Beowulf: Glossary of Names
In order of appearance in the textbook selections.
Beowulf
Possibly mythical son of Edgetho, Higlac’s nephew and follower and later king of the Geats.Presumed
born in A.D. 495, went to Denmark and to Hrothgar’s help in 515, accompanied Higlac on his expedition
against the Franks, and Frisians in 521, became king of the Geats in 533, and died at some indefinite later
date. The “fifty years” of his reign are, as Klaeber notes, only “a sort of poetic formula.”
Hrothgar
A Danish king, second son of Healfdane, builder of Herot, and beneficiary of Beowulf’s courage. One of
the principal characters of the poem, he is depicted as near the end of his life, wise, brave, but troubled,
remembering his glorious past, afflicted with first Grendel and Grendel’s monstrous mother, and worried
about the fate of his sons, at his nephew Hrothulf’s hands, after his imminent death. Hrothgar has
befriended Beowulf’s father which more than satisfactorily accounts for the help Beowulf gives him.
Grendal
A man-eating monster who terrorizes the Danes until killed by Beowulf. Grendel lives, with his equally
monstrous mother, at the bottom of a foul lake inhabited by assorted other monsters; he is descended from
Cain (the progenitor of all evil spirits), though his precise genealogy is not given. The etymology of his
name is conjectural: it is perhaps relatd to Old Norse grindill, “storm,” and grenja, “to bellow,” andto
other words meaning “sand,” “ground (bottom) of a body of water,” and”grinder (destroyer).”
Herot
The lofty battle hall build by King Hrothgar, to celebrate his victories, house his growing band of
followers, and perhaps to perpetuate his fame.
Healfdane
A Danish king, Beo’s son, and father of Hergar, Hrothgar, Halga, and Urs. Whether or not the name
means Half-Dane s uncertain.
Higlac’s
A king of the Geats, Hrethel’s son, younger brother of Herbald and Hathcyn. Higlac is both Beoulf’s
feudal lord and his uncle.
Geats
A people of southern Sweden, the Gotar, conquered by the Swedish kingdom in about the sixth century
A.D.
Wulfgar
Hrothgar’s herald.
Unferth
One of Hrothgar’s courtiers. Skillfun with words, and also a man of considerable reputation as a warrior;
his father is Ecglaf. Unferth’s sword, lent to Beowulf for the fight with Grendel’s mother is call
Hrunting.
Brecca
Chief of a tribe known as the Brondings; a contemporary and young companion of Beowulf. His father is
Bonstan.
Ecglaf
Unferth’s father
Welthow
Hrothgar’s queen, and the mother of his young sons, Hrethric and Hrothmund. Most of her speeches are
full of tragic implications, well-known to the Anglo-Saxon audience.
Edgetho
Beowulfs father, a notable warrior married to Hrethel’s on daughter. (Beowulf’s mother is never
revealed.)
Wexstan
Wiglaf’s father, and more or less vaguely related to Beowulf. Wexstan killed the older of Onel’s
nephews, when that Swedish king invaded Geatland, but whether he was himself a Swede, or a Geat
serving the Swedes, is not known. In any case, after the survivor of Onela’s two nephews returned to
Sweden, killed Onela, and became king, Wexstan could not (and did not) remain in Sweden.
Source: www.Project Gutenburg.org
Beowulf
LIST OF WORDS AND PHRASES NOT IN GENERAL USE.
ATHELING.—Prince, nobleman.
MERE.—Sea; in compounds, ‘mere-ways,’ ‘mereBAIRN.—Son, child.
currents,’ etc.
BARROW.—Mound, rounded hill, funeral-mound.
MICKLE.—Much.
BATTLE-SARK.—Armor.
NATHLESS.—Nevertheless.
BEAKER.—Cup, drinking-vessel.
NAZE.—Edge (nose).
BEGEAR.—Prepare.
NESS.—Edge.
BIGHT.—Bay, sea.
NICKER.—Sea-beast.
BILL.—Sword.
QUIT, QUITE.—Requite.
BOSS.—Ornamental projection.
RATHE.—Quickly.
BRACTEATE.—A round ornament on a necklace.
REAVE.—Bereave, deprive.
BRAND.—Sword.
SAIL-ROAD.—Sea.
BURN.—Stream.
SETTLE.—Seat, bench.
BURNIE.—Armor.
SKINKER.—One who pours.
CARLE.—Man, hero.
SOOTHLY.—Truly.
EARL.—Nobleman, any brave man.
SWINGE.—Stroke, blow.
EKE.—Also.
TARGE, TARGET.—Shield.
EMPRISE.—Enterprise, undertaking.
THROUGHLY.—Thoroughly.
ERST.—Formerly.
TOLD.—Counted.
ERST-WORTHY.—Worthy for a long time past.
UNCANNY.—Ill-featured, grizzly.
FAIN.—Glad.
UNNETHE.—Difficult.
FERRY.—Bear, carry.
WAR-SPEED.—Success in war.
FEY.—Fated, doomed.
WEB.—Tapestry (that which is ‘woven’).
FLOAT.—Vessel, ship.
WEEDED.—Clad (cf. widow’s weeds).
FOIN.—To lunge (Shaks.).
WEEN.—Suppose, imagine.
GLORY OF KINGS.—God.
WEIRD.—Fate, Providence.
GREWSOME.—Cruel, fierce.
WHILOM.—At times, formerly, often.
HEFT.—Handle, hilt; used by synecdoche for ‘sword.’
WIELDER.—Ruler. Often used of God; also in
HELM.—Helmet, protector.
compounds, as ‘Wielder of Glory,’ ‘Wielder of
HENCHMAN.—Retainer, vassal.
Worship.’
HIGHT.—Am (was) named.
WIGHT.—Creature.
HOLM.—Ocean, curved surface of the sea.
WOLD.—Plane, extended surface.
HIMSEEMED.—(It) seemed to him.
WOT.—Knows.
LIEF.—Dear, valued.
YOUNKER.—Youth.