Beowulf Lines 1925-2210

Who is Queen Modthryth?

She perpetrated terrible wrongs against her subjects, torturing and even killing many innocent people who she imagined were offending her. Her behavior improved once she married the great king of the Angles, Offa.

Who is Beowulf?

He and his men return to the magnificent hall of King Hygelac and Queen Hygd, who is beautiful, wise, and young. The warriors approach the hall where the Geats who heard that their hero has returned are preparing for his arrival. Hygelac extends a formal greeting while Hygd pours mead for the warriors. He starts out his story by describing the courteous treatment that he received from Hrothgar and Wealhtheow. He prophesies an unhappy outcome to the engagement of Freawaru, Hrothgar's daughter, to Ingled the Heatobard. He predicts that the sign of the ancestral possessions of each worn by the king of the other will cause memories of the deep and lengthy FSU's between the Danes and the Heathobards to surface so they won't be able to keep themselves from continuing to fight. He then tells the story of his encounter with Grendel. He emphasizes the mother's ferocity and the rewards he received from Hrothgar. He gives Hygd a priceless necklace, the torque given by Wealhtheow, and three horses. He is praised throughout Geatland for his various deeds and courteousness. King Hygelac gives him a great deal of treasure and land of his own to rule.

Who is King Hygelac?

He asks Beowulf how he fared in the land of Hrothgar, recalling that he had known that Beowulf's task would be a fearsome one and that he advised Beowulf not to face such a dangerous foe. He is killed in a battle with the Shylfings, and the kingdom falls to Beowulf. For fifty years, he will rule the Geats becoming a great and wise king.