Beowulf Family Tree

Beowulf Family Tree

The Good

The Danes

Shield Sheafson

Shield is the well-known Danish king from whom Hrothgar is descended. He was the first to set the Danish prized qualities of heroism and leadership and the founder of the Danish ruling house. He was admired by all and “in the end each clan on the outlying coasts beyond the whale-road had to yield to him and begin to pay tribute.” (3) He was the most famous of the Danes.

Beow

Beow is the son of Shield Sheafson and second ruler of the Danes. The Danes had been struggling greatly when Beow was born. However, looking out for them, God knew “the long times and troubles they’d come through without a leader; so the Lord of Life, the glorious Almighty, made this man renowned.” (3). He became a great leader and was well-liked throughout the north. When his time came to rule the Danes he had many companions who were willing to stand by him in battle.

Halfdane

Halfdane was the son of Beow and father of Hrothgar. He was a great king and “held sway for as long as he lived, their elder and warlord.” (7). He took good care of the land of the Danes.

Heorogar

Eldest son of Halfdane

and brother of Hrothgar

Halga

Son of Halfdane and

brother of Hrothgar

Daughter

Daughter of Halfdane and sister of Hrothgar married to Onela the Swede

Hrothgar

He is the king of the Danes and for many years enjoys success and peace amongst them. His success in war became well-known as “friends and kinsmen flocked to his ranks, young followers, a force that grew to be a mighty army.” (7) He acts as a paternal figure towards Beowulf, warning him of the dangers of pride. Beowulf looked up to him as the wise king he wished to become.

Married

Welthow

She is Hrothgar's queen of the Danes. She is very gracious and

thanks God, after Beowulf has defeated Grendel, "for granting

her wish that a deliverer she could believe in would arrive to

ease their afflictions." (43)

Hrethric

The oldest of Hrothgar's two sons.

Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to look

out for her sons saying "treat my

sons with tender care, be strong

and kind." (87)

Hrothmund

He is Hrothgar's second son.

Freawaru

She is the daughter of Hrothgar and marries Ingeld the Heathobard. Hrothgar hopes that her marriage "will heal old wounds and gievous feuds" between the Danes and the Heathobards (139).

The Geats

Hrethel

He is the Geatish king and

Hygelac's father. When Ecgtheow

dies, he takes care of Beowulf.

Herbald

He is the first son of Hrethel.

Hathcyn

He is the second son of Hrethel

Daughter

She is Hrethel's only daughter and

the mother of Beowulf. She married

Ecgtheow who had died and left

Beowulf to be taken care of by

Hrethel before the poem began.

Higlac

He is the king of the Geats, Hrethel's third son and

Beowulf's uncle. When Beowulf returns from Denmark,

he welcomes him graciously and "ordered a gold-chased

heirloom of Hrethel's...it was the best example of a

gem-studded sword in the Geat treasury." (149) He

presents Beowulf with the sword in addition to land,

seven thousand hides, a hall, and a throne.

Married

Hygd

She was Hygelac's queen of the Geats. The tale of Queen Modthryth is told in the poem to show how she is foil of Hygd. Queen Modthryth was a terrible queen who would punish the people if "any retainer ever made to look her in the face." (133) On the other hand, Hygd was a wonderful and intelligent queen.

Daughter

She was the only

daughter of Hygelac

Herdred

After the death of Hygelac, the kingdom of the Geats was left to Heardred, his only son. But, Heardred was not strong enough in battle. His "shield proved useless against the fierce aggression of the Shylfings" and he was easily defeated by the ruthless nation, leaving the kingdom to Beowulf. (151)

Beowulf

Beowulf was the only son of Ecgtheow. He is the hero in the poem. He fights Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. His pride and courage are essentially his fatal flaw when he dies as the king of the Greats after fighting the dragon.

The Evil

Grendal

A demon descended from Cain, Grendel preys on Hrothgar's warriors in the king's mead-hall, Heorot.

Grendal's Mother

An unnamed swamp-hag, and Grendals Mother.

The Dragon

An ancient, powerful serpent, the dragon guards a horde of treasure in a hidden mound.