Beowulf ( hero ) - wikipedia Beowulf ( hero ) Beowulf Beowulf battles the dragon Information Gender Male Occupation Monarch Family Ecgtheow ( father ) Hygelac ( uncle, fl. 515 ) Nationality Geatish Beowulf ( / ˈbeɪəˌwʊlf / ; Old English : Bēoƿulf ( ˈbeːo̯wʊlf ) ) is a legendary Geatish hero in the epic poem named after him, one of the oldest surviving pieces of literature in the English language. Contents 1 Etymology and origins of the character 1.1 Beowulf 1.2 Beow - Wolf 1.3 Biewolf 1.4 Beado - Wulf ( war wolf ) 1.5 Beowulf before Beowulf 2 Beowulf manuscript 2.1 Origins in Geatland 2.2 Zealand and Grendel 2.3 Return to Geatland, Kingdom, and Death 3 References Etymology and origins of the character A number of origins have been proposed for the name Beowulf. Beowulf Henry Sweet, a philologist and early linguist specializing in Germanic languages, proposed that the name Bēowulf literally means in Old English `` bee - wolf '' or `` bee - hunter '' and that it is a kenning for `` bear ''. This etymology is mirrored in recorded instances of similar names. Biuuuwulf is recorded as a name in the AD 1031 Liber Vitae. The name is attested to a monk from Durham and literally means bee wolf in Northumbrian. The 11th century English Domesday Book contains a recorded instance of the name Beulf. A scholar named Sarrazin also suggested that the name Beowulf was derived from a mistranslation of Böðvarr where - varr was interpreted as vargr meaning `` wolf ''. However, this etymology was questioned by Sophus Bugge, who instead suggested that the personage Böðvarr Bjarki was derived from Beowulf. Beow - wolf In 2005, Andy Orchard theorized an etymology on the basis of the common Old Norse name Þórólfr ( which literally translates to `` Thor Wolf '' ), stating in parallel that a `` more likely '' meaning for the name would be the `` wolf '' of the Germanic god Beow. Biewolf English philologist Walter William Skeat proposed an etymological origin in a term for `` Woodpecker '' citing the Old Dutch term biewolf for the bird. Skeat states that the black woodpecker is common in Norway and Sweden and further reasons that the `` indominatable nature '' and that the `` bird fights to the death '' could have potentially influenced the choice of the name. This etymological origin has been criticized as not being in accordance to Grimm 's law and Skeat may have recanted the proposal at a later date. Beado - wulf ( war wolf ) The editors of Bosworth 's monumental dictionary of Anglo - Saxon propose that Beowulf is a variant of beado - wulf meaning `` war wolf '' and that it is cognate with the Icelandic Bodulfr which also means `` war wolf ''. Beowulf before Beowulf Scholars have long debated the origins of the character Beowulf. Some have argued that Beowulf existed in heroic - legendary tradition prior to the composition of Beowulf, while others have believed that the Beowulf poet invented his Geatish protagonist. Leonard Neidorf has argued that Beowulf was present in ( now lost ) heroic - legendary cycles before Beowulf was composed. Neidorf argued that the seventh - century usage of the name ' Biuuulf ' ( Beowulf ), which involves an element ( Beow ) that was unproductive in contemporary name - giving, suggests that legends of Beowulf existed well before the composition of our extant poem. Beowulf manuscript Main article : Beowulf Origins in Geatland As told in the surviving epic poem, Beowulf was the son of Ecgtheow, a warrior of the Swedish Wægmundings. Ecgþeow had slain Heaðolaf, a man from another clan named the Wulfings ( according to Scandinavian sources, they were the ruling dynasty of the Geatish petty kingdom of Östergötland ). Apparently, because the victim was from a prominent family the weregild was set too high, and so Ecgþeow was banished and had to seek refuge among the Danes. The Danish king Hroðgar generously paid the weregild, and had Ecgþeow swear an oath. Ecgþeow was in the service of the Geatish king Hreðel, whose daughter he married. They had Beowulf, who grew up with the Geats. Beowulf 's childhood friend was Breca the Bronding `` supposed to be the inhabitants of the island Brännö, lying off the coast of West Gothland in the Cattegat ''. This would be a realistic location for a childhood friend of Beowulf, and the poem describes a swimming contest between them. Zealand and Grendel When King Hroðgar, his wife Wealhþeow, and his court were terrorized by the monstrous Grendel, Beowulf left Geatland ( West Götaland ) and sailed to Zealand with fourteen warriors in order to pay his father 's debt. During the night, Grendel arrived to attack the sleeping men and devoured one of the other Geats before seizing Beowulf. As no manmade weapon could harm Grendel, Beowulf fought back with his bare hands and tore off the beast 's arm. Grendel fled back to the bog to die from his wound, and his arm was attached to the wall of Heorot. The next day, Beowulf was lauded and a skald ( scop ) sang and compared Beowulf with the hero Sigmund. However, during the following night Grendel 's mother arrived to avenge her son 's death and collect weregild. As Beowulf slept in a different building he could not stop her. He resolved to descend into the bog in order to kill her. They fought beside Grendel 's corpse, and Beowulf finally won with the aid of an enchanted giant sword stolen from the lair 's plunder. Return to Geatland, kingdom, and death Having returned to Geatland, Beowulf took part in a historic raid against the Franks with his king Higlac. Higlac died during the raid, and Beowulf swam home in full armour. Back