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Character List

Beowulf:
Beowulf exemplifies the traits of the perfect hero. The poem explores his heroism in two
separate phases—youth and age—and through three separate and increasingly difficult
conflicts—with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Although we can view these
three encounters as expressions of the heroic code, there is perhaps a clearer division between
Beowulf’s youthful heroism as an unfettered warrior and his mature heroism as a reliable
king. These two phases of his life, separated by fifty years, correspond to two different
models of virtue, and much of the moral reflection in the story centers on differentiating these
two models and on showing how Beowulf makes the transition from one to the other. 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. His defeat of Grendel and Grendel’s mother validates his reputation for bravery and
establishes him fully as a hero. In the first part of the poem, Beowulf matures little, as he
possesses heroic qualities in abundance from the start. Having purged Denmark of its plagues
and established himself as a hero, however, he is ready to enter into a new phase of his life.
Hrothgar, who becomes a mentor and father figure to the young warrior, begins to deliver
advice about how to act as a wise ruler. Though Beowulf does not become king for many
years, his exemplary career as a warrior has served in part to prepare him for his ascension to
the throne. The second part of the story, set in Geatland, skips over the middle of Beowulf’s
career and focuses on the very end of his life. Through a series of retrospectives, however, we
recover much of what happens during this gap and therefore are able to see how Beowulf
comports himself as both a warrior and a king. The period following Hygelac’s death is an
important transitional moment for Beowulf. Instead of rushing for the throne himself, as
Hrothulf does in Denmark, he supports Hygelac’s son, the rightful heir. With this gesture of
loyalty and respect for the throne, he proves himself worthy of kingship. In the final
episode—the encounter with the dragon—the poet reflects further on how the responsibilities
of a king, who must act for the good of the people and not just for his own glory, differ from
those of the heroic warrior. In light of these meditations, Beowulf’s moral status becomes
somewhat ambiguous at the poem’s end. Though he is deservedly celebrated as a great hero
and leader, his last courageous fight is also somewhat rash. The poem suggests that, by
sacrificing himself, Beowulf unnecessarily leaves his people without a king, exposing them to
danger from other tribes. To understand Beowulf’s death strictly as a personal failure,
however, is to neglect the overwhelming emphasis given to fate in this last portion of the
poem. The conflict with the dragon has an aura of inevitability about it. Rather than a
conscious choice, the battle can also be interpreted as a matter in which Beowulf has very
little choice or free will at all. Additionally, it is hard to blame him for acting according to the
dictates of his warrior culture.

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Grendel:
Likely the poem’s most memorable creation, Grendel is one of the three monsters that
Beowulf battles. His nature is ambiguous. Though he has many animal attributes and a
grotesque, monstrous appearance, he seems to be guided by vaguely human emotions and
impulses, and he shows more of an interior life than one might expect. Exiled to the
swamplands outside the boundaries of human society, Grendel is an outcast who seems to
long to be reinstated. The poet hints that behind Grendel’s aggression against the Danes lies
loneliness and jealousy. By lineage, Grendel is a member of “Cain’s clan, whom the creator
had outlawed / and condemned as outcasts.” (106–107). He is thus descended from a figure
who epitomizes resentment and malice. While the poet somewhat sympathetically suggests
that Grendel’s deep bitterness about being excluded from the revelry in the mead-hall owes,
in part, to his accursed status, he also points out that Grendel is “[m]alignant by nature” and
that he has "never show[n] remorse" (137).

Hrothgar:
Hrothgar, the aged ruler of the Danes who accepts Beowulf’s help in the first part of the
story, aids Beowulf’s development into maturity. Hrothgar is a relatively static character, a
force of stability in the social realm. Although he is as solidly rooted in the heroic code as
Beowulf is, his old age and his experience with both good and ill fortune have caused him to
develop a more reflective attitude toward heroism than Beowulf possesses. He is aware of
both the privileges and the dangers of power, and he warns his young protégé not to give in
to pride and always to remember that blessings may turn to grief. Hrothgar’s meditations on
heroism and leadership, which take into account a hero’s entire life span rather than just his
valiant youth, reveal the contrast between youth and old age that forms the turning point in
Beowulf’s own development.

