Hnaef

Also known as: Hnaef the Scylding · Family: Danes · Role: warrior · First appears: Section XVI

In Section XVI, the minstrel tells that Hnaef, Healfdene’s hero, fell in the Frisian slaughter during the sudden raid on Finn’s sons. When dawning came, Hildeburh found her brother and her child dead; the minstrel tells that she mourned them and ordered her child burned on Hnaef’s funeral pyre beside his uncle.

Relationship record

Life events

• The minstrel tells that Hnaef fell in the Frisian slaughter.(Section XVI)
  • “Healfdene's hero, Hnaef the Scylding, was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter.”
• The minstrel tells that Hildeburh found her brother Hnaef and her child dead from the battle.(Section XVI)
  • With: Hildeburh
  • “None doubted why the daughter of Hoc bewailed her doom when dawning came, and under the sky she saw them lying, kinsmen murdered, where most she had kenned of the sweets of the world!”
• The minstrel tells that Hildeburh ordered her child burned on Hnaef's funeral pyre beside his uncle.(Section XVI)
  • With: Hildeburh
  • “It was Hildeburh's hest, at Hnaef's own pyre the bairn of her body on brands to lay, his bones to burn, on the balefire placed, at his uncle's side.”

Section XVI

• siblings with Hildeburh “bairn and brother, they bowed to fate, stricken by spears; 'twas a sorrowful woman!”
• lord: Healfdene “Healfdene's hero, Hnaef the Scylding, was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter.”
• enemies with Finn “of that sudden raid on the sons of Finn. Healfdene's hero, Hnaef the Scylding, was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter.”

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Extracted from the original text of Beowulf (Gummere's translation). Made with Rho MD.