in Geatland, queen Hygd offered Beowulf the throne but Beowulf declined in favour of the young prince Heardred. However, Heardred received two Swedish princes, Eadgils and Eanmund who reported that they had fled their uncle Onela who had usurped the Swedish throne. This led to a Swedish invasion in which Heardred was killed. Beowulf was proclaimed king and decided to avenge Heardred and to help Eadgils become king of Sweden. The event when Onela was slain was probably a historic event. Even though it is only briefly mentioned in Beowulf, it occurs extensively in several Scandinavian sources where it is called the Battle on the Ice of Lake Vänern. For example, Snorri Sturluson wrote : Onela rode Raven, as they rode to the ice, but a second one, a grey one, hastened, wounded by spears, eastwards under Eadgils. (... ) In this fight Onela died and a great many of his people. Then king Eadgils took from him his helmet Battle - boar and his horse Raven. ( Although, in Snorri 's text the names are in their corresponding Old Norse forms ). Beowulf ruled the Geats for 50 years, until his realm was terrorized by a dragon after a thief stole a golden cup from its hoard of treasure. After unsuccessfully attacking the dragon with his thegns, Beowulf decided to pursue the monster into its lair at Earnanæs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dared join him. Beowulf finally slew the dragon by cutting it in half with a seax, but was mortally wounded by being stabbed with the dragon 's poisonous horn. Dying, he was carried out by Wiglaf and with his last breaths named Wiglaf his rightful heir. He was buried in a barrow by the sea. References Jump up ^ `` Beowulf ''. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 21. Jump up ^ `` Beowulf ''. Merriam - Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 21. Jump up ^ Sweet, Henry. ( 1884 ) Anglo - Saxon Reader in Prose and Verse The Clarendon Press, p. 202. ^ Jump up to : Chadwick, Hector Munro ( 1983 ) The Origin of the English Nation, p. 294. ISBN 0 - 941694 - 09 - 7 ^ Jump up to : The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg. Jump up ^ Orchard, Andy. ( 2003 ) A Critical Companion to Beowulf ISBN 1 - 84384 - 029 - 4 Jump up ^ Skaet, Walter William. ( 1877 ) `` The Name Beowulf '' from The Academy 24 February 1877, p. 163. Jump up ^ Shippey, Tom A. Beowulf : The Critical Heritage pp. 387 -- 88. ISBN 0 - 415 - 02970 - 8 Jump up ^ The Anglo - Saxon Dictionary, the posthumous dictionary by Joseph Bosworth ( 1898 ), see beorne -- Beó - wulf. Jump up ^ Neidorf, Leonard. `` Beowulf before Beowulf : Anglo - Saxon Anthroponymy and Heroic Legend. '' Review of English Studies 64 ( 2013 ) : 553 -- 73 Jump up ^ The Anglo - Saxon Dictionary, the posthumous dictionary by Joseph Bosworth ( 1898 ), see bróc -- brot. Legendary titles Preceded by Heardred King of the Geats Succeeded by Wiglaf Beowulf Characters Beowulf Grendel Grendel 's mother Hroðgar Ecgþeow Hygelac Heardred Æschere Onela Wealhþeow Wiglaf Unferð Hygd The Dragon List of Beowulf characters Scholars and translators Michael J. Alexander Nora K. Chadwick P.J. Cosijn Kevin Crossley - Holland Michael D.C. Drout Francis Barton Gummere Seamus Heaney Roy Liuzza William Morris Frederick Klaeber Laurence Nowell Burton Raffel Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin J.R.R. Tolkien Beowulf : A Translation and Commentary `` Beowulf : The Monsters and the Critics '' Beowulf and the Critics `` On Translating Beowulf '' `` Sellic Spell '' Finn and Hengest Charles Leslie Wrenn Depictions Books Grendel Eaters of the Dead Film Grendel Grendel Grendel Beowulf ( 1999 ) The 13th Warrior No Such Thing Outlander Beowulf & Grendel ( Wrath of Gods ) Grendel Beowulf ( 2007 ) Beowulf : Prince of the Geats Beowulf : Return to the Shieldlands See also Anglo - Saxon paganism Battle of Finnsburg Heorot Hrunting Nægling Nowell Codex Anglo - Saxon paganism and mythology Gods and divine figures Beowa Ēostre Frige Gefjon Hretha Ing Saxnot Þunor Tiw Wade Wayland the Smith Wōden Heroic figures Ægil Beowa Eormenric Finn Hengist and Horsa Sceafa Waldere Other beings Cofgod Elf Ides Dwarf ( Dweorh ) Eoten / Thurs Mare Wælcyrge Wight Locations Middangeard Neorxnawang Sources Anglo - Saxon Chronicle Æcerbot Anglo - Saxon calendar Anglo - Saxon Rune Poem Beowulf De temporum ratione Deor Ealuscerwen Finnesburg Fragment Franks Casket Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum Nine Herbs Charm Old English language Spong Hill Sutton Hoo Widsith Wið færstice Origins Germanic paganism ( Angles Frisii Jutes Saxons ) Society and culture Anglo - Saxon law Anglo - Saxon runes Anglo - Saxon burial Bēot Blōtan Calendar Folkmoot Frith Hearg Maypole Moot hill Scop Symbel Thegn Thing Thyle Weregild Wicce Wilweorthunga Wyrd Yule Neopagan revival Fyrnsidu Seax - Wica Theodism Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beowulf_(hero)&oldid=803538204 '' Categories : Geats Characters in Beowulf Heroes in Norse myths and legends Mythological kings Beowulf English heroic legends Medieval legends Dragonslayers Sweden in fiction Fictional Vikings Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2007 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Ελληνικά فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano Nederlands Português Simple English Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Edit links This page was last edited on 3 October 2017, at 03 : 20. 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Question: what is the meaning of the word beowulf
Answer: "bee-wolf" or "bee-hunter"