BEOWULF

BEOWULF

1. Characters

   • Main character
     • Beowulf
       • Beowulf is the main character of the epic poem, Beowulf.
       • He proves himself to be a hero from the very beginning of the poem, when he defeats the monster, Grendel. 
       • In his youth, Beowulf is a hard-working accomplished warrior, and in his older days, he proves himself to be an honest,  trustworthy king. 
   • Secondary characters
     • Freawaru
       • She is King Hrothgar's daughter. She was married to Ingeld as a proposed peace-settlement between the Danes and the Heatho-Bards.
     • King Hrothgar
       • He is  the king of the Danes.
       • Beowulf comes to fight Grendel for Hrothgar, in  return for a favor Hrothgar had done for Ecgtheow, many years earlier.
     • Grendel
       • He is a monster that lives in the land of the Spear-Danes, and eats humans. He is a demonic descendant of Cain, from biblical times.
     • Grendel's Mother
       • She is outraged when her son is killed, and immediately seeks vengeance by attacking Heorot Hall.
       • Beowulf defeats her, taking her head and sword as souvenirs.
     • Ecgtheow
       • He is  Beowulf’s father.
     • The Dragon
       • When Beowulf is king of the Geats, there is a dragon, who is ancient, and very strong.
       • The dragon begins to burn down entire villages, in an attempt to guard an old, valuable treasure that he protects.
       • As king, Beowulf has to go and defeat the dragons, and decides to fight the dragon alone, for chivalrous reasons. 
       • Beowulf does indeed slay the dragon, but is mortally wounded in doing so. This scene is the final part of the epic poem. 

2. Setting

   • Place
     • The knowledge of history helped us determine this because we can read about places that can be found on the map.
     • Scandinabia
   • Time
     • Around 500AD

3. Themes

   • Christianity & Paganism
     • Because of its complicated origin, Beowulf has elements of both pagan Germanic culture and Christianity.
     • The story of Beowulf probably originated as an oral tradition sometime in the 7th century. 
     • The only surviving manuscript of Beowulf was written in the 11th century by Christian scribes, who either inserted the Christian overtones to the story, or were working from a manuscript set down by previous Christians who added the Christian elements.
   • Fame & Pride
     • The warriors of Beowulf seek fame through feats of strength.  The quest for fame is of the utmost importance to a warrior trying to establish himself in the world.
     • A quest for fame can easily succumb to pride. Fame in Beowulf is associated with generosity and community while pride is associated with greed and selfishness. 
   • Good Warriors & Good Kings
     • A quest for fame can easily succumb to pride. Fame in Beowulf is associated with generosity and community while pride is associated with greed and selfishness. 
     • Good King:The king must put the good of the people above his own desire for fame and glory. A good king is generous with gifts and gold, provides a haven in which his people can eat and drink and socialize. He is powerful and fearless in defending his land and people, and yet does not seek unnecessary conflict that might lead to death for either his people or himself.
     • Good Warrior: He supports his people through the pursuit of personal fame.
   • Family & Tribe
     • In Beowulf, family and tribal allegiances determine one's identity. 
     • Characters are constantly identified as the son, wife, or daughter of a particular man, and as members of this or that tribe. 
     • Men or beings without tribes such as  Grendel and  Heremod are described as lonely and joyless. Without a community or family, these men are incomplete. 

4. Language

   • Old language
     • Also known as Anglo-Saxon language.

5. Plot

   • Grendel
     • Beowful is a great hero that comes to the aid of King Hrothgar of the Danes. For the past twelve years, Hrothgar and his people have been plagued by the fiend Grendel, who attacks them every night. Beowulf faces Grendel in battle, when he descobers that Grendel is impervious to weapons, including Beowulf's sword. At that moment, he decides to fight against Grendel barehanded. During the fight, he rips off the monster's arm, wounding him.
   • Grendel's mother
     • Grendel’s mother seeks revenge on Beowulf and the Danes. She attacks Heorot Hall, then flees to her cave under the lake when Beowulf confronts her. Just when it seems the hero will fall, he finds a giant sword and uses it to cut off the fiend's head.
   • Beowulf and a dragon
     • Fifty years later, Beowulf is king of Geatland. When an evil dragon awakens, Beowulf and his kinsman Wiglaf go to face the creature. Beowulf dies in the heat of battle and receives a funeral fit for a king.