Hrethel

Background Hrethel is king of the Geats, who has three sons Hæþcyn, Herebeald and Hygelac. His daughter (name unknown) marries Ecgþeow who has Beowulf. When Beowulf’s parents die at age seven, Hrethel fostered Beowulf by taking him into his royal household. Hrethel died of grief when Herebeald is killed by own brother Hygelac in a hunting accident. Hrethel was succeeded by Hæþcyn.

Strength His strengths are that he is kind and noble.

Weaknesses. His weakness was that he could not deal with losing one of his sons and another being the murderer.

The character's significance to the Beowulf epic. Hrethel raised Beowulf in his own household. As a result, this gives Beowulf a high status that will later help him be able to go to Hrothgar and ultimately beat Grendel and his mother.

The lines from Beowulf in which Hrethel is mentioned Hrethel is mentioned in lines 2430-2475.

References Heaney, Seamus, translator. Beowulf. W.W. Norton and Company, 2002.

sites.google.com. sites.google.com/site/eng4beowulfprojectg2/_/rsrc/1441848041944/academics/ 1316141183.jpg?height=200&width=200.

Cliffnotes. www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/b/beowulf/summary-and-analysis/lines-24012630.

Shmoop. www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/beowulf/

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Findanyanswer. findanyanswer.com/who-is-hrethel-in-beowulf.