| A | B |
|---|
| Aeschere | Hrothgar's faitful thane, advisor, and friend killed by Grendel's mother |
| Beowulf | A Geat, son of Edgetheow and nephew of Hygelac, lord of the Geats. (the hero ) |
| Brecca | Beowulf's best friend; Beowulf beat him in a swimming contest |
| Cain | One of the sons of Adam and Eve in the Bible. He killed his brother Abel. Cain is supposed to be the ancestor of Grendel and his mother. |
| the Dragon | 3rd and last monster(Geat) for Beowulf to defeat, he guards his underground home full of treasure |
| Edgetheow | Beowulf's father |
| Geats | tribe living in the south of Sweden; Beowulf's tribe |
| Grendel | man-eating monster in Act 1; descendent of Cain |
| Grendel's mother | comes to Herot to seek revenge for Grendel; killed by Beowulf ;she-monster living at the bottom of a pool full of water-monsters |
| Heorot | Mead hall built by Hrothgar to celebrate his reign |
| Hrothgar | Lord of the Danes, great-grandson of Scyld Scefing |
| Hruntring | Unferth's sword; did not help Beowulf |
| Hygelec | Lord of the Geats; Beowulf's uncle |
| Naegling | Beowulf's sword |
| Scyld Scefling | first great ruler of the Danes. His name means shield or protector |
| Unferth | thane of Hrothgar who taunts Beowulf about his swimming contest with Brecca |
| Wealtheow | Hrothgar's queen; "treasure bearer" |
| Wiglaf | young man related to Beowulf; only thane that stays w/ Beowulf during battle w/ Dragon |
| Wulfgar | one of Hrothgar's advisers; first to greet Beowulf |
| Sigemund | ancient Germanic hero; dragon-slayer; story told after the fight w/ Grendel |
