Character Analysis Chart
(Beowulf)
Hopefully, this will help you when doing prewriting on character analyses.
Character
Actions
Motives
Words describing
the character
Other character’s
Responses
Setting
Does the
character
symbolize
anything?
Details from the story
Travels to Herot and promises Hrothgar that he will kill Grendel; he
fights and rips off Grendel’s arm with his bare hands; he kills Grendel’s
mother with a giant’s sword, he challenges the dragon despite his age,
he fights it to the death, loses his own life in battle. He asks Wiglaf to
take care of his people. When fighting the dragon, he tells his soldiers
its his battle alone.
Fame, personal glory, to protect his people, help the people from
Denmark (Herot) defeat Grendel…(Beowulf is transparent…his
motives are basic and there are no ulterior motives.)
“Higlac’s follower” “…of those who of all the men on earth was the
strongest.” “mighty protector of men”
Princes and kings come to see Beowulf after he defeated Grendel;
Hrothgar asks him to kill Grendel’s mother and offers him treasure if
he succeeds; Wiglaf helps Beowulf when he was being defeated by the
dragon (he inspires loyalty and bravery in others)
In Herot, Mead Hall of Hrothgar (Denmark), the underwater lair of
Grendel’s mother, in Sweden where he fights the dragon.
He’s the symbolic icon of the good Christian warrior. Symbol of good
in the war of good v. evil. Embodies Anglo-Saxon ideals of bravery,
loyalty, strength, and fatalism. (Willing to make the ultimate sacrifice).
I – Introduction
A. brief background – The epic poem Beowulf is one of the
first British literary works to celebrate the accomplishments of a
hero.
B. statement of controlling purpose (thesis) Beowulf’s status
as an archetype hero is best defined by his actions, and the
responses of those characters around him in the poem.
II – Supporting paragraph 1(Beowulf’s actions)
A. Beowulf comes to Hrothgar and kills Grendel
B. Kills Grendel’s mother when asked by Hrothgar
C. fights the dragon and kills it, even though it cost him his
own life. Told soldiers that this was a battle he must fight alone.
III - Supporting paragraph II (reactions of friend and/foe)
A. Wiglaf stands and fights with him even after rest of
soldiers abandon him vs. the dragon (loyalty).
B.
C.
IV – Conclusion
A. summarize ideas
B. final statement