Unferth:
Unferth’s challenge to Beowulf’s honor differentiates him from Beowulf and helps to reveal
some of the subtleties of the heroic code that the warriors must follow. Unferth is presented
as a lesser man, a foil for the near-perfect Beowulf. (A foil is a character whose traits contrast
with and thereby accentuate those of another character.) The bitterness of Unferth’s chiding
of Beowulf about his swimming match with Breca clearly reflects his jealousy of the
attention that Beowulf receives. It probably also stems from his shame at being unable to
protect Heorot himself—he is clearly not the sort of great warrior whom legend will
remember. While boasting is a proper and acceptable form of self-assertion, Unferth’s harsh
words show that it ought not to be bitter or disparaging of others. Rather than heroism,
Unferth’s blustering reveals pride and resentment. Later, Unferth’s gift of his sword for
Beowulf’s fight against Grendel’s mother heals Unferth’s breach of hospitality, but it does
little to improve his heroic status. Unlike Beowulf, Unferth is clearly afraid to fight the
monster himself.

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Grendel’s mother:
Like her son, is a mysterious humanoid creature. She enters the poem as an “avenger”
(l.1258), seeking redress for the death of her son at Beowulf’s hands. For this reason, some
readers have seen Grendel’s mother as an embodiment of ancient Northern European
society’s tendency toward unending blood-feuds. Other readers have suggested that she
represents the suffering of women under the bloodfeud system. Before Grendel’s mother
attacks, we hear the story of Hildeburh, a princess who loses all her male relatives because
her brother’s family is feuding with her husband’s. However, Grendel’s mother is by no
means only an embodiment of blood-feuding and its failures. She lives in a “mere” (l.1362)
whose bottom “has never been sounded by the sons of men” (l.1367). Many readers have
seen the mere as powerfully symbolic of the human subconscious, or of the mysteries that lie
beyond human knowledge. To these readers, Grendel’s mother represents the dangers that
await anyone who seeks to confront the unknown, either in the world or in themselves.

The Dragon:
The final act of the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf includes Beowulf's fight with a dragon, the
third monster he encounters in the epic. On his return from Heorot, where he killed Grendel
and Grendel's mother, Beowulf becomes king of the Geats and rules wisely for fifty years
until a slave awakens and angers a dragon by stealing a jeweled cup from its lair. When the
angry dragon mercilessly burns the Geats' homes and lands, Beowulf decides to fight and kill
the monster personally. He and his thanes climb to the dragon's lair where, upon seeing the
beast, the thanes flee in terror, leaving only Wiglaf to battle at Beowulf's side. When the
dragon wounds Beowulf fatally, Wiglaf attacks it with his sword, and Beowulf kills it with
his dagger. It is a mighty and glamorous opponent, an appropriate match for Beowulf. The
dragon is so well suited to bring about Beowulf’s downfall, in fact, that some readers have
seen it as a symbolic representation of death itself: the unique, personal end that awaits every
person. Hrothgar prepares us to view the dragon in this way when he warns Beowulf that for
every warrior an unbeatable foe lies in wait, even if it is only old age. However, the dragon
also symbolizes the specific fate that lies in wait for the Geats, and for pagan society
generally. The dragon is “driven […] to guard heathen gold, / through age-long vigils, though
to little avail” (ll.2275-7). Like Beowulf, the dragon uses its strength to accrue a huge mound
of treasure, but in the end all the treasure does is bring about its death. The treasure also
brings about Beowulf’s death. Possibly the poem’s Christian narrator sees greed for treasure
as a kind of spiritual death, suffered by pagans who value treasure over Heaven. The dragon
hoards his treasure in a “barrow,” that is, a grave.

Shield Sheafson:
The legendary Danish king from whom Hrothgar is descended, Shield Sheafson is the
mythical founder who inaugurates a long line of Danish rulers and embodies the Danish
tribe’s highest values of heroism and leadership. The poem opens with a brief account of his
rise from orphan to warrior-king, concluding, “That was one good king” (11).

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Wiglaf:
One of Beowulf’s kinsmen and thanes, is the only warrior brave enough to help the hero in
his fight against the dragon. Wiglaf conforms perfectly to the heroic code in that he is willing
to die attempting to defeat the opponent and, more importantly, to save his lord. In this
regard, Wiglaf appears as a reflection of the young Beowulf in the first part of the story—a
warrior who is strong, fearless, valiant, and loyal. He embodies Beowulf’s statement from the
early scenes of the poem that it is always better to act than to grieve. Wiglaf thus represents
the next generation of heroism and the future of the kingdom. His bravery and solid bearing
provide the single glint of optimism in the final part of the story, which, for the most part, is
dominated by a tone of despair at what the future holds.

