The Key Characters

Beowulf

The wayward1 and/or lazy youth who becomes a great leader is a very old literary
convention:
Moses,
King Sargon of Agade,
Chandragupta,
Pope Gregory the Great,
and, in the English tradition:
Holger the Dane,
even Henry V.

Parallels have also been seen between Beowulf – who takes off his armour to fight
Grendel and finally decapitates the corpse2 – and David (and Goliath).
There may even be a parallel with Judith, celebrated in another Anglo-Saxon poem.

An important part of our hero’s greatness is his magnanimity to lesser men.

Moreover, he is a socially-responsible hero.

Notice how psychologically uninteresting Beowulf is

- as the archetypal hero he has no character flaws3 and internal contradictions.

Beowulf is the hero the human tribe needs to defend it.

However, in the long term, the hero dies and humans find a more abiding defence in
literature.

1
wayward – obstinate and rebellious
2
corpse – cadaver
3
flaw – defect
 Beowulf’s Foes4
Beowulf’s enemies represent that part of nature, consigned to darkness and cast out5
from grace, which remain uncolonized by humanity, unredeemed by imagination.

Grendel

Grendel’s name is associated with Old English grund, i.e. ground, watery depths6.
So, Grendel is the evil thing lurking underground that is at the root of all human fear.

Grendel is a water-monster
– the equivalent of the 20th-century Swamp Thing of US comic books.
He derives from the waterfall trolls of Scandinavian myth.

Grendel also has a metaphorical role:

He is a being excluded from society and driven crazy by the sound of revelry in the
mead-hall.
This is the fate7 that awaits all Wraccan8
– those who do not follow the rules of the ealde riht (= comitatus).

Moreover, Grendel is the regressive beast in us, whom the apparatus of civilization
seeks to repress.
By not belonging, he helps to define what it means to belong.

Grendel’s Mother

Grendel’s mother can be interpreted as a Christian demonizing of Celtic female

fertility deities.
It is interesting to compare the Church’s duel strategy:
In the exactly contemporary Arthurian Legends the Celtic Lady of the Lake is
interpreted as a force of good and the Anglo-Saxons are basically demons.

In Beowulf the Lady of the Lake figure has become a she-monster fighting against the
A-S warrior who is brimming with9 Christian virtues.

4
foe – enemy
5
cast out – expelled
6
watery depths – the seabed. This meaning only survives in the expression ‘to run aground’ (=
encallar)
7
fate – destiny
8
Wracca (plural Wraccan) – outcast, pariah
9
brimming with – full of
 A Study in Contrasts
Most of the characters in the poem are included to compare and contrast with
Beowulf, the hero figure.

For example, ‘The Lay10 of Sigemund’ is included because Sigemund was a great
warrior of ancient times who slew a dragon that guarded a rich treasure hoard.

Hrothgar

Like Beowulf, Hrothgar abides by11 comitatus but in old age he has become too
introspective and contemplative.
He would rather12 settle13 his problems through counsel, diplomacy, gift-giving or
endurance.

Hrothgar is also capable of making crucial errors of judgement;

e.g. he knows of the existence of a female monster, yet he forgets to mention her; he
hasn’t considered her mad desire for vengeance.

Hrothgar is a good king. However, he serves as a contrast to Beowulf:

in old age he doesn’t have the qualities to sacrifice himself for his people.
Beowulf does, which makes him a really great king.

Unferth

Unferth represents envy. His name may mean ‘un-peace’ (i.e. dsipute)

Unferth is included to question Beowulf’s courage.

He unintentionally gives Beowulf the opportunity both to demonstrate that he is quick-
witted and can put down insults firmly, and to give an example of his heroism and
generosity in youth.

Unferth eventually14 submits to Beowulf’s greater valour by giving him the sword
Hrunting, though this act also reveals his own fear of fighting Grendel’s mother.

The Geats

In contrast to Hrothgar, Hygelac15 is renowned for his strength but he is not wise
– especially when he attacks the Swedes.

Hrothulf, the nephew who usurps Hrothgar’s throne, contrasts with Beowulf the
nephew who refuses the crown of the Geats /Gei’æts/ in favour of the rightful king,
Heardred.

10
lay (n.) – song, lyrical poem, short narrative
11
to abide by – respect
12
would rather – would prefer to
13
to settle – (in this case) resolve, manage
14
eventually – (false friend) in the end
15
king of the Geats, Beowulf’s uncle
Heorot: The Mead-Hall

This is an important focal point of social life, a place of community.

It is where traditions are preserved, loyalty is rewarded and the feats of heroes are sung,
which ensures that reputations are made.

Like the later mediaeval castle, the mead-hall is a refuge from winter/nature, an
artificial sanctuary for the community.

Mead had an important social function and not just because there was no TV.
The Anglo-Saxons believed that people told the truth when drunk, so negotiations were
always carried out over a drink or two.
However, agreements were ratified next morning.

Heorot means ‘hart’, stag’ – a prey16 animal – so it is in some sense destined to suffer
depredation.

The Danish court is an empty institution because the male-bonding necessary for
camaraderie and the shield wall cannot take place.

16
prey – quarry, victim