Character Biography
Beowulf
Beowulf is the hero of an ancient epic, titled Beowulf, which is the oldest known epic narrative composed in English. Beowulf is a powerful warrior who comes to the aid of the Danish King Hrothgar, whose hall is raided each night by the hideous man-eating monster Grendel. Beowulf slays Grendel and then Grendel's angry mother, and rules as king of the Geats until he himself is slain in battle with a dragon. The Beowulf epic is probably a conglomeration of ancient Scandinavian folk tales, compiled by a single unknown author sometime around the eighth century AD.
King Hrothgar
Hrothgar is the king of the Spear-Danes when Beowulf arrives in their land, ready to fight the demon Grendel. Many years earlier, Hrothgar paid money to the Wulfings to resolve a blood feud they had with Ecgtheow, Beowulf's father. As a result, Beowulf feels some loyalty toward Hrothgar.
Although Hrothgar was a mighty warrior in his day, at the time when the epic story in Beowulf takes place he is an old king, no longer able to defend his people against the marauding demon Grendel. Yet he is also without a ready successor: his two sons, Hrethric and Hrothmund, are both still too young to take his place. King Hrothgar therefore represents a serious problem for medieval Scandinavian tribes of warriors: the dire threat posed to an entire tribe by a king who has become too weak, or by any kind of power vacuum.
Luckily for Hrothgar, he has a savior in the form of Beowulf, who is prepared to aid him by defeating the demons that stalk his land, but is too principled to steal his throne. Of course, even though Hrothgar lacks the strength as a warrior that would be necessary to bring true security to his people, he practices another custom that does help maintain his power – ring-giving. Hrothgar generously distributes rewards, including gold, armor, rings, and horses, to the warriors who support him, both Dane and Geat. As a result, he can literally buy loyalty, even when he can't force it in battle.
http://www.shmoop.com/beowulf/king-hrothgar.html
Although Hrothgar was a mighty warrior in his day, at the time when the epic story in Beowulf takes place he is an old king, no longer able to defend his people against the marauding demon Grendel. Yet he is also without a ready successor: his two sons, Hrethric and Hrothmund, are both still too young to take his place. King Hrothgar therefore represents a serious problem for medieval Scandinavian tribes of warriors: the dire threat posed to an entire tribe by a king who has become too weak, or by any kind of power vacuum.
Luckily for Hrothgar, he has a savior in the form of Beowulf, who is prepared to aid him by defeating the demons that stalk his land, but is too principled to steal his throne. Of course, even though Hrothgar lacks the strength as a warrior that would be necessary to bring true security to his people, he practices another custom that does help maintain his power – ring-giving. Hrothgar generously distributes rewards, including gold, armor, rings, and horses, to the warriors who support him, both Dane and Geat. As a result, he can literally buy loyalty, even when he can't force it in battle.
http://www.shmoop.com/beowulf/king-hrothgar.html
Grendel's Mother
Before the story begins, the unholy union of Grendel's Mother and King Hrothgar
bred the monster Grendel, the scourge of Hrothgar's kingdom and his shame. After
the hero Beowulf kills her son, Grendel's Mother's hatred for men and need for
vengeance leads her to put on a seductive shape in order to breed another
monster with Beowulf, who is now King. She makes a pact with Beowulf but breaks
it when her second son - sired by the new king - comes of age. She sends him out
to take her vengeance once again, and once again, Beowulf vanquishes the
monster, but is mortally wounded in the battle. The crown passes on, and
Grendel's Mother is ready to take her revenge once again. Grendel's Mother
represents the dark side of love and the passion of motherhood; always ready to
perpetuate evil and to act on her hatred for mankind. Since this story comes
from a time when Christianity first came to the far north, it's interesting to
note that she also represents the direct opposite of the Virgin Mary - the
Christian symbol of motherhood. She is also believed to be Lilith, the first
demon ever to be created who is, according to some, the first wife of Adam.
Lilith refused to bow down second to man and was cast out of the Garden of
Eden.
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0032467/bio
bred the monster Grendel, the scourge of Hrothgar's kingdom and his shame. After
the hero Beowulf kills her son, Grendel's Mother's hatred for men and need for
vengeance leads her to put on a seductive shape in order to breed another
monster with Beowulf, who is now King. She makes a pact with Beowulf but breaks
it when her second son - sired by the new king - comes of age. She sends him out
to take her vengeance once again, and once again, Beowulf vanquishes the
monster, but is mortally wounded in the battle. The crown passes on, and
Grendel's Mother is ready to take her revenge once again. Grendel's Mother
represents the dark side of love and the passion of motherhood; always ready to
perpetuate evil and to act on her hatred for mankind. Since this story comes
from a time when Christianity first came to the far north, it's interesting to
note that she also represents the direct opposite of the Virgin Mary - the
Christian symbol of motherhood. She is also believed to be Lilith, the first
demon ever to be created who is, according to some, the first wife of Adam.
Lilith refused to bow down second to man and was cast out of the Garden of
Eden.
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0032467/bio
Grendel
In the story of Beowulf, not the movie, Grendel is a monster similar to that of
a troll or ogre. He is described as having above human strength, is quick but
does not necessarily put up a big fight. As the story begins, Hrothgar's men are
conducting their nightly ritual of feasting, boasting and drinking until they
pass out in the main hall. While they are passed out, Grendel comes and
slaughters all the men within the hall. This occurs several times until Beowulf
is called upon to kill the creature Grendel which he does and in turn invokes
the wrath of Grendel's mother. In the movie with Anthony Hopkins and Angelina
Jolie, Grendel is sired from a copulation of Hrothgar and Grendel's mother who
is thought to be the first wife of Adam who was cast out of Eden when she
refused to bow down to Adam. Grendel's siring is of Cain, who slew his brother
and was turned into a creature and of Lilith, who became the first known demon
who had a hatred towards men. He is then killed by Beowulf.
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0032468/bio
a troll or ogre. He is described as having above human strength, is quick but
does not necessarily put up a big fight. As the story begins, Hrothgar's men are
conducting their nightly ritual of feasting, boasting and drinking until they
pass out in the main hall. While they are passed out, Grendel comes and
slaughters all the men within the hall. This occurs several times until Beowulf
is called upon to kill the creature Grendel which he does and in turn invokes
the wrath of Grendel's mother. In the movie with Anthony Hopkins and Angelina
Jolie, Grendel is sired from a copulation of Hrothgar and Grendel's mother who
is thought to be the first wife of Adam who was cast out of Eden when she
refused to bow down to Adam. Grendel's siring is of Cain, who slew his brother
and was turned into a creature and of Lilith, who became the first known demon
who had a hatred towards men. He is then killed by Beowulf.
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0032468/bio