to his promise. Not only did he fight alongside Beowulf, but he washed his wounds, and fulfilled his last wishes before death. Wiglaf was rewarded in full for his good deeds – he became the next Geatish king. In the poem, Wiglaf is an example of a loyal, kind-hearted and brave warrior—giving readers an example of how people should treat their king.
How did Beowulf help Hrothgar?
When Beowulf found out about Hrothgar’s trouble with Grendel, he decided to help Hrothgar by staying true to his father’s oath and to fulfill it even after his death. Beowulf spoke of his father as a “noble battle-beater” (line 263), and showed his respect and in loving memory.
What does Beowulf say about the dragon?
Here Beowulf says that his “heart is firm”, which alludes that he is ready to face the dragon and stand up against him no matter how strong the dragon might be. This suggests that Beowulf is fearless, even though he knew that on his own he did not stand a chance against the dragon.
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
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.
What is the story of Cain's brother?
The Old Testament of the Bible , in the Book of Genesis, tells the story of how Cain killed his brother Abel. Cain was marked by God, so others would know him and cast him out of society. The giants, Grendel and Grendel's Mother, are descended from Cain.
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.
Who competed with Beowulf in a swimming contest as a youth?
A Geat who competed with Beowulf in a swimming contest as a youth.
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 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.
Who are the main characters in Beowulf?
Beowulf Characters. T he main characters in Beowulf are Beowulf, Hrothgar, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, Wiglaf, Wealhtheow, and Unferth. Beowulf is a Geatish hero who becomes king after defeating Grendel in battle. Hrothgar is the King of the Danes who accepts Beowulf's help in defeating Grendel. Grendel is the fiend who devours the men ...
Who is Beowulf in the book?
Beowulf (bay-eh-woolf), the nephew and thane of King Hygelac of the Geats. A warrior who proves his superhuman strength and endurance in his struggle with the monster Grendel, he exemplifies the ideal lord and vassal, rewarding his own men generously and accomplishing glorious deeds to honor his king, while he fulfills all the forms of courtesy at Hrothgar’s court.
What does Hrothgar say to Beowulf when he returns from killing Grendel's mother?
When Beowulf returns from killing Grendel's mother, Hrothgar has some wise words for him, reminding the young hero that earthly glory and material things are not of enduring value, while the "eternal rewards" of a good name with God are what truly matters.
What did Beowulf win over to the Geat?
He is won over by Beowulf’s victory against Grendel and lends the hero his sword, Hrunting, for the undersea battle against Grendel’s mother.
Why does Onela not dispute Beowulf's control of the Geat Kingdom?
This would explain why the Swedish king, Onela, does not dispute Beowulf's control of the Geat kingdom after Beowulf's cousin Heardred dies in battle with the Swedes. Ecgtheow was involved in a feud so violent that only Hrothgar would shelter him. Hrothgar was able to settle the feud. Freawaru.
How many sea monsters did Beowulf kill?
Beowulf comes ashore after killing nine sea monsters who tried to eat him. The champion of the Franks. Beowulf defeats him in single combat before the armies of the Geats and the Franks, crushing him in a bear hug. As late as the sixteenth century, writers assumed that dragons still existed in out-of-the-way places.
What is Beowulf's action?
Therefore, Beowulf's actions stem from bonds of blood and bonds of loyalty. When Beowulf duels verbally with Unferth, the courtier of Hrothgar who accuses him of cowardice in a swimming match with Breca, he essentially states in rebuttal: "I could have won that race if I hadn't been attacked by sea monsters.
Who is Beowulf loyal to?
Beowulf is loyal to her and her young son, Heardred, when Hygelac dies. Heardred Despite Beowulf's support, the young king, son of Hygelac and Hygd, is killed in a feud. Beowulf then becomes king of the Geats. Grendel A descendant of the biblical Cain, the enormous ogre despises mankind's joy.
Who is the queen of Beowulf?
Wealhtheow Hrothgar's queen welcomes Beowulf and is the embodiment of charm and hospitality.
What does the hilt mean in Beowulf?
Grendel sees it as a symbol of mankind's joy and delights in raiding and capturing it nightly. Previous About Beowulf.
What did Beowulf lend to Hrothgar?
He later lends Beowulf a sword for a crucial battle. Beowulf A mighty warrior and noble individual, the poem's hero, with the strength of 30 in his hand-grip, comes to the aid of Hrothgar's Danes. Later Beowulf is king of the Geats.
What was the battle between Beowulf and Breca?
His raids throughout the countryside lead to a battle with Beowulf, the king's last. Two Men, Three Swords, and a Great Mead-Hall. Breca A royal member of the Brondings, he and Beowulf engaged in a swimming contest against each other as adolescents, which Unferth claims Beowulf lost.
What is the significance of Beowulf's ship funeral?
His ship funeral early in the poem is a significant ritual. Hrothgar The aging king of the Danes welcomes Beowulf's assistance in facing the menace of Grendel. His sermon to Beowulf before the Geat champion's departure is thematically important; his great mead-hall, Heorot, symbolizes the kingdom's success, civilization, and joy.
Who is the only thane to stand with Beowulf against the dragon?
Wiglaf The only thane to stand with Beowulf against the dragon, he is the Geats' future king and a symbol of loyalty within the social/political structure of the comitatus. Hygelac King of the Geats and uncle to Beowulf, his death in battle (c. 520) is recorded historically, unlike most of the events in the poem.
What is Beowolf's heroism?
An example of Beowolfs heroism is when he is battling her. That mighty protector of en/meant to hold the monster ’till its life/leaped out … ” (366-367) Beowolf is described as the “protector” of his people and proves this by defeating Grendels’ mother. She had recently killed a close friend of the king in defiance to the slaying of her son. To prevent further killing, Beowolf went to an arena under a lake and destroyed her. Later on in his life he kills a fire-breathing dragon because he wants to protect his kingdom. He was king for over 40 years and had done all he could to protect his kingdom. Beowolfs best asset is his strength.
What did Beowolf do before Grendel?
Before his confrontation with Grendel, he did many other things to ssist his people. An example of him doing this is when he speaks of himself killing the giants and wiping them off the earth. He says, “They have seen my strength for themselves,/have watched me rise from the darkness/of war, dripping of my enemies’ blood/I drove five great giants into chairs, chased/all of that race from the Earth. ” (246-250) Beowolf proves his strength to others and to himself. In his fight with Grendels’ mother Beowolf proves many things.
What is the role of a hero in an epic?
These people are recognized as the epitome of all people in this time. In Anglo-Saxon literature the role of a hero is to protect good. There were many great pieces of literature during Anglo-Saxon times. Perhaps one of the best was Beowolf. In this story the main character is Beowolf, a man who protects the Herot from a terrible monster, and later on in his life protects his own castle. Beowolf is a hero who represents good in this story.
Who is Hrothulf's cousin?
Hrothgar's nephew, Hrothulf betrays and usurps his cousin, Hrethic, the rightful heir to the Danish throne. Hrothulf's treachery contrasts with Beowulf's loyalty to Hygelac in helping his son to the throne.
Why did Hrothgar give Beowulf his sword?
One of Hrothgar's warriors, jealous of Beowulf, lent his sword to Beowulf to fight Grendel's mother
Who is Grendel's mother?
An unnamed swamp-hag, Grendel's mother seems to possess fewer human qualities than Grendel, although her terrorization of Heorot is explained by her desire for vengeance—a human motivation.
