Download Character and Term List

Beowulf_NG
4/7/06
8:48 PM
Page 7
Beowulf
Before We Start
Handout 1
Name
Date
Hour
Character and Term List
Below is a list of the characters and terms.
Characters
Beowulf:
King Hrothgar:
Grendel:
Grendel’s
mother:
Dragon:
Unferth:
Hygelac:
Hygd:
Wealtheow:
Wiglaf:
Beowulf is the protagonist of the story. Young Geatish hero who later
becomes a warrior king to the Geats.
He is the King of the Danes whose kingdom (Denmark) is terrorized
by Grendel.
Grendel is the monster who preys upon the Danes. He is said to be a
descendent of Cain who seeks vengeance for his lonely and miserable
existence.
Grendel’s mother (a she-monster) who seeks revenge for the killing of
her son.
Dragon is a mythical creature that breathes fire and possesses a deadly
venomous bite. It terrorizes Geatland, forcing Beowulf to come to the
aid of his people.
Unferth is a Danish warrior who is unwilling or unable to fight
Grendel. He challenges Beowulf’s strength.
Hygelac is the King of the Geats and Beowulf’s uncle.
Hygd is Hygeloc’s beautiful and wise wife. Queen of the Geats.
Wealtheow is Hrothgar’s wife and Queen of the Danes. She is
hospitable to Beowulf and his band of warriors.
Wiglaf is Beowulf’s young cousin who helps him fight a dragon.
Minor Characters
Sigemund:
King Heremod:
Queen
Thryth:
Sigemund is a character in Norse mythology who is famous for slaying
a dragon. Beowulf’s great strength is praised as being like that of
Sigemund.
King Heremod is a legendary king who was evil and ruled with cruelty.
He is contrasted with Beowulf.
Queen Thryth is a legendary queen who punished those whom she felt
looked at her the wrong way. She is contrasted with Hygd.
It's generally believed that the unknown poet who
composed Beowulf performed it orally before audiences.
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© 2006. Teacher’s Discovery®
Beowulf_NG
4/7/06
8:48 PM
Page 8
Beowulf
Character and Term List
Before We Start
Handout 1, continued
Ecgtheow:
Breca:
Scyld-Scefing:
Beowulf I:
Healfdene:
Hrethric:
Hrothmund:
Hrothulf:
Aeschere:
Ecgtheow is Beowulf’s father and Hygelac’s brother-in-law. He was a
friend to Hrothgar while he lived. He is dead at the time the story
begins.
Breca is Beowulf’s childhood friend.
Scyld-Scefing is the legendary Danish king from whom Hrothgar is
descended. It is this legendary king who epitomizes the Danes’ values
of heroism and kingship at the opening of the story.
Beowulf I (also Beow) is a Danish King. Scyld-Scefing son and
Hrothgar’s grandfather.
Healfdene is Beow’s son and Hrothgar’s father.
Hrethric is Hrothgar’s eldest son. Later, Beowulf offers to support him
in becoming king of the Danish people.
Hrothmund is Hrothgar’s second son.
Hrothulf is Hrothgar’s nephew who fights Hrethric for the Danish
throne and succeeds.
Aeschere is King Hrothgar’s trusted advisor. He is killed by Grendel’s
vengeful mother.
Terms
Chieftain:
Thane:
Heorot:
Mail:
Merovingian
King:
Anglo-Saxon:
Danes:
Geats:
Scyldings:
Scop:
Chieftain is the head of a clan or tribe.
Thane are free men who own land and perform military service for the
king. In Beowulf, 30 thanes who owe allegiance to King Hygeloc go
with Beowulf to defeat a monster that is destroying King Hrothgar’s
kingdom.
Heorot is a great mead-hall built by King Hrothgar of Denmark where
his warriors can eat, drink and share their stories of battle.
Mail is armor made of metal links or plates used to protect a warrior.
Merovingian King is the first Frank dynasty of kings from about 457
to 751 A.D. The Franks were the early people of modern day France
and Belgium.
Anglo-Saxons are early inhabitants of the island of Britain. Originally
separate people (Anglos and Saxons), they conquered the Celtic tribes
that resided on the island.
Danes are early Scandinavians. Inhabitants of the area known today as
Denmark.
Geats are inhabitants of the area known today as southern Sweden.
Scyldings relate to the Danish royal family and its legendary first king
Scyld-Scefing.
Scop is bard. One who tells or sings stories for entertainment.
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© 2006. Teacher’s Discovery®