| Hrothgar | Danish king, builder of Herot |
| Beowulf | Son of Edgetho, Higlac’s nephew and follower, later king of Geats |
| Higlac | King of Geats, Beowulf’s feudal lord/uncle |
| Higd | Higlac’s wife |
| Wiglaf | Geat warrior, accompanies Beowulf in fight with the dragon, become king after Beowulf dies |
| Freaw | Hrothgar’s daughter, danish princess, married off to settle a fued |
| Grendel | descendant of Cain, man-eating monster who terrorizes the Danes until Beowulf kills him |
| Grendel’s mother | swamp hag, terrorizes Herot after Grendel is killed, stops when Beowulf chops her head off |
| Dragon | Powerful serpant that gaurds treasure, bites Beowulf that leads to his death |
| Brecca | chief of the Brondings, companion of Beowulf |
| Unferth | One of Hrothgar’s warriors, jealous of Beowulf, lent his sword to Beowulf to fight Grendel’s mother |
| Edgetho | Beowulf’s father, notable warrior married to Hrethel’s daughter |
| Esher | Danish nobleman, close friend of Hrothgar, killed by Grendel’s mother |
| Hermod | historical danish king, has very low character |
| Thrith | Offa’s wife, violent young women until she is tamed by her husband |
| Offa | King of angles, husband and tamer of Thrith |
| Hrunting | Unferth’s ancient sword lent to Beowulf to fight Grendel’s mother |
| Nagling | Beowulf’s sword |
| Geats | people of Southern Sweden, Beowulf’s people, precise identification of these people |
| Danes | People terrorized by Grendel and his mother, people of Denmark |
| Anglo-Saxon virtues (4) | bravery, loyalty, generous, friendship (BLGF) |
| Characteristics of Epic hero (4) | Glorified, on a quest, ethical, strong (GOES) |
Beowulf Characters
February 21, 2020