Characters
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Beowulf- The main character and the hero of the story, Beowulf is from a Northern Germanic Tribe called the Geats. In the story, he comes to Hrothgar's aid to defeat the monster Grendel who has been terrorizing Heorot Hall. Beowulf rips off Grendel's arm and he runs back to his mother's cave, slowly dying. Beowulf and a group of men from the hall also attack Grendel's Mother the following night after she kills one of the men in the hall. Beowulf ends up becoming the King of his own land, which is then attacked by a dragon. Beowulf kills the dragon, which leaves him mortally wounded and ends up killing him.
Hrothgar - The King of the Danes, Hrothgar owns the Heorot Hall. He calls upon Beowulf to kill the monster Grendel to stop him from attacking and killing the men that stay there. Hrothgar ends up being a father figure to Beowulf and a role model for the type of King Beowulf ends up becoming.
Hygelac- Beowulf's uncle and the king of the Geats.
Hrothgar - The King of the Danes, Hrothgar owns the Heorot Hall. He calls upon Beowulf to kill the monster Grendel to stop him from attacking and killing the men that stay there. Hrothgar ends up being a father figure to Beowulf and a role model for the type of King Beowulf ends up becoming.
Hygelac- Beowulf's uncle and the king of the Geats.
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Grendel- The demon that attacks the Heorot hall on a regular basis, Grendel is hated by everyone. Living with his mother in a swap, Grendel is an outcast. Every night he sneaks into the Heorot Hall and attacks, taking men and tearing them limb from limb before eating them. Hrothgar calls on Beowulf to kill Grendel, during the fight with Beowulf Grendel looses his arm. He returns to his home and dies slowly, and is beheaded by Beowulf.
Grendel's Mother- After her son is attacked, Grendel's Mother sneaks into the Heorot Hall and kills one of the men the night after Grendel and Beowulf's fight. Beowulf and a group of men go after her and find her in her lair. Beowulf fights her and ends up beheading her.
The Dragon- Guards his treasure in Geatland and ends up raiding the countryside after someone steals some of his gold. Beowulf (at this time he's the King of the Geats) and some of his men go to kill the Dragon. After the battle the dragon dies, but Beowulf is wounded so terribly he ends up dying because of it.
Grendel's Mother- After her son is attacked, Grendel's Mother sneaks into the Heorot Hall and kills one of the men the night after Grendel and Beowulf's fight. Beowulf and a group of men go after her and find her in her lair. Beowulf fights her and ends up beheading her.
The Dragon- Guards his treasure in Geatland and ends up raiding the countryside after someone steals some of his gold. Beowulf (at this time he's the King of the Geats) and some of his men go to kill the Dragon. After the battle the dragon dies, but Beowulf is wounded so terribly he ends up dying because of it.
Archetypes
Hero as Warrior- Beowulf is the hero of our story and faces many challenges and enemies when fighting Grendel, Grendel's Mother and the Dragon.
The Warrior's Journey to Save His People- Beowulf must kill the dragon in order to stop it from terrorizing the people of his kingdom.
The Task- Beowulf must kill Grendel.
Battle Between Good and Evil- The fights between Beowulf and Grendel, Grendel's Mother and the Dragon.
The Hero- Beowulf goes on quests to save the Hall and his kingdom, and has the standard characteristics of a hero (courage, strength, and honor).
Mentor- Hrothgar and Hygelac both serve as father-figures to Beowulf throughout the story.
Hunting Group of Companions- The men that often go on quests with Beowulf tend to be the same people.
The Shadow- The dragon that Beowulf fights proves to be a struggle for him, and in the end they both die.
The Devil Figure- represented by both Grendel and his mother.
The Creature of Nightmare- also represented by both Grendel and his Mother.
The Outcast- Grendel is an outcast in the land of the Danes, which prompts his attacks on the Heorot Hall.
The Tower- the lair that Grendel and his Mother live in.
The Warrior's Journey to Save His People- Beowulf must kill the dragon in order to stop it from terrorizing the people of his kingdom.
The Task- Beowulf must kill Grendel.
Battle Between Good and Evil- The fights between Beowulf and Grendel, Grendel's Mother and the Dragon.
The Hero- Beowulf goes on quests to save the Hall and his kingdom, and has the standard characteristics of a hero (courage, strength, and honor).
Mentor- Hrothgar and Hygelac both serve as father-figures to Beowulf throughout the story.
Hunting Group of Companions- The men that often go on quests with Beowulf tend to be the same people.
The Shadow- The dragon that Beowulf fights proves to be a struggle for him, and in the end they both die.
The Devil Figure- represented by both Grendel and his mother.
The Creature of Nightmare- also represented by both Grendel and his Mother.
The Outcast- Grendel is an outcast in the land of the Danes, which prompts his attacks on the Heorot Hall.
The Tower- the lair that Grendel and his Mother live in.