Beow:
The second king listed in the genealogy of Danish rulers with which the poem begins. Beow
is the son of Shield Sheafson and father of Halfdane. The narrator presents Beow as a gift
from God to a people in need of a leader. He exemplifies the maxim, “Behavior that’s
admired / is the path to power among people everywhere” (24–25).

Halfdane:
The father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, Halga, and an unnamed daughter who married a king of the
Swedes, Halfdane succeeded Beow as ruler of the Danes.

Wealhtheow:
Hrothgar’s wife, the gracious queen of the Danes. Hrothgar's queen is an embodiment of
hospitality and good taste as she hosts the banquets in Heorot. She is everything that a queen
should be: generous, tasteful, proper, and kind. Her graceful appearance shortly after the
Unferth incident contrasts effectively with the rude behavior of the drunken retainer.
Wealhtheow is a peace-weaver and takes an active role in diplomacy, generously presenting
Beowulf with a valuable gold collar and asking him to serve as counselor to her sons.
The role of women, who were still thought of as their husbands' possessions, is limited in
Beowulf. Sometimes they were used as peacemakers between feuding tribes who found
uniting through marriage to be in their best interests. The poet indicates that Wealhtheow
came to Hrothgar as a result of that kind of union.

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.

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Hrothmund:
The second son of Hrothgar.

Hrothulf:
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.

Aeschere:
In the Old English epic Beowulf, Æschere is Hrothgar's most trusted advisor who is killed by
Grendel's mother in her attack on Heorot after her son's death. His name, mentioned four
times in the poem, is composed of the Germanic elements "æ", meaning 'ash' (and thus
'spear'), and "here", meaning 'army'. King Hrothgar describes Æschere as 'min runwita ond
min rædbora', which implies that he knows mysteries or enigmas and also has a duty to
explain those mysteries aloud to a community. But by killing and decapitating Æschere,
Grendel's mother highlights an anxiety within the poem about things that defy human
interpretation. Beowulf and his Geatish warriors find Æschere's severed head at the entrance
to Grendel's mother's lair.

Hygelac:
Beowulf’s uncle, king of the Geats, and husband of Hygd. Hygelac heartily welcomes
Beowulf back from Denmark.

Hygd:
Hygelac’s wife, the young, beautiful, and intelligent queen of the Geats. Hygd is contrasted
with Queen Modthryth.

Ecgtheow:
Beowulf’s father, Hygelac’s brother-in-law, and Hrothgar’s friend. Ecgtheow is dead by the
time the story begins, but he lives on through the noble reputation that he made for himself
during his life and in his dutiful son’s remembrances.

King Hrethel:
The Geatish king who took Beowulf in as a ward after the death of Ecgtheow, Beowulf’s
father.

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Breca:
Beowulf’s childhood friend, whom he defeated in a swimming match. Unferth alludes to the
story of their contest, and Beowulf then relates it in detail.

Sigemund:
A figure from Norse mythology, famous for slaying a dragon. Sigemund’s story is told in
praise of Beowulf and foreshadows Beowulf’s encounter with the dragon.

King Heremod:
An evil king of legend. The scop, or bard, at Heorot discusses King Heremod as a figure who
contrasts greatly with Beowulf.

Queen 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.

Major Symbols

Heorot
A literary symbol is something, often an object, that stands for a significant concept or series
of ideas. Often a symbol is emblematic of the values of the characters. In Beowulf, some of
the most important symbols are Hrothgar's mead-hall, Grendel's cave, Grendel's arm and
head, and the dragon's treasure-trove.
Hrothgar's great mead-hall, Heorot ("Hall of the Hart"), functions as both setting and symbol
in the epic. It is much more than a place to drink. Symbolically, Heorot represents the
achievements of the Scyldings, specifically Hrothgar, and their level of civilization. The hall
is a home for the warriors who sleep there and functions as a seat of government. It is a place
of light, warmth, and joy, contrasting with Grendel's morbid swamp as well as the dark and
cold of winters in Scandinavia. In Heorot, Hrothgar celebrates his victories and rewards his
thanes (warriors) with various treasures. The building is like a palace. It towers high and is
compared to a cliff. The gables are shaped like horns of the hart. People from neighboring
tribes have respectfully contributed to the rich decorations and intricate designs. The hall is
also symbolic in that it is the setting of Beowulf's first great battle, the defeat of Grendel.
When Grendel invades the hall, he knows that he strikes at the very heart of the Scyldings.
That lends special meaning to his victories and to Beowulf's eventual liberation of the hall
from the ravages of the ogres.

