Beowulf Characters – List with Descriptions

This article introduces every character in Beowulf. (Here’s a summary if you need it.) In some ways, given Beowulf’s status as ur-text in the English tradition, it’s puzzling why more people aren’t familiar with it. After all, it has dragons, swords, and copious bloodshed – everything that makes for a good fantasy story. (I would say that it ranks among the best fantasy books of all time.) 

At the same time, Beowulf can be intimidating. (Certainly, before Seamus Heaney did this wonderful translation, most versions of Beowulf did the reader no favors.) What’s more, Old English character names can be uniquely challenging for modern readers – I’m the first to admit that “Heorogar,” “Heoroward,” and “Hrothgar” don’t roll off the tongue. 

Hopefully, having this handy list of characters will make it easier to appreciate a text that Seamus Heaney calls a “work of art [that] lives in its own continuous present, equal to our knowledge of reality in the present time.” 

(If this article gets you interested in studying literature, check out the “50 Best Colleges for English Majors” and the “Best Summer Programs for Creative Writing and Literature.”)

Beowulf Character List

Shield Sheafson 

The prologue of Beowulf provides the genealogy of the Spear-Danes (also called the East-Danes or the Victory-Shieldlings). The first person we meet is Shield Sheafson, Hrothgar’s great-grandfather. Though Shield was a foundling, by the end of his life, “each clan on the coasts / beyond the whale-road had to yield to him” (3). In the words of the narrator, “[Shield] was one good king” (3)

Beow 

Shield’s son Beow was “a comfort sent / by God to that nation” (3). According to the narrator, Beow was “well regarded and ruled the Danes / for a long time after his father took leave / of his life on earth” (4). 

Halfdane

Halfdane is Hrothgar’s father and son of Beow. He has four children in total – Heorogar, Hrothgar, Halga, and an unnamed daughter (who will eventually marry a Swedish leader named Onela). 

Beowulf Characters (Continued)

Heorogar

Not much is known about Hrothgar’s older brother, Heorogar. When Beowulf returns home and tells of his adventures, he mentions that Heorogar was king before Hrothgar. 

Heoroward

Heorogar’s son and Hrothgar’s nephew. 

Hrothgar

Shield begat Beow, who begat Halfdane, who begat Hrothgar. The text tells us that before the main action of the story, Hrothgar was a successful king. Successful in war, “friends and kinsmen flocked to his ranks” (4). As his army grows, Hrothgar decides to build a glorious mead-hall called Heorot (“hart” or “stag”). This mead-hall was “meant to be a wonder of the world forever” (5). If you’ve read my summary, you know that Hrothgar and his clan will be tormented by Grendel for twelve years before the arrival of Beowulf. 

Grendel

Tormentor of Hrothgar and the Spear-Danes, Grendel is described as a “grim demon haunting the marshes” (6). Interestingly, the narrator asserts that Grendel is a descendant of Cain, who, if you remember, was cursed by God for the murder of his brother, Abel. 

Beowulf

The eponymous hero, Beowulf is the son of Ecgtheow and Thane to Lord Hygleac the Geat. After defeating Grendel in hard-to-hand combat, he slays Grendel’s mother and returns home. He is eventually crowned king of the Geats. Some fifty odd years after killing Grendel, Beowulf will die fighting a dragon. 

Beowulf Characters (Continued)

Hygelac

King of the Geats and uncle to Beowulf. 

Wulfgar

As Hrothgar’s herald, Wulfgar introduces Beowulf upon the latter’s arrival at Heorot. Wulfgar is himself a “Wendel chief / renowned as a warrior” (12).

Ecgtheow

Beowulf’s father, married to the daughter of Hrethel the Geat. When he was younger, Ecgtheow killed a Wulfing and was exiled by the Geats to avoid a war. As a result of this, Ecgtheow swore allegiance to Hrothgar. 

Hrethel the Geat

Beowulf’s grandfather and father to Hygelac, Herebeald, and Haethcyn. When Haethcyn accidentally kills Herebeald with an arrow, Hrethel dies of grief. 

Weland

Oft-mentioned in connection with swords, shields, and armor, Weland is a mythical Germanic blacksmith. Thus, when the character says that his armor/shield/sword is made by Weland, he means it’s an object of excellent quality. 

Beowulf Characters (Continued)

Heatholaf 

A minor character who was killed years earlier by Ecgtheow, Beowulf’s father. Heatholaf’s death started a feud between the Geats and the Wulfings, a feud that Hrothgar ended by paying the blood debt.  

Unferth 

Unferth, a lawyer and son of Ecglaf, is the only one of Hrothgar’s men who is unhappy at Beowulf’s arrival. (Though the circumstances are unclear, we are told that Unferth killed his own brothers.) Jealous of Beowulf’s fame, Unferth suggests that Beowulf’s heroism is vanity. Ever the gentleman, Beowulf suggests that Unferth’s comments are just the beer talking (16). When Beowulf slays Grendel, Unferth is noticeably quiet. Interestingly, Unferth also lends Beowulf his sword when the latter goes to kill Grendel’s mother. 

Breca 

One of Beowulf’s childhood friends, Breca defeated Beowulf in a swimming contest when they were younger. When Unferth brings up this defeat, Beowulf reminds that he also had to kill nine sea monsters that day. 

List (Continued)

Wealhtheow

As Hrothgar’s wife and queen, she serves mead to the warriors in Heorot.

Sigemund 

A mythic Germanic warrior whose exploits are comparable to Beowulf’s. According to the singer in Beowulf, Sigemund also killed a dragon. 

