Beowulf Flashcards
King of the Danes (and spouse)
- King Hrothgar
- Wealhtheow (wife)
Which family does Beowulf help and to protect what?
Danes (King Hrothgar)
Heorot (Hall)
Which family is Beowulf connected (becomes king) to and who are the members?
Geats
Ecgtheow (father)
Hygelac (king & uncle)
Hygd (wife)
Who did the Geats fight and why?
Swedes; both just kept a cycle of (you hurt me, I hurt you)
Who was the retainer of Beowulf that helped clean him before he died?
Wiglaf
How did beowulf get the throne?
King Hygelac and his son both died and Geats needed a ruler
who wrote Beowulf?
unknown
when was Beowulf written and when did the events in it take place?
first half of 8th century to around 10th century
events in 6th century
where was it written?
Midlands of England
Who is King Heremod?
the opposite of beowulf; drunk, didn’t share, violent, bad ruler of Danes
Who is unferth, what’s his relationship with Beowulf and what might he have done?
he accuses Beowulf of being unworthy of his reputation, so Beowulf describes past accomplishments (swimming with Breca), kin killing of brother
Who does Grendel’s mother murder?
Aeschere (Hrothgar’s advisor)
how long does Beowulf rule for?
50 years
How does Beowulf die and what happens within those moments?
bitten on the neck by dragon (poison), Wiglaf cleans him, talks to him, asked to build Barrow
what is a kenning?
metaphorical meaning (dragon = fire-breather)