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The Cave
The cave where Grendel and his mother hide from the world is symbolic of their lives as
outcasts. Hidden beneath a treacherous mere in the middle of a dark, forbidding swamp, the
cave allows them a degree of safety and privacy in a world that they view as hostile. They
certainly are not welcome at Heorot, and they know it.
The cave also represents their heritage. As descendants of Cain, they are associated with
sorcery, black magic, demons, ancient runes, and hell itself. When Grendel's mother is able to
fight Beowulf in the cave, she has a distinct advantage; his victory is all the more significant.
It is not clear whether he wins because of his own ability, the influence of magic (the giant
sword), or God's intervention. All are mentioned, probably because the poet borrowed from
various influences in creating the poem. The cave itself represents a world alien to Heorot.
One is high and bright and full of song and joy, towering as the Scyldings' greatest
achievement. The other is dark and dank and full of evil, beneath a mere in the middle of a
fen and the symbolic home of resentful outcasts.

Grendel's Claw and Head

Beowulf had hoped to have an entire Grendel body to present to King Hrothgar after his
battle with the ogre in Heorot. He has to settle for the right arm or claw, ripped from its
shoulder socket, when the mortally wounded adversary flees to the swamp. The claw is hung
high beneath Heorot's roof (most likely on the outside beneath the gables) as a symbol of
Beowulf's victory.
Grendel's mother also sees it as a symbol, representing her personal loss and mankind's
macabre sense of what might be an appropriate trophy. Filled with grief and rage, she
retrieves the arm from Heorot and kills another Scylding in the process. When Beowulf
tracks her to the mere and ends up in her underwater cave, he has no more interest in the
claw. Grendel's head, which he is able to find after a strange, perhaps holy brilliance
illuminates the dimly lighted cave, is much more impressive. He ignores the vast treasure in
the cave, instead choosing to carry the magnificent, huge head as symbolic of his victory over
both ogres.

The Dragon's Treasure-Trove

The dragon's treasure-trove poignantly represents the vanity of human wishes as well as the
mutability of time. The dragon's barrow holds wealth in abundance, yet the wealth is of no
use to anyone. The ancient treasures in the hoard once belonged to a regional tribe of warriors
who were killed in battle some 300 years previously. Only one survivor, who is called the
"keeper of the rings" (2244), lived to hide the treasures in the barrow.
Just as the dead warriors cannot use the treasure, neither can the dragon. He devotes his life
to guarding a treasure that he frankly has no use for. Beowulf gives his life defeating the
dragon and gaining this impressive treasure for his people, but they won't benefit from it
either. The treasure is buried with the great warrior in his funeral barrow and, we are told,
remains there still, a mighty horde of riches that is of absolutely no use to anybody.

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Major Themes

Loyalty
A theme in a literary work is a recurring, unifying subject or idea, a motif that allows us to
understand more deeply the character and their world. 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. Certainly
he is interested in increasing his reputation and gaining honor and payment for his own king
back in Geatland. However, we soon learn that a major motivation is a family debt that
Beowulf owes to Hrothgar. The young Geat is devoted to the old king because Hrothgar came
to the assistance of Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, years before. Now deceased, Ecgtheow had
killed a leader of another tribe in a blood feud. When the tribe sought vengeance, Hrothgar,
then a young king, sheltered Beowulf's father and settled the feud by paying tribute (wergild)
in the form of "fine old treasures" (472) to Ecgtheow's enemies. Hrothgar even remembers
Beowulf as a child. The tie between the families goes back many years, and Beowulf is proud
to be able to lend his loyal services to Hrothgar.
When the hero returns to Geatland, he continues his loyalty to his uncle and king, Hygelac,
risking his life even when the tactics of the ruler are not the best. After Hygelac is killed in an
ill-advised raid on Frisia, Beowulf makes a heroic escape (2359 ff.) back to Geatland.
Beowulf could become king then but is more loyal than ambitious. Queen Hygd offers
Beowulf the throne after her husband dies, thinking that her young son (Heardred) is unable
to protect the kingdom; Beowulf refuses and serves the young king faithfully. After Heardred
is killed, Beowulf does become king and rules with honor and fidelity to his office and his
people for 50 years. In his final test, the burden of loyalty will rest on other, younger
shoulders.
Preparing for his last battle, with the fiery dragon, Beowulf puts his trust in 11 of his finest
men, retainers who have vowed to fight to the death for him. Although the now elderly king
insists on taking on the dragon alone, he brings along the 11 in case he needs them. When it is
apparent that Beowulf is losing the battle to the dragon, however, all but one of his men run
and hide in the woods. Only Wiglaf, an inexperienced thane who has great respect for his
king, remains loyal. Wiglaf calls to the others in vain. Realizing that they will be no help and
that his king is about to be killed, he stands beside the old man to fight to the death — theirs
or the dragon's. For Beowulf, sadly, it is the end. Although he and Wiglaf kill the dragon, the
king dies. As he dies, Beowulf passes the kingdom on to the brave and loyal Wiglaf.

