Beowulf Character List

Beowulf Character List

Protagonist:

• Beowulf is the prince and hero of the Geats and savior of the Danes. In his  youth, he hears of King Hrothgar’s troubles with Grendel and decides to pursue honor and glory for his name by facing the monster. His courage, loyalty and prowess as a warrior are apparent as he fights and defeats Grendel, the beast's mother and finally a dragon. He earned great respect in the course of his pernicious life while paying homage to those over him. Additionally, his rule as king of the Geats was virtually unchallenged by competitors. Throughout the tale, Beowulf alternates between giving glory to God for his victories in battle and taking the credit for himself.

Antagonists:

• Grendel is a grotesque monster directly descended from the line of Cain. His race is cursed by God because of Cain’s murder of Abel in the Biblical account. Raiding Heorot becomes his nightly activity. He is savage and merciless, the enemy of all good with an insatiable thirst for blood. Carrying men off from the halls by the dozens, Grendel wreaks great destruction and death on the Danes. Only in Beowulf does he find a formidable opponent, who inflicts a mortal wound on him and causes his death.
• Grendel’s mother is a brooding monster from the same line who is consumed with revenge after her son is murdered. After she descends on the war-weary hall in her wrath, she returns to a watery mere; her home. With Beowulf in pursuit, she dives to the bottom, where he finds victory yet again by cutting her head off with an enchanted sword.
• The Dragon is a foul, treasure-coveting beast. He has laid on an ancient hoard of gold for years. When he discovers a burglar has taken a miniscule part of his treasure, he burns the villages of the Geats to ashes. He is Beowulf’s final adversary and the wounds he gives Beowulf make an end of the old king, but the injuries he receives from Wiglaf and Beowulf kill him.

Main supporting Characters:

• Shield Sheafson is the mighty king of the Danes who gives their people a great reputation. He is the great grandfather of Hrothgar.
• Hrothgar is the king of the Danes at the time of the story. He the kind and generous king who builds the hall Heorot, but his reign is plagued by the savage monster, Grendel. When Beowulf comes to his aid, he does everything he can to help him and offers him lavish rewards if the Geat warrior succeeds. True to his word, Hrothgar loads Beowulf with gifts and even adopts him as a son after Beowulf defeats Grendel and his mother. Beowulf appreciates Hrothgar’s role as a father figure in his life and listens to his wisdom and advice.
• Unferth is a retainer in Hrothgar’s court. At first he is antagonistic toward Beowulf out of jealousy, challenging his abilities and honor. After being put back in his place, he becomes helpful to Beowulf, even offering a celebrated sword to him for his fight with Grendel's mother.
• Hygelac is the king of the Geats during Beowulf’s youth and prime. He raised Beowulf, and Beowulf proves fiercely loyal to him and gives him many of the treasures from victory. In return, he gives Beowulf property in his kingdom. He is killed in battle.
• Wiglaf is one of the few men chosen to be in Beowulf’s personal company as he marches out to face the dragon. When the fight takes a turn for the worse, he is the only one of this elite group to run to his king’s aid. True to his king until the last moment, Wiglaf fights alongside Beowulf, wounding and helping to defeat the dragon. He carries out Beowulf’s last wishes exactly as he is told.