Ecgtheow

Family: Geats · Role: Beowulf's father · First appears: Section VI

In Section VI, Hrothgar recalls that Hrethel gave his only daughter to Ecgtheow in marriage; he also remembers knowing Ecgtheow in his youth and names him as Beowulf’s father. In Section VII, Hrothgar recalls settling Ecgtheow’s feud with the Wylfings by sending treasures, after which Ecgtheow swore him oaths.

In Section XXXII, Beowulf tells that Hrethel took him from his father when he was seven years old and reared him.

Relationship record

Life events

• Hrothgar recalls that Hrethel gave his only daughter to Ecgtheow in marriage.(Section VI)
  • With: Hrethel
  • “to whom, at home, gave Hrethel the Geat his only daughter.”
• Hrothgar recalls that he settled Ecgtheow's feud with the Wylfings by sending treasures, and Ecgtheow swore him oaths.(Section VII)
  • With: Hrothgar
  • “Straightway the feud with fee I settled, to the Wylfings sent, o'er watery ridges, treasures olden: oaths he swore me.”
• Beowulf tells that Hrethel took him from his father at seven years old and reared him.(Section XXXII)
  • With: Hrethel Beowulf
  • “I was seven years old when the sovran of rings, friend-of-his-folk, from my father took me, had me, and held me, Hrethel the king, with food and fee, faithful in kinship.”

Section VI

• child: Beowulf “I knew him of yore in his youthful days; his aged father was Ecgtheow named,”

Section VIII

• child: Beowulf “Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --”

Section IX

• child: Beowulf “Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --”

Section XIV

• child: Beowulf “Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --”

Section XXI

• child: Beowulf “BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow:”

Section XXII

• child: Beowulf “BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --”

Section XXIV

• child: Beowulf “BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --”

Section XXVI

• child: Beowulf “BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: --”

Section XXVIII

• child: Beowulf “Beowulf spake, the bairn of Ecgtheow: --”

Section XXIX

• child: Beowulf “Thus showed his strain the son of Ecgtheow”

Section XXXI

• child: Beowulf “Then swam over ocean Ecgtheow's son lonely and sorrowful, seeking his land,”

Section XXXII

• child: Beowulf “Thus safe through struggles the son of Ecgtheow had passed a plenty, through perils dire,”

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