Reputation
Another motivating factor for Beowulf — and a central theme in the epic — is reputation.
From the beginning, Beowulf is rightly concerned about how the rest of the world will see
him. He introduces himself to the Scyldings by citing achievements that gained honor for him
and his king. When a drunken Unferth verbally assaults Beowulf at the first banquet, at issue
is the hero's reputation. Unferth's slur is the worst kind of insult for Beowulf because his

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reputation is his most valuable possession. Reputation is also the single quality that endures
after death, his one key to immortality. That's why Beowulf later leaves the gold in the cave
beneath the mere, after defeating the mother, preferring to return with Grendel's head and the
magic sword's hilt rather than treasure. He has and continues to amass treasures; his intent
now is in building his fame.
Unferth's slur accuses Beowulf of foolishly engaging in a seven-day swimming contest on the
open sea, as a youth, and losing. If Beowulf can't win a match like that, Unferth asserts, he
surely can't defeat Grendel. Beowulf defends his reputation with such grace and persuasion
that he wins the confidence of King Hrothgar and the rest of the Danes. He points out that he
swam with Breca for five nights, not wanting to abandon the weaker boy. Rough seas then
drove them apart, and Beowulf had to kill nine sea monsters before going ashore in the
morning. His reputation intact, Beowulf prepares to meet Grendel and further enhance his
fame.
As he discusses Beowulf's later years, the poet lists the virtues (2177 ff.) leading to the great
man's fine reputation. Beowulf is courageous and famous for his performance in battle but
equally well known for his good deeds. Although aggressive in war, Beowulf has "no savage
mind" (2180) and never kills his comrades when drinking, an important quality in the heroic
world of the mead-hall. Beowulf respects the gifts of strength and leadership that he
possesses.
As he prepares to meet the dragon, near the end of the poem, now King Beowulf again
considers his reputation. He insists on facing the dragon alone despite the fact that his death
will leave his people in jeopardy. Hrothgar's Sermon warned Beowulf of the dangers of pride,
and some critics have accused the great warrior of excessive pride (hubris) in the defense of
his reputation. A more considerate judgment might be that Beowulf is an old man with little
time left and deserves the right to die as a warrior. The final words of the poem, stating that
Beowulf was "most eager for fame' (3182), might be best understood by a modern audience
by remembering that, in Beowulf's world, fame is synonymous with reputation.

Generosity and Hospitality

The Scyldings' King Hrothgar and Queen Wealhtheow embody the themes of generosity and
hospitality. The code of the comitatus is at the heart of the Beowulf epic. In this system, the
king or feudal lord provides land, weapons, and a share of treasure to his warriors (called
thanes or retainers) in return for their support of the leader in battle. The leader's generosity is
one of his highest qualities. There are more than 30 different terms for "king" in the poem,
and many of them have to do with this role as provider. He is the "ring-giver' (35) or the
"treasure-giver" (607); his seat of power is the "gift-throne" (168).
When booty is seized from an enemy in battle, everything goes to the king. He then allots
treasure to each warrior according to the man's achievements as a soldier. When Beowulf
defeats Grendel and Grendel's mother, he expects and receives great riches as his reward,
including a golden banner, helmet, and mail-shirt, as well as a jeweled sword, magnificent
horses with golden trappings that hang to the ground, a gem-studded saddle, and a golden
collar. Such generosity is emblematic of Hrothgar's character. In turn, Beowulf will present
these treasures to his own king, Hygelac, who will then honor Beowulf with appropriate gifts.

