Wealhtheow

E493755

Wealhtheow is the Danish queen and gracious hostess in the Old English epic Beowulf, known for her wisdom, diplomacy, and ceremonial role in Heorot.

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Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Danish queen
character in Beowulf
literary character
queen
appearsIn Beowulf NERFINISHED
associatedTheme dynastic stability
hospitality
loyalty
women’s roles in warrior societies
associatedWithLocation Heorot NERFINISHED
associatedWithPeople Scylding dynasty NERFINISHED
culture Germanic heroic culture
ethnicAssociation Danish
genreContext Old English epic poetry
house Scyldings NERFINISHED
interactsWith Beowulf NERFINISHED
Hrothgar NERFINISHED
Unferth NERFINISHED
the Geats NERFINISHED
knownFor ceremonial role in Heorot
diplomacy
wisdom
languageOfWork Old English
laterMedium manuscript Nowell Codex NERFINISHED
literaryPeriod Anglo-Saxon literature NERFINISHED
motherOf Hrethric NERFINISHED
Hrothmund NERFINISHED
nameInOldEnglish Wēalhþēow NERFINISHED
narrativeFunction embodiment of hospitality
guardian of dynastic succession
mediator between king and warriors
originalMedium oral tradition
performsAction addresses Beowulf with formal speech
gives gifts to Beowulf
offers mead to warriors
urges Hrothgar to favor their sons
portrayedAs dignified
gracious
politically astute
queenOf the Danes NERFINISHED
roleInHeorot cup-bearer
hostess
peace-weaver
spouse Hrothgar NERFINISHED
symbolizes courtly grace
female authority within heroic society
social order in the hall
timeOfCompositionOfWork between 8th and early 11th century
workAuthor anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Hrothgar marriedTo Wealhtheow
Hrothgar spouse Wealhtheow