Beowulf; mythical son of Edgetho, Higlac's nephew and follower and later king of the Geats.
Edgetho; Beowulf's father, a notable warrior married to Hrethel's one daughter.
Esher; Danish nobleman, high in the council of King Hrothgar, and long his close and trusted friend. Esher is killed by Grendel's mother.
Geats; People of Southern Sweden, conquered by the Swedish kingdom in the sixth century A.D.
Grendel; man-eating monster who terrorizes the Danes until killed by Beowulf. Grendel lives with his equal monstrous mother at the bottom of a foul lake inhabited by assorted other monsters.
Halga; Danish prince, third son of Helfdane, younger brother of King Hrothgar, and father of Hrothulf.
Healfdane; a Danish king, Beo's son, and father of Hergar, Hrothgar, Halga and Urs.
Herot; the lofty battle hall built by King Hrothgarto celebrate his victories, house his growing band of followers, and perpetuate his fame.
Higd; Higlac's wife, Hareth's daughter
Higlac; King of the Geats, Hrethel's son, younger brother of Herbald and Hathcyn. Higlac is both Beowulf's feudal lord and uncle.
Hrothgar; Danish king, second son of healfdanc, builder of Herot, and beneficiary of Beowulf's courage.
Wiglaf; a Geat warrior, more or less vaguely related to Beowulf, possibly having some Swedish blood; his father Wexstan. Chosen to accompany Beowulf to the aged hero's fight with the dragon.
Edgetho; Beowulf's father, a notable warrior married to Hrethel's one daughter.
Esher; Danish nobleman, high in the council of King Hrothgar, and long his close and trusted friend. Esher is killed by Grendel's mother.
Geats; People of Southern Sweden, conquered by the Swedish kingdom in the sixth century A.D.
Grendel; man-eating monster who terrorizes the Danes until killed by Beowulf. Grendel lives with his equal monstrous mother at the bottom of a foul lake inhabited by assorted other monsters.
Halga; Danish prince, third son of Helfdane, younger brother of King Hrothgar, and father of Hrothulf.
Healfdane; a Danish king, Beo's son, and father of Hergar, Hrothgar, Halga and Urs.
Herot; the lofty battle hall built by King Hrothgarto celebrate his victories, house his growing band of followers, and perpetuate his fame.
Higd; Higlac's wife, Hareth's daughter
Higlac; King of the Geats, Hrethel's son, younger brother of Herbald and Hathcyn. Higlac is both Beowulf's feudal lord and uncle.
Hrothgar; Danish king, second son of healfdanc, builder of Herot, and beneficiary of Beowulf's courage.
Wiglaf; a Geat warrior, more or less vaguely related to Beowulf, possibly having some Swedish blood; his father Wexstan. Chosen to accompany Beowulf to the aged hero's fight with the dragon.