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Propriety/generosity is, thus, a crucial part of the political, military, social, and economic
structure of the culture.
Wealhtheow shares in the gift giving and is the perfect hostess. When she serves mead in
Heorot, it is an act of propriety and diplomacy, attending first to her king and then to various
guests, paying special attention to Beowulf. An improper queen would be one like
Modthrytho (1931 ff.) who was so inhospitable as to have her own warriors executed for the
offense of merely looking into her eyes.
Hospitality is such an established part of the culture that the poet feels free to refer to it with
casual humor. When Beowulf reports to Hrothgar on his victory over Grendel (957 ff.), he
ironically speaks in terms of hospitality. He tried, he says, to "welcome my enemy" (969)
with a firm handshake but was disappointed when he received only a "visitor's token" (971),
Grendel's giant claw, "that dear [meaning 'precious'] gift" (973), a kind of macabre gratuity
for services rendered. Beowulf had, ironically speaking, tried to be the perfect host; but he
wanted the entire ogre body as his tip. Grendel left only his claw as a cheap compensation.

Envy
Despite Unferth's jealous rant at the first banquet, the most serious embodiment of envy in
the poem is Grendel. The ogre who has menaced Hrothgar's people for 12 years is envious of
the Danes because he can never share in mankind's hope or joy. The monster's motivation is
one of the few undeniably Christian influences in the epic. Grendel is a descendant of Cain,
the biblical son of Adam and Eve who killed his brother Abel out of jealousy (Genesis 4).
The legend is that the monsters of the earth are Cain's descendants and eternally damned.
Grendel resents men because God blesses them but will never bless him. The bright lights
and sounds of joy emanating from Hrothgar's magnificent mead-hall, Heorot, especially
annoy the ogre.
The scop's "Song of Creation" angers Grendel because it reminds him of the light and hope of
God's creation and the loss he suffers because of Cain's sin. Grendel stomps up from the mere
to devour Danes and rule nightly over Heorot as a form of revenge stemming from this envy.

Revenge
Revenge serves as a motivating factor for several characters throughout the poem, initially
stirring Grendel and his mother. Grendel seeks revenge upon mankind for the heritage that he
has been dealt. He delights in raiding Heorot because it is the symbol of everything that he
detests about men: their success, joy, glory, and favor in the eyes of God. Grendel's mother's
revenge is more specific. She attacks Heorot because someone there killed her son. Although
she is smaller and less powerful than Grendel, she is motivated by a mother's fury. When
Beowulf goes after her in the mere, she has the added advantage of fighting him in her own
territory. As she drags him into her cave beneath the lake, her revenge peaks because this is
the very man who killed her son. Only Beowulf's amazing abilities as a warrior and the
intervention of God or magic can defeat her.
Revenge also motivates the many feuds that the poet refers to and is a way of life — and
death — for the Germanic tribes. Old enmities die hard and often disrupt attempts at peace, as
the poet recognizes. Upon his return to Geatland, Beowulf (2020 ff.) speculates about a feud
between Hrothgar's Scyldings and the Heathobards, a tribe in southern Denmark with whom

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Hrothgar hopes to make peace through the marriage of his daughter. Beowulf is skeptical,
envisioning a renewal of hostilities. In fact, the Heathobards do later burn Heorot in events
not covered by the poem but probably familiar to its audience. Another example of revenge
overcoming peace occurs in the Finnsburh section (1068-1159).
Beowulf's final battle is the result of vengeance. A dangerous fire-dragon seeks revenge
because a fugitive slave has stolen a valuable cup from the monster's treasure-hoard. His raids
across the countryside include the burning of Beowulf's home. Beowulf then seeks his own
revenge by going after the dragon.

Themes, values, beliefs, and moral codes of Anglo-Saxon society_

Important Quotes

(Textual references from Michael Alexander's translation.)

1. Heroic Code:
- The heroic code in Anglo-Saxon society emphasized the virtues of courage, loyalty, and
the pursuit of glory in battle. Beowulf embodies this code in his fearless pursuit of monsters.
- Quote: "So times were pleasant for the people there until finally one, a fiend out of hell,
began to work his evil in the world." (Lines 99-101)

2. Valor and Bravery:

- Beowulf's courage in facing Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon is a central theme.
- Quote: "The strongest of the Geats—greater / And stronger than anyone anywhere in this
world—" (Lines 110-111)

3. Loyalty and Companionship (Comitatus):

- Beowulf's loyalty to King Hrothgar is evident when he volunteers to help rid Heorot of
Grendel.
- Quote: "Hear me! Out in the open, / I shall put aside my helmet and armor / And, my
sword and shield, all armor, / In sooth to greet this foe with bare hands." (Lines 436-439)
-"My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword / go where my feet were afraid to,
if I hid / behind some broad linden shield" (Lines 254-256).

