Beowulf

Plot Importance
Beowulf is the son of Ecgtheow, a Geatish warrior and the protagonist and title character of the poem Beowulf.

Beowulf comes to Heorot with the purpose of exterminating the demon plaguing the Spear-Danes. He lays aside his weapons and armor and battles Grendel in hand-to-hand combat. He rips Grendel's arm off during this battle and Grendel flees, defeated.

After this, Grendel's mother returns to Heorot to avenge her son and Beowulf is again tasked to take care of it. He is lent a sword by Unferth to wield against her, but it breaks during battle. He finds another sword in Grendel's mother's lair and defeats her. He then cuts the head off of Grendel's body, which is in the cave, and returns to Heorot.

Later, Beowulf comes into the throne back in Geat-land and reigns for fifty years as a good king before a dragon is roused and burns down Beowulf's hall. Beowulf takes twelve men into battle against the dragon and all abandon him save Wiglaf. Beowulf and the dragon kill each other, and before he dies Beowulf asks Wiglaf to bring him some of the treasure from the hoard. He also gifts his gold neck-ring to Wiglaf, as a sign that he has selected the young warrior as his successor in lieu of a proper heir.

Description and Background

 * Beowulf is described as having a "noble" appearance (l. 251)
 * Beowulf is commonly accepted to be the character Bodvar Bjarki in The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki due to the frequent connection of his name to bear imagery.