Who's Who in Beowulf for Beginners

Click on the names to hear what they sound like in Anglo-Saxon.

Æschere A Dane. Hrothgar's favourite adviser.

Beowulf A Geat, son of Edgetheow and nephew of Hygelac, lord of the Geats. The hero of this story.

Breca Beowulf's best friend. He once took part in a famous swimming contest with the hero.

Cain One of the sons of Adam and Eve in the Bible. He killed his brother Abel. Cain is supposed to
be the ancestor of many murdering monsters, known as the 'tribe of Cain'. Grendel and his mother are
part of this tribe.

Danes (Dene) A tribe living in part of the area now called Denmark. At the time most of the story
takes place, Hrothgar is lord of the Danes.

The Dragon - Its home is in Geatland. It lives underground guarding a huge treasure.

Edgetheow Beowulf's father.

Finn A lord of the Frisians and husband of Hildeburgh.

Franks (Francas) A tribe, neighbours of the Frisians and enemies of Hygelac and the Geats.

Freawaru Daughter of Hrothgar and Wealtheow. She marries Ingeld, the young lord of the
Heathobards.

Frisians (Fresan) A tribe living in an area which is now part of Holland and Germany. Neighbours
of the Franks and enemies of Hygelac and the Geats.

Geats (Geatas) A tribe living in the south of the country now called Sweden. Beowulf belongs to
this tribe.

Grendel A man-eating monster, one of the 'tribe of Cain'.

Grendel's mother- A she-monster living at the bottom of a pool full of water-monsters.

Heathobards (Heathobeardan) A tribe living near to the Danes and often at war with them.

Heorot The famous mead-hall of the Danes, which Hrothgar ordered to be built. It probably stood on
the island which is now called Sjaeland, near the coast of Denmark.

Heremod A cruel and greedy ruler of the Danes in the days before Sycld Scefing came.

Hetware A tribe living near the lower parts of the River Rhine.

Hildeburgh Wife of Finn the Frisian.

Hrothgar Lord of the Danes, great-grandson of Scyld Scefing.

Hrunting Unferth's sword.

Hygd Wife of Hygelac, lord of the Geats.

Hygelac Lord of the Geats; Beowulf's uncle.

Ingeld Lord of the Heathobards.

Nægling Beowulf's sword.

Scyld Scefing The first great ruler of the Danes. His name means shield or protector.

Unferth A very proud Danish warrior. His name means 'un-peace'.

Wealtheow Hrothgar's wife and adviser; Freawaru's mother.

Wiglaf A young man related to Beowulf.

Wulfgar One of Hrothgar's advisers.