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4. Fate and Destiny:
- The concept of Wyrd (fate) is prevalent in the poem, underscoring the idea that one's
destiny is predetermined.
- Quote: "Fate will unwind as it must!" (Line 455)

5. Boasting and Reputation:

- Anglo-Saxons valued boasting as a way to establish one's worth and reputation.
- Quote: "Hail to those who will rise to God, / drop off their dead bodies and seek our
Father's peace!" (Lines 1381-1382)

6. Generosity and Hospitality:

- The exchange of treasures and hospitality is important. Beowulf's reward for defeating
Grendel is a testament to this.
- Quote: "I might have been more fortunate with the / Giver of rings, as I have been with
you." (Lines 1867-1868)

7. Revenge and Retaliation:

- Revenge plays a significant role, as seen in Beowulf's quest to avenge the death of his
men by the dragon.
- Quote: "A few will be left alive in this hall / To mourn your fate." (Lines 2707-2708)

8. Pagan and Christian Elements:

- The poem contains both pagan and Christian elements, reflecting the transition from
paganism to Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England.
- Quote: "Greatest of all creatures / Around our world; those creatures then / Had the curse
of Cain. / The Almighty drove them out, / Forever damned, for the killing of Abel." (Lines
106-110)

9. The Transitory Nature of Life:

- The Anglo-Saxons recognized the fleeting nature of life. Beowulf reflects on aging and
death:
Quote: "Our time is gone. /We have seen our days" (Lines 1758-1759).

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Short Questions

Q1. Why does Beowulf want to fight Grendel?

⇨Beowulf wants to fight Grendel in order to win treasure and, more importantly, fame (which
he calls a warrior’s “best bulwark” [l.1389]). Under the ancient Northern European warrior
code, a warrior should seek out the most challenging opponents he can find, in order to
enhance his own reputation. Hrothgar suggests that Beowulf may have chosen to fight
Grendel in order to discharge a debt to him, when he tells the story of paying a large sum of
money on Beowulf’s father’s behalf. However, Hrothgar may simply be trying to save face: it
is embarrassing for him to depend on Beowulf’s help.

Q2. What warning does Hrothgar give Beowulf?

⇨In lines 1700-84, Hrothgar warns Beowulf about the dangers of kingship. He tells Beowulf
that he should “not give way to pride” (l.1760), which makes great leaders complacent when
they should be watchful for new dangers. On the other hand, Hrothgar goes on to suggest that
death and defeat are inevitable, pride or no pride: “death will arrive, / dear warrior, to sweep
you away” (ll.1767-8).

Q3. Why does Unferth question Beowulf’s ability?

⇨Unferth is “sick with envy” (l.502) of Beowulf’s reputation and courage. From a dramatic
point of view, Unferth’s challenge gives Beowulf a chance to demonstrate his skill at
boasting. Boasting was considered a legitimate way for a warrior to enhance his reputation,
and as Beowulf tells the story of his swimming race we learn that the hero is as good at
boasting as he is at fighting.

Q4. What is Grendel?

⇨Grendel’s exact nature is left mysterious. We know that he is shaped like a man (“weres
wæstmum,” [l.1352]), but so large that it takes four warriors to carry his head. He is a
descendant of Cain, the Biblical figure cursed by God for the murder of his brother, and he is
also a “mearc-stapa” (l.103), a “border-stepper.” Some readers have argued that Grendel
symbolically represents the people displaced—exiled beyond the borders—by the violent
crimes of Hrothgar and of Northern warrior society generally. Other readers have suggested
that Grendel represents the unknowable threats that lie beyond the borders of human
knowledge.

Q5. Why does Beowulf want to see the treasure?

⇨As he lies dying, Beowulf demands to see the treasure he has won from the dragon. He may
hope that the wealth he has captured will guarantee his lasting fame. He certainly hopes that
this wealth will compensate his people for their loss of their king. However, the poem makes
it clear that this hope is ill-founded. The treasure is “tarnished and corroding” (ll.2761-2), and
much of it is re-buried with Beowulf.

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Q6. Who does Beowulf fight?
⇨The poem features three primary antagonists for Beowulf. First, he fights Grendel when he
attacks the hall of Heorot. After defeating the monster, Grendel’s mother attacks the hall,
causing Beowulf and his band of warriors to hunt her down; he ultimately kills her in her lake
lair. Fifty years later, during which Beowulf has ruled nobly, a treasure-guarding dragon is
awakened. As Beowulf and Wiglaf hunt and defeat the dragon, Beowulf is fatally wounded
and dies.

