Beowulf In Context
1
In Context
Background Material
Glossary of Proper Names
Abel
slain by his brother
Cain
; the story is told in Genesis 4.1–16
Ælfhere
kinsman of
Wiglaf
Æschere
a prominent Dane, advisor to
Hrothgar
; slain by Grendel’s mother
Battle-Scylding
see
Scyldings
Battle-Scylfing
see
Scylfings
Beanstan
father of
Breca
Beowulf
(prologue) Danish king, son of
Scyld
Breca
engaged in a youthful swimming contest with Beowulf
Bright-Danes
see
Danes
Brondings
the people of
Breca
Brosings
(= Old Norse Brísings) makers of the magical necklace of Freya in Norse
myth, to which a necklace in the story is compared
Cain
slayer of
Abel
in Genesis 4.1–16; father of the race of monsters
Dæghrefn
a warrior of the
Hugas
slain by Beowulf in hand-to-hand combat during
Hygelac
’s ill-fated raid on the
Frisians
Danes
Hrothgar
’s people; the
Scyldings
; also called Bright-, Half-, Ring-, Spear-,
East-, West-, North-, and South-Danes
Eadgils
son of
Ohthere
, brother of
Eanmund
Eanmund
son of
Ohthere
, brother of
Eadgils
; slain by
Weohstan
East-Danes
see
Danes
Ecglaf
father of
Unferth
Ecgtheow
father of Beowulf
Ecgwala
a Danish king; the “sons of Ecgwala” are the
Danes
Eofor
a warrior of the
Geats
; brother of
Wulf
; slayer of
Ongentheow
; son-in-law
of
Hygelac
Eomer
son of
Offa
Eormanric
king of the Ostrogoths
Eotens
unclear: perhaps the
Jutes
, perhaps the
Frisians
, perhaps “giants” (the literal
meaning of the word) as a nickname for one group or the other
Finn
king of the
Frisians
, husband of
Hildeburh
; killed by
Hengest
Finns
the people of Finland; the Lapps
Fitela
legendary companion, nephew (and son) of
Sigemund
Folcwalda
father of
Finn
Franks
a Germanic tribe; see
Hetware
,
Hugas
,
Merovingians
Freawaru
daughter of
Hrothgar
betrothed to
Ingeld
Frisians
a Germanic tribe;
Finn
’s people
Froda
chief of the
Heathobards
, father of
Ingeld
Garmund
father of
Offa
Geats
Hygelac
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- Summer '17
- MartínArgerami.
- Style
