Beowulf Names
About this set
Created by:
LSerrano99 on October 13, 2011
Log in to favorite or report as inappropriate.
Order by
52 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Hrothgar | King of the Danes; seeks Beowulf's help in defeating Grendel |
| Shield Sheafson | Hrothgar's great grandfather; went from orphan to king of Danes |
| Hygelac | Beowulf's uncle; king of the Geats; husband of Hygd; father of Heardred; kills Ongentheow |
| Halfdane | father of Hrothgar Heorogar and "daughter" who married Onela; succeeded Beow; |
| Beow | father of Halfdane; the narrator presents him as a gift from God to a people in need of a leader |
| Aeschere | Hrothgar's best friend that Grendel kills |
| Breca | The man the competed with Beowulf in the swimming competition |
| Wealthow | Hrothgar's wife; gracious |
| Unferth | a Dane who doubts Beowulf's ability to defeat Grendel; later gives him the sword 'Hrunting' to defeat Grendel's mother |
| Onela | a Swede married to the daughter of Halfdane (Hrothgar's sister) |
| Ingeld | engaged to be in an arranged marriage with Fraewaru (Hrothgar's daughter). This marriage is arranged in order to make peace between the Danes and the Heathobards; Beowulf predicts that the wedding will go badly rather than mend their differences-- significance: Beowulf has intelligence |
| Fraewaru | Hrothgar's daughter |
| Hrothmund | one of Hrothgar's sons |
| Wulfgar | Hrothgar's herald and officer; initially greets Beowulf and troops in Heorot |
| Hrethric | Hrothgar's elder son, Hrethric stands to inherit the Danish throne, but Hrethric's older cousin Hrothulf will prevent him from doing so. Beowulf offers to support the youngster's prospect of becoming king by hosting him in Geatland and giving him guidance. |
| Wiglaf | A young kinsman and retainer of Beowulf who helps him in the fight against the dragon while all of the other warriors run away. This man adheres to the heroic code better than Beowulf's other retainers, thereby proving himself a suitable successor to Beowulf. |
| Sigemund | A figure from Norse mythology, famous for slaying a dragon. His story is told in praise of Beowulf and foreshadows Beowulf's encounter with the dragon. |
| King Heremond | Good king turned evil; lets his people down; story to tell Beowulf what not to do (warning) |
| Ecgtheow | Beowulf's father history with Hrothgar: This man killed Heatholaf (a Wulfing) and because war was looming, this man was banished. Hrothgar paid off the feud. |
| Hygd | Hygelac's wife, the young, beautiful, and intelligent queen of the Geats. She is contrasted with Queen Modthryth. |
| Ongentheow | Swedish king; kills Haethcyn (Hrothgar's brother) |
| Hildeburh | Danish princess; daughter of Hoc |
| Hrothulf | Hrothgar's nephew; betrays and usurps his cousin, Hrethic, the rightful heir to the Danish throne. His treachery contrasts with Beowulf's loyalty to Hygelac in helping his son to the throne. |
| Modthryth | A wicked queen of legend who punishes anyone who looks at her the wrong way. Modthryth's story is told in order to contrast her cruelty with Hygd's gentle and reasonable behavior. |
| King Hrethel | The Geatish king who took Beowulf in as a ward after the death of Ecgtheow, Beowulf's father. |
| Othere | son of Ogentheow |
| Heorograr | Halfdane's son; Beowulf gives Hygelac his armor |
| King Finn | Frisian king; son of Focwald; led Hnaef and Frisian Jutes |
| Dayraven the Frank | Beowulf killed him with his bare hands |
| Wulf | son of Wonred; injurs Ongentheow |
| Eanmund | son of Othere and killed by Weostahn |
| Weostahn | father of Wiglaf; kills Eanmund; Othere's brother |
| Eofor | one of Hygelac's thanes |
| Heardred | Hygelac's son |
| Offa | Queen Modryth's King |
| Eadgils | Beowulf befriends him during his reign; son of Othere |
| Handscio | The first of Beowulf's troops that dies when Grendel attacks |
| Herebeald | Hygelac's brother; Hrethel's first son |
| Focwald | father of Finn |
| Hnaef | leader of Danes in the battle; son of Hoc; gets killed |
| Hengest | takes over for Hnaef after he dies |
| Eomer | Modthryth's son |
| Haethcyn | Hygelac's brother; killed by Ogentheow |
| Hoc | Hildeburh's father |
| Hrunting | The sword that Unferth gives to Beowulf before he fights Grendel's mother |
| Naegling | Beowulf's sword during battle with dragon |
| Halga | Hrothgar's brother; father of Hrothulf |
| Hearoweard | Heorograr's son |
| Abel | Grendel's good brother |
| Cain | Grendel's bad brother; kills Abel |
| Dazzle the Duel | sword that Hengest uses to kill Finn |
| Guthuof and Oslaf | Danes; captured Hildeburh |
First Time Here?
Welcome to Quizlet, a fun, free place to study. Try these flashcards, find others to study, or make your own.