Q7. What feats has Beowulf already accomplished [when he is introduced]?

⇨Beowulf claims that he has avenged and defended his people against formidable foes, and
captured and killed monsters on land and in the sea. Despite Unferth’s claims that Beowulf
had lost a swimming match against Breca, Beowulf asserts that he and Breca had engaged in
a battle in the water for five days and nights. There, he was pulled underwater by creatures,
and killed nine of them. He boasts of returning from battle covered in the blood of his
enemies.

Q8. What is Beowulf's dying wish?

⇨As Beowulf dies, he asks Wiglaf to build a barrow in his name. A tall and ornate pyre is
built, adorned with armor, per Beowulf’s request. After his body is burned, his remains are
placed in the barrow, and the Geats speak highly of their just and noble king.

Q9. What makes Hrothgar a good king?

⇨Not only has Hrothgar led stably for many years, but he possesses the wisdom and
reflections of his accomplishments and experience. Though he finds himself in a position of
privilege, Hrothgar has taken to heart just how swiftly the wheel of fortune can bring about
change, and warns Beowulf of such shifting tides. He also remains morally grounded, aware
of humanity’s wavering temperaments, and maintains a quality of level-headedness
throughout his leadership.

Q10. What gifts does Wealhtheow give Beowulf?

⇨After the feast in celebration of Grendel’s defeat, Wealhtheow gives Beowulf a golden
torque and a suit of chain mail armor. With such gifts, she is expressing a hope that Beowulf
will look after her sons with kindness and serve as a role model or mentor to them after she
and Hrothgar die.

Q11. Why does the dragon attack Beowulf's kingdom?

⇨A thief enters the dragon’s barrow, intent on stealing his treasure. As the thief steals a
goblet, he inadvertently awakens the dragon, who is filled with fury. The dragon leaves his
keep, driven to find the thief and the stolen goblet. In his search, the dragon brings about fiery
wrath upon any homes or villages it passes.

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Q12. How does the dragon kill Beowulf?
⇨As Beowulf fights the dragon, he realizes that he does not possess the same strength that he
had fifty years earlier. All of his companions flee except for Wiglaf, who remains to help
Beowulf in his fight. Though Beowulf manages to land a blow to the dragon’s head, his
sword breaks as he does so, and the dragon bites Beowulf’s neck. After Wiglaf and Beowulf
deliver the killing blows, poison from the dragon’s bite causes Beowulf’s wound to burn and
swell, thus sealing his fate.

Q13. What qualities characterize Beowulf as a hero?

⇨Beowulf is focused on protecting his people and land, and is always willing to engage in
battle, even later in his life. The two primary timelines of the poem portray different forms of
the ideal hero: a young warrior who is eager to fight, and a just and noble king possessing the
wisdom of experience, one who follows the advice of those who came before him and
ultimately engages in battle with a dragon even while knowing or suspecting that it will bring
about his own death.

Q14. Why does Grendel’s mother take back Grendel’s arm?

⇨Beowulf was able to kill Grendel by tearing his arm from his body. After Grendel flees and
dies in his home swamp, Beowulf hangs the arm as a bloodied trophy for all in Heorot to see.
When Grendel’s mother raids the hall, she takes the arm not only so she can have the body of
her son fully intact, but also to send a message. Gone is the trophy of their victory, allowing
for the promise of Grendel’s mother’s retaliation.

Q15. What is the meaning of the Anglo-Saxon term “wyrd”?

⇨"Wyrd" speaks to fate or destiny, but in a way that differs from that of fate from an ancient
Greek perspective. Wyrd is a more active form of fate, where the emphasis dwells less on the
inevitability of the gods’ decree, and more on the understanding that individuals are
compelled to act in certain ways by necessity and heroic code.

Study Help Essay Questions

1. Discuss the significance of the heroic code of comitatus in Beowulf, considering
specifically the actions of Beowulf as a young warrior, Wiglaf as a young warrior, and the
cowardly retainers at the dragon fight.
2. Consider two of the following as symbols: Heorot, Grendel's claw, the cave, or the dragon's
treasure-hoard.
3. How does the poet use the theme of revenge in the poem? Consider the motivation of
characters such as Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon, as well as Beowulf.
4. What is the importance of Hrothgar's sermon? Cite at least two specific points that he
makes and how they affect our understanding of Beowulf.

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