Wael 

The legendary Sigemund’s father. 

Fitela 

Sigemund’s son.

King Heremod

In the tale of Sigemund, King Heremod was a good king who eventually became cruel and miserly. 

Hrothulf

Hrothgar’s nephew. The text implies that Hrothulf will eventually betray Hrothgar’s sons and take the throne. 

Beowulf List of Characters (Continued)

Finn 

The titular character of “the saga of Finn,” a tale told to the assembled thanes after Beowulf’s defeat of Grendel. Here’s the story: Finn, leader of the Frisians, mounts a surprise attack on the Danes. During this attack, Finn’s son is killed, as is the leader of the Danes, Hnaef. A truce is struck and, for reasons that are unclear, the surviving Danes have to spend the winter in Finn’s mead-hall. Tensions rise and Hengest, one of the remaining Danes, kills Finn, and takes Finn’s wife (who is also a Dane) back to their people. 

Hildeburh

Finn’s wife in the “saga of Finn.” As a Dane, it was hoped that her marriage to the Frisian Finn would cement a truce between the two clans. 

Hengest 

One of Hnaef’s surviving warriors, he kills Finn and takes Hildeburh back to the Danes. 

Hunlafing

The Frisian warrior who taunts Hengest into violence.  

Hrethric and Hrothmund

Hrothgar’s sons. The text implies that they will eventually be betrayed by Hrothulf. 

Eormenric

A legendary tyrant king. 

Characters from Beowulf (Continued)

Grendel’s Mother

The relation to Grendel is self-explanatory. The night after Beowulf kills Grendel, Grendel’s mother comes for revenge. She enters the mead hall, takes one of Hrothgar’s retainers, and takes back Grendel’s bloodied hand (which Beowulf had hung in the mead-hall as a trophy). 

Aeschere

Yrmenlaf’s older brother and trusted advisor to Hrothgar, he is snatched by Grendel’s mother. When Beowulf goes to hunt her, he finds Aeschere’s head at the foot of a cliff. 

Hrunting 

This is the sword that Unferth lends to Beowulf. 

Queen Hygd

Hygelac’s queen (and thus, Beowulf’s aunt), the text says “her mind was thoughtful and her manners sure” (52). 

Haereth

One of Queen Hygd’s parents – likely her father. 

Queen Modthryth

After the text introduces Queen Hygd, it transitions suddenly to a story about the cruel Queen Modthryth (likely to contrast Hygd’s kindness). Though beautiful, Queen Modthryth was cruel, killing any man who dared look at her in daylight. Her behavior changed after her marriage to Offa, and she became known for her “good deed and conduct of life” (53). 

Offa

Queen Modthryth’s husband, he manages to get her to stop killing any man who looks at her. 

Eomer

Offa’s son and Garmund’s grandson. 

List (Continued)

Garmund 

Though not explicitly stated, Garmund must be Offa’s father. 

Hemming 

Though we don’t find out very much about Hemming, we do know that he is kinsman to Garmund and Offa. 

Ongentheow 

King of the Swedish people, with whom the Geats had a long-running feud, Ongentheow was killed by Eofor.  

Eofor

One of Hygelac’s warriors, he kills Ongentheow.

Freawaru

Hrothgar’s daughter and betrothed to Ingeld, king of the Heatho-Bards. 

Ingeld

King of the Heatho-Bards, he is set to marry Hrothgar’s daughter. As Ingeld’s father was killed by the Danes, it was hoped that this marriage would resolve the feud between the two tribes. 

Beowulf Characters (Continued)

Froda

Ingeld’s father who was killed by the Danes. 

Withergeld

One of the Heatho-Bard leaders, he was killed by Danes. 

Hondscio

One of the warriors killed by Grendel – Beowulf names him when he retells the story to Hygelac. 

Heardred

Son of Hygelac, he becomes king after his father’s death. Heardred is subsequently killed by the Swedish king Onela. 

The Dragon

After killing Grendel and Grendel’s mother, Beowulf returns home. When Hygelac’s son, Heardred, dies, Beowulf becomes king and rules for fifty years. This peace is interrupted when the dragon awakes. Beowulf goes to slay the dragon, but dies in the attempt. 

Beowulf List of Characters (Continued)

Ohthere   

Formerly the king of the Swedes and Onela’s older brother. After his death, his sons go into exile and find refuge with the Geats. 

Eadgils and Eanmund

The two sons of Ohthere. The latter kills Onela. 

Herebeald and Haethcyn

Hrethel’s two older sons. Haethcyn accidentally kills his older brother and precipitates his father’s death. Haethcyn battles the Swedes and is killed by Ongentheow.

Dayraven the Frank

A warrior killed by Beowulf. 

Wiglaf

Son of Weohstan, he accompanies Beowulf to the dragon’s hoard. Notably, he is the only man who does not flee. He enters the dragon’s lair and helps Beowulf kill the beast. When he emerges from the dragon’s lair, he shames the men who fled. 

Naegling

Beowulf sword, it breaks in his fight with the dragon. 

Wrapping Up

I’ll be the first to admit that Beowulf takes some getting used to. With its challenging syntax and unfamiliar structure, it’s not the easiest text to access. At the same time, it addresses a fundamental tension at the heart of literature – legacy. When Beowulf dies, he wonders at the fate of his people and whether the riches he has found will be enough to secure the safety of his clan. 

If you’ve found this article useful or interesting, you can also check out my summaries and analyses of 1984, Frankenstein, The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, The Crucible, Beloved, Brave New World, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Macbeth, Jane Eyre, Of Mice and Men, and Romeo and Juliet.