Beowulf (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: n/a
- First Published: 1000
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Epic
- Time of Work: c. Sixth century
- Setting: Denmark and southern Sweden
- Genres: Poetry, Epic, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Mothers, Parents and children, Folkloric or magical people, Mythology or myths, Legends, Folklore, Denmark or Danish people, Oral history, Heroes or heroism, Scandinavia or Scandinavians, Germany or German people, Middle Ages, Monsters, Sweden or Swedish people, Dragons, Feudalism, Paganism, Fables, Dark ages
- Locales: Sweden, Denmark
Characters Discussed
Beowulf (bay-eh-woolf), the nephew and thane of King Hygelac of the Geats. A warrior who proves his superhuman strength and endurance in his struggle with the monster Grendel, he exemplifies the ideal lord and vassal, rewarding his own men generously and accomplishing glorious deeds to honor his king, while he fulfills all the forms of courtesy at Hrothgar’s court.
Hrothgar (HROHTH-gahr), the aging lord of the Danes, a good and generous ruler deeply distressed by Grendel’s ravaging visits to Heorot, his great hall. He adopts his savior, Beowulf,...
[The entire page is 1086 words long]
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