CHARACTERS Aeschere Hrothgar’s loyal thane killed by Mama – Anglo-Saxons Early inhabitants of Britain (Anglos and Saxons) who had – conquered Celtic tribes not in story but legend came to them via Viking – invasions Beowulf protagonist/epic hero – Brecca lost earlier swimming contest with Beowulf – Danes Hrothgar’s people – Dragon the nemesis in 3rd battle – Edgetho aka Ecdtheow Beowulf’s father – Geats Beowulf’s people – Grendel In 1st battle – Healfdane Hrothgar’s father – Hrothgar King in trouble – She-wolf/Water Witch/Mama In 2nd battle – Unferth Hrothgar’s Thane who tries to put down Beowulf – Weltho aka Wealtheow Hrothgar’s wife – Wiglaf Beowulf’s nephew in the 3rd battle – TERMS Barrow Anglo-Saxon burial mound / Pyre structure for burning a dead body – – Comitatus code of honor indicating that to survive the leader or to retreat will – earn lifelong disgrace and infamy Herot or Heorot Hrothgar’s meadhall – Hrunting and Naegling names – Mail Early form of armor made of metal links – Meadhall place of celebration/poet – Scop (pronounced shope) poet/storyteller – contemporary story of an ancient burial mound in England Sutton Hoo – Thane king’s soldier, a precursor to a knight – Wergild literally price” in which payment to the family of someone killed – “man diminishes the need for revenge keeps down bloodshed – Wyrd Nordic term for Fate –
CHARACTERS Aeschere – Hrothgar’s loyal thane killed by Mama Anglo-Saxons – Early inhabitants of Britain (Anglos and Saxons) who had conquered Celtic tribes – not in story but legend came to them via Viking invasions Beowulf – protagonist/epic hero Brecca – lost earlier swimming contest with Beowulf Danes – Hrothgar’s people Dragon – the nemesis in 3rd battle Edgetho aka Ecdtheow – Beowulf’s father Geats – Beowulf’s people Grendel – In 1st battle Healfdane – Hrothgar’s father Hrothgar – King in trouble She-wolf/Water Witch/Mama – In 2nd battle Unferth – Hrothgar’s Thane who tries to put down Beowulf Weltho aka Wealtheow – Hrothgar’s wife Wiglaf – Beowulf’s nephew in the 3rd battle TERMS Barrow – Anglo-Saxon burial mound / Pyre – structure for burning a dead body Comitatus – code of honor indicating that to survive the leader or to retreat will earn lifelong disgrace and infamy Herot or Heorot – Hrothgar’s meadhall Hrunting and Naegling – names Mail – Early form of armor made of metal links Meadhall – place of celebration/poet Scop (pronounced shope) – poet/storyteller Sutton Hoo – contemporary story of an ancient burial mound in England Thane – king’s soldier, a precursor to a knight Wergild – literally “man price” in which payment to the family of someone killed diminishes the need for revenge – keeps down bloodshed Wyrd – Nordic term for Fate