Beowulf is held to have been a real person. He is recognized in history as a retainer and relative of Hygelac. In the book, Hygelac is a king who is killed and who Beowulf succeeds as king. Hygelac is not written about much, however the story does mention that he is a wise and just king. Historic fact states that Hygelac lost his life in a battle with a force of Frisians, Hugs, and Franks. Hygelac's latinized name, Chocilaicus or Chocilagus, is mentioned in the "Historia Francorum" of Gregor of Tours and in the "Gesta Regum Francorrum." Also, in a manuscript of Phaedrus at Wolfenbuttel of Hunglacus, a Geat, Hygelac is mentioned. This proves that Hygelac and therefor Beowulf were historic characters.
The historic aspects of Beowulf are clear, however most of his character is fictional. Beowulf has a fight with Breca, underwater. The story of Beowulf is also mixed with myth. It is supposed that in the case of Beowulf, that he is confused or blended with the stories of the Scandinavian god, Beowa. Beowulf remains a man in the poem however he is deeply entwined with stories of Beowa, who encounters similar perils as Beowulf.
Beowulf is of the tribe of Geats, a seafairing race who live in southern Sweden. In history, the Geats seem to have been conquered and disapear. Gregory of Tours mentioned the Geats in his account of the battle led by Hygelac against the Franks in 520. The Geats are reffered to as the Geatas, Guo-Geatas (war- ), Sae-Geatas (sea- ), and the Weder-Geatas (weather- ).
There are basically three antagonists. The first is Grendel, who Beowulf defeats and becomes famous for originally. The second monster that Beowulf fights is "Grendels's dam" (mother), who tries to avenge Grendel. After defeating the first two monsters, Beowulf travels home and after ruling as king, goes to fight a dragon. These three monsters are the three antagonists.
Grendel is the first terror that Beowulf encounters. Grendel is a flat character, he does not change at all through the story, accept that he fears Beowulf by the end. He is of the giant race that survived the great flood, and it is said that his origins stretch back to Cain who slew Abel. Hrothgar hates him because he will not negociate a peace treaty or accept tribute. He is described in great detail to the point were he stikes fear in the readers heart. The actions of Grendel do not show much about his character, after all, he is a monster.
The second terror which Beowulf dealt with was Grendel's mother. On discovering the death of her son, Grendel's mother came and ate a warrior from the hall of Heorot. Then Beowulf went and killed her in her lair. She is a flat character, much like Grendel. However she is said to be smaller than Grendel, who illustrates how war just continues even after the enemy is dead. Not much of her emotions are given away accept her distress after Grendel's death. The two giants cannot be wounded by weapons, thus the diffuculty in killing them. Eventually, Beowulf finds a sword forged by the giants themselves that can inflict damage.
The last woe Beowulf encountered was a dragon. He killed the dragon to get its lair full of plunder, but died in the process. The dragon is very flat, although he is an important part of the story, for he kills Beowulf. He is not described at all accept that he plundered the land looking for riches, and brought all to his lair.
The last good character mentioned in Beowulf is Wiglaf son of Weohstan. He was the only person to come to the aid of Beowulf in his fight with the dragon. After Beowulf's death Wiglaf was rewarded well, perhaps became king. |
