Characters
Beowulf
The titular hero of the epic is a Geat thane who comes to aid the Danes in fighting the monster Grendel and later Grendel's mother. He returns to the Geats where he becomes king and eventually dies fighting a dragon.
Hrothgar
Hrothgar is the king of the Danes who accepts the help
of Beowulf in fighting the monster Grendel. He is the lord of the
magnificent hall Heorot, where he and his retainers enjoy feasts and mead.
Image © University of Pisa
(CC BY-SA 2.5)
Grendel and His Mother
Grendel is a powerful monster descended from the biblical character Cain who attacks Heorot out of jealous rage. His mother avenges his death but is then defeated by Beowulf.
Wiglaf
Wiglaf is a loyal Geat thane who aids his king Beowulf
in the fight with the dragon. Beowulf dies in the fight, but if it were not for
Wiglaf, the dragon would have continued his destruction.
Image © The British Museum