MEET The Characters
Beowulf - Faster than a sea monster! Stronger than a demon! More powerful than a dragon! It's… Beowulf, a medieval Geatish warrior willing to take on any challenge in order to make a name for himself.
Hrothgar - The king of the Spear-Danes when Beowulf arrives in their land, ready to fight the demon Grendel. Many years earlier, Hrothgar paid money to the Wulfings to resolve a blood feud they had with Ecgtheow, Beowulf's father. As a result, Beowulf feels some loyalty toward Hrothgar.
Wiglaf - A young Geatish warrior in Beowulf's retinue who follows him to the barrow where the dragon is lurking. When all of Beowulf's other thanes, or lords, abandon him, Wiglaf remains loyally with his king, encouraging and supporting him. It is only with Wiglaf's help that Beowulf is able to defeat the dragon – Wiglaf's timely sword-stroke gives Beowulf the opportunity to stab the dragon in the side and kill it once and for all. As Beowulf is dying, he gives his golden necklace, called a torque, to Wiglaf, probably symbolizing the transfer of power from the dying king to his chosen successor.
Grendel - A man-eating demon that lives in the land of the Spear-Danes and attacks King Hrothgar's mead-hall, Heorot, every evening. The narrator of Beowulf claims that Grendel's motivation is hearing Hrothgar's bard sing songs about God's creation of the world, which rubs his demonic nature the wrong way. Whatever the reason, every night Grendel slaughters more Danes and feeds on their corpses after tearing them limb from limb. Although he can't be harmed by the blade of any edged weapon, Grendel finally meets his match when the Geatish warrior Beowulf takes him on in a wrestling match.
Grendel's Mother - Another demonic descendant of Cain, attempts to avenge her son's death by attacking Heorot Hall. Although she manages to kill one man, she is alarmed by the strength and prowess of the Geatish warriors, and retreats to her lair, a cave underneath a lake filled with sea monsters. Beowulf follows her to her lair and beheads her with a sword that he finds there. Although she isn't nearly as strong as her man-eating son, Grendel's mother fights like an Amazon warrior, and Beowulf has a tough time defeating her.
The Dragon - A massive reptilian beast that was awoken from its slumber by a thief seeking to loot the treasure it slept near. Beowulf hears of the dragon's existance and enters the beast's domain alone to obtain the highest honor a mortal can achieve by slaying it single handedly . The company of Geats he marched with fled the area after a while, except for Wiglaf, who couragously ran into the cave to aid Beowulf in defeating the dragon.
Hrothgar - The king of the Spear-Danes when Beowulf arrives in their land, ready to fight the demon Grendel. Many years earlier, Hrothgar paid money to the Wulfings to resolve a blood feud they had with Ecgtheow, Beowulf's father. As a result, Beowulf feels some loyalty toward Hrothgar.
Wiglaf - A young Geatish warrior in Beowulf's retinue who follows him to the barrow where the dragon is lurking. When all of Beowulf's other thanes, or lords, abandon him, Wiglaf remains loyally with his king, encouraging and supporting him. It is only with Wiglaf's help that Beowulf is able to defeat the dragon – Wiglaf's timely sword-stroke gives Beowulf the opportunity to stab the dragon in the side and kill it once and for all. As Beowulf is dying, he gives his golden necklace, called a torque, to Wiglaf, probably symbolizing the transfer of power from the dying king to his chosen successor.
Grendel - A man-eating demon that lives in the land of the Spear-Danes and attacks King Hrothgar's mead-hall, Heorot, every evening. The narrator of Beowulf claims that Grendel's motivation is hearing Hrothgar's bard sing songs about God's creation of the world, which rubs his demonic nature the wrong way. Whatever the reason, every night Grendel slaughters more Danes and feeds on their corpses after tearing them limb from limb. Although he can't be harmed by the blade of any edged weapon, Grendel finally meets his match when the Geatish warrior Beowulf takes him on in a wrestling match.
Grendel's Mother - Another demonic descendant of Cain, attempts to avenge her son's death by attacking Heorot Hall. Although she manages to kill one man, she is alarmed by the strength and prowess of the Geatish warriors, and retreats to her lair, a cave underneath a lake filled with sea monsters. Beowulf follows her to her lair and beheads her with a sword that he finds there. Although she isn't nearly as strong as her man-eating son, Grendel's mother fights like an Amazon warrior, and Beowulf has a tough time defeating her.
The Dragon - A massive reptilian beast that was awoken from its slumber by a thief seeking to loot the treasure it slept near. Beowulf hears of the dragon's existance and enters the beast's domain alone to obtain the highest honor a mortal can achieve by slaying it single handedly . The company of Geats he marched with fled the area after a while, except for Wiglaf, who couragously ran into the cave to aid Beowulf in defeating the dragon.