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"The Saga of Beowulf"
by R. Scot Johns
"The Complete Study Guide
To Beowulf"
by R. Scot Johns
“ The Complete Study Guide to Beowulf ”
The Complete Study Guide to Beowulf
GLOSSARY OF PROPER NAMES
"A-G"
References in brackets are to manuscript line numbers. All dates given are estimates (see Chronology).
Additional information is derived from numerous Old Norse, Anglo-Saxon and Frankish sagas and
chronologies. See "The Complete Study Guide to Beowulf" Bibliography for complete references.

Ælfhere - kinsman of Wiglaf. [2604]
Æschere - Danish warrior, elder brother of Yrmenlaf. Hrothgar's counselor and favored battle
companion, he was slain by the Troll-Hag in revenge for Grendel’s death. [1323]
Beanstan - Father of Breca of the Bronding clan. [524]
Beow - Danish king (443-475), son of Scyld and father of Healfdene, also name Beowulf in MS. [18]
Beowulf - Hero of the Geats (b.495, king 533-583), son of Ecgtheow and nephew of Hygelac. [343]
Breca - Bronding youth, son of Beanstan and rival in Beowulf's swimming contest. He later becomes
chieftain of his clan, and is mentioned in
Widsið (l.25). [531]
Dæghrefn - Captain of Theodobert's troops, champion and standard-bearer of the Hugas tribe. He slew
Hygelac during the Frisian raid, but was slain in turn by Beowulf. [2501]
Eadgils - Swedish King (535-575, b.510), younger son of Ohthere and brother of Eanmund. He was
exiled by his uncle Onela [2379
ff], sought refuge at Heardred's court [2202ff, 2384ff], and became
king when he slew Onela with Beowulf’s aid [2391
ff]. Called Athils in Old Norse sagas, his is one
of three burial mounds at Old Uppsala.
Eanmund - Swedish Prince, eldest son of Ohthere and brother of Eadgils, with whom he was exiled by
his uncle Onela. He was slain by Weohstan during Onela's invasion of Geatland [2611
ff]. Weohstan
took his sword and gave it to Wiglaf.
Ecglaf - Danish father of Unferth. [499]
Ecgtheow - Father of Beowulf. A warrior of the Wægmunding clan, he was given the hand of Hrethel's
only daughter, but was exiled when he slew Heatholaf of the Wylfings. He was taken in by
Hrothgar, who paid the
wergild to settle his feud. His name means “Sword-Servant.” [263]
Ecgwela - Danish King of the distant past, father of the sons slain by Heremod. [1710]
Eofor - Warrior of the Geats, son of Wonred, younger brother of Wulf. He was given Hygelac’s eldest
daughter as a bride-prize [2993
ff] for the slaying of Ongentheow. [2486, 2977]
Eomer - Son of Offa the Angle, grandson of Garmund, and kinsman to Hemming. [1960]
Eormanric - Tyrant-King (d.c.375) and ancestor of the Heathobard Ostrogoths. Hama stole the Brosing
necklace from him. He is found in the Old English poems
Deor and Widsith. [1201]
Faolan - Son of Finn and Hildeburh, he was slain at Finnsburg fighting on the side of his mother.
Finn - King of the Frisians and ruler of the Jutes, son of Folcwalda, father of Faolan, and spouse of
Hildeburh of the Half-Danes. He treacherously attacked and slew Hnæf, Hildeburh's brother, and
was slain in turn by Hengest. [1068]
Fitela - Son and nephew of Sigemund. [879]
Folcwalda - King of the Frisians and father of Finn. [1089]
Freawaru - Danish Princess, daughter of Hrothgar, given to Ingeld as a bride-price in an unsuccessful
attempt to settle the Danish-Heathobard feud. [2022]
Froda - King of the Heathobardan Ostrogoths (c.495-499) and father of Ingeld. He slew Healfdene,
beginning the Danish-Heathobard feud, and was in turn slain by Healfdene's sons.
Garmund - Father of Offa the Angle. His name means “spear-man” or “spear-protector.” [1962]
Grendel - Ogre of Denmark, offspring of the Troll-Hag. He ravaged Heorot for twelve years, until finally
slain by Beowulf. He dwelt with his mother in the murky depths of a moorland mere above Heorot.
His name derives from Old Norse words meaning both "storm" and "grinder". [102
ff]
Guthlaf - Eldest of the three Eotan brothers who fought at Finnsburg under Hengest. With Oslaf he
spurred Hengest to take revenge on Finn for his treacherous attack.