Beowulf

The hero for whom the untitled poem was later named,
Beowulf is the perfect warrior -- brave, strong, and honorable.
While he displays enough bravado to inspire hope in the
Scyldings, he is still courteous. He uses both his wits and
brute strength to defeat his foes. Beowulf's only flaw
manifests in the latter part of the poem, when he decides to
face the dragon alone instead of delegating the task to a
younger man, and in so doing leaves his kingdom without an
experienced ruler, vulnerable to its enemies.
Hrothgar
The king of the Scyldings is a wise and venerable leader
weighed down with sorrow and loss. Placed in the unenviable
position of requiring outside help to solve his deadliest
problem, Hrothgar nevertheless stands proud as he decides
to accept Beowulf's help. Before the hero returns home,
Hrothgar has wisdom to share with him about kingship, for
which he believes Beowulf is eminently suited.
Grendel
The first and most memorable foe that Beowulf must face,
Grendel is a hideous creature that is clearly not human; and
yet, he displays human emotions and motivations. The poem
ties him to the biblical Cain and brands him an outsider,
condemned to live beyond the human community in a
horrible place. There is a suggestion that envy of the
splendor Hrothgar's Scyldings enjoyed and bitterness at
being excluded drove him to attack Heorot.
Unferth
Unferth is one of Hrothgar's Scyldings, and like all the other
Scyldings, he has failed to defeat Grendel, and will not face
the fiend. When Beowulf arrives and is the focus of his
comrade's hopes, Unferth grows jealous, and, having
indulged in too much drink, he taunts the hero. Unferth's
resentment and inferiority serve to throw Beowulf's
greatness into sharper relief. Yet he is the one character who
exhibits any growth, humbled by Beowulf's defeat of Grendel
and lending his prized sword to the hero when he fights
Grendel's mother. However, he understands -- as does the
reader -- that he will never be a true hero.
Wealhtheow
Hrothgar's wife and queen is Wealhtheow. Her appearance in
Heorot lends a certain grave splendor to the festivities. It is
Wealhtheow to whom Beowulf makes his pledge to kill
Grendel or die in the attempt, and it is Wealhtheow's
confirmation of Hrothgar's adoption of Beowulf that seems to
legitimize the act. In a sense, Wealhtheow symbolizes all that
is fine and good in women, especially women of rank and
sensibility.
Grendel's Mother
A swamp-fiend like her son, Grendel's mother -- who is never
named -- is just as fierce and dangerous as Grendel.
Understandably enraged by the death of her offspring, the
hag attacks swiftly and flees, killing Hrothgar's advisor
Aeschere. But when Beowulf comes after her, she faces him
willingly, dragging him into her lair and attacking him
viciously. Just as much a monster as Grendel, the mother
shares a very human desire for vengeance. She can be
contrasted with Wealhtheow, symbolizing evil in womanhood.
Hygelac
Hygelac is the King of the Geats. He is fond of Beowulf, yet
surprised that he has triumphed over such a deadly foe. By
bestowing gifts and honors on the returning hero, Hygelac
reveals how Beowulf's victories have earned him respect
among the Geats. When Hygelac dies, Beowulf refuses to
take the throne; only when Hygelac's son is killed does
Beowulf take on the responsibility of ruling Geatland.
The Dragon
An ancient creature, the Dragon has made his home in an
even more ancient barrow, where the treasure of a long-dead
pagan chieftain was hidden. When its lair is accidentally
discovered, and when only one item is taken from its hoard,
the Dragon awakens to bring fiery devastation to Geatland.
Beowulf's battle with the Dragon will be his last.
Wiglaf
A kinsman to Beowulf, Wiglaf is one of the warriors that the
hero brings with him to seek out the Dragon, and the only
one who joins Beowulf in his hour of need instead of fleeing.
For his loyalty and courage, Wiglaf is made Beowulf's heir,
signifying that the valued qualities of the warrior live on in
the next generation of Scandinavian manhood.
Aeschere
Hrothgar's most valued advisor, whom Grendel's mother kills
when she takes revenge for the death of her son.
Ecgtheow
Beowulf's late father, for whom his friend Hrothgar had once
done a great favor. Ecgtheow was Hygelac's brother-in-law,
so his son Beowulf is in the Geatish royal line.
Hygd
Hygelac's beautiful wife. Hygd is a young but capable queen.
A portion of the poem contrasts her to the wicked Queen
Modthryth.
Heardred
Hygelac's son. He is still young when Hygelac dies, and
Geatish elders don't think he can make a good king; but
Beowulf refuses to usurp the throne, and not until Heardred's
untimely death does the hero become king.
Hrethic, Hrothmund and Hrothulf
Hrethic is Hrothgar's eldest son, and Hrothmund is his
younger son. Hrothulf is their cousin, who usurps the throne
from Hrethic. Beowulf offers to help and guide Hrethic,
sheltering him in Geatland. Hrothulf's usurpation can be
contrasted to Beowulf's refusal to take the throne from
Hygelac's son.
Breca
Beowulf's childhood friend, against whom the hero engaged
in an epic swimming match. Breca washed up on shore
without finishing the race, while Beowulf swam farther and
slew deadly sea creatures before making a victorious
landing.

Sigemund
A dragon-slayer from Norse mythology. The story of
Sigemund is related by Hrothgar's minstrel after Beowulf
slays Grendel, appropriately foreshadowing what will be the
hero's last battle. Sigemund faced the dragon alone, which
might have inspired Beowulf to do the same.
King Heremond
A sorry character from history, Heremond is contrasted by
the minstrel with Beowulf. He is condemned for engaging in
battles himself when he should have delegated the tasks to
younger warriors. This is a lesson that Beowulf does not take
to heart.
Queen Modthryth
An unreasonable, vain woman, who viciously tortured anyone
who dared to look directly at her. Her story is told to contrast
her with the good Queen Hygd. Only the marriage of
Modthryth to the brave King Offa tempered her wickedness.