Beowulf

Also known as: Ecgtheow's son / the Hygelac-thane / the duke of the Geats · Family: Geats · Role: hero of the Geats, the Hygelac-thane, later their king · First appears: Section V

In Section VIII, Beowulf tells that he and Breca swam together for “five nights full” before the flood divided them. He also tells of slaying sea monsters, including nine with his sword. In Section IX, Hrothgar entrusts him with Heorot and charges him to guard the hall. Beowulf mortally wounds Grendel in Section XII; the monster escapes to die, leaving his hand behind. At morning, his glory is praised, and he is declared the most valiant and worthy to rule.

In Section XXI, Beowulf urges Hrothgar to endure and leads the pursuit of Grendel's mother. Unferth, Hrothgar’s orator, lends him Hrunting, but Beowulf’s armor saves him when she attacks. In Section XXIII, he kills her, severs Grendel’s head, and returns safely from the mere with the head and sword-hilt, which he presents to Hrothgar in Section XXIV. Hrothgar gives him gifts and tells him that he has brought about peace between the Geats and the Danes.

In Section XXVIII, Beowulf returns to Hygelac and reports his Danish battles, including his fight with Grendel's mother. In Section XXIX, he offers Hygelac the gifts Hrothgar gave him, gives him four horses and arms, and gives Hygd the necklace Wealhtheow had presented to him. Hygelac gives Beowulf Hrethel’s sword, a house, a high-seat, and seven thousand hides. Looking back in Section XXXI, the poem tells that Hygelac died in battle in the Frisian land; Hygd offered Beowulf the hoard and realm, but he supported Heardred until he ruled the Weder-Geats. After Heardred fell, Beowulf became lord of the Geats and “he ruled it well fifty winters.” In after days, he sent forces and weapons to aid Eadgils.

In Sections XXXII–XXXV, Beowulf goes with eleven companions to fight the dragon. He tells that Hrethel took him from Ecgtheow at seven years old and reared him, and that he killed Daeghrefn with his bare hands. In the dragon fight, his sword fails and the beast wounds him; Wiglaf joins him, and the two kill the dragon together. Beowulf dies from the wound, after speaking of his fifty winters of rule. Wiglaf stays beside him, carries treasure from the hoard to him while he is still alive, and cannot revive him. In Sections XL–XLI, Beowulf is borne to Hrones-Ness, cremated with the arms he requested, and buried beneath a barrow the Geats raise in ten days’ time; they mourn their master and place treasure in the barrow.