Beowolf

asunder

into separate parts; divided.

avail

to be of use or value; to profit.

brooding

deeply or seriously thoughtful, often in a moody or unhappy way.

clarion

clear and inspiring (often referring to a loud sound).

desolation

a state of complete emptiness, loneliness, or destruction.

ravenous

extremely hungry; famished.

recompense

compensation or reward given for loss or harm.

roused

awakened or stirred into action.

sinewy

lean and muscular; tough.

spellbound

fascinated; held as if by a magic spell.

stupor

a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility.

tumult

a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.

unbidden

without being commanded or invited.

unslaked

not satisfied or quenched (often referring to thirst or revenge).

wallowed

rolled about or relaxed in mud or water.

bade

past tense of "bid"; commanded or requested.

careering

moving swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.

cloven

split or divided in two.

cumbrous

heavy or large and therefore difficult to carry or use.

curdling

to separate into curds; used to describe blood turning cold from fear.

desolate

deserted of people and in a state of bleak emptiness.

dinned

made a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise.

heedless

showing a reckless lack of care or attention.

infallible

incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

keening

a wail of grief for a dead person.

lustre

a gentle sheen or soft glow.

manifold

many and various.

plumage

a bird's feathers.

plummet

to fall or drop straight down at high speed.

undulation

a rising and falling in waves.

accurst

under a curse; ill-fated or detestable.

anguish

severe mental or physical pain or suffering.

brandishing

waving or flourishing something (like a weapon) as a threat.

chiding

scolding or rebuking.

conflagration

an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of property.

confound

to cause surprise or confusion.

covetous

having a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else.

forsook

abandoned or deserted.

lavish

sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.

rampart

a defensive wall of a castle or walled city.

shambled

moved with a slow, shuffling, awkward gait.

shivered

broke into many small pieces; shattered.

summit

the highest point of a hill or mountain.

turreted

furnished with small towers (turrets).

wreathed

twisted, braided, or coiled around something.

alliterative verse

Poetry that uses alliteration (repetition of initial consonant sounds) as the main structure instead of rhyme.

allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, or event from history or literature.

epic

A long narrative poem telling of a hero's great deeds.

assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

fen

A low and marshy or frequently flooded area of land; Grendel’s habitat.

kenning

A metaphorical compound phrase used in place of a simple noun (e.g., "whale-road" for ocean).

epithet

A descriptive phrase expressing a characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.

lair

The den or resting place of a wild animal (like Grendel or the Dragon).

Geats

Beowulf’s people; a North Germanic tribe from what is now Sweden.

cataract

A large waterfall or a sudden rush of water.

moor

A tract of open uncultivated upland; a heath.

pyre

A heap of combustible material for burning a corpse as part of a funeral.

crag

A steep or rugged cliff or rock face.

Heorot

The great mead-hall of the Danish King Hrothgar.

Hrunting

The ancient sword given to Beowulf by Unferth.

Hygelac

King of the Geats and Beowulf's uncle (Beowulf’s father was Ecgtheow).

Wiglaf

The loyal young warrior who stays to help Beowulf kill the dragon.

Beowulf

The protagonist and epic hero of the poem.

Wealhtheow

Hrothgar’s queen; the dignified wife of the Danish king.