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.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Wealhtheow canonical 6

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Danish queen
character in Beowulf
literary character
queen
appearsIn Beowulf
associatedTheme dynastic stability
hospitality
loyalty
women’s roles in warrior societies
associatedWithLocation Heorot
associatedWithPeople Scylding dynasty
culture Germanic heroic culture
ethnicAssociation Danish
genreContext Old English epic poetry
house Scyldings
linked to: Scylding dynasty
interactsWith Beowulf
Hrothgar
Unferth
the Geats
knownFor ceremonial role in Heorot
diplomacy
wisdom
languageOfWork Old English
laterMedium manuscript Nowell Codex
linked to: Nowell Codex
literaryPeriod Anglo-Saxon literature
motherOf Hrethric
Hrothmund
nameInOldEnglish Wēalhþēow
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
linked to: Danes
roleInHeorot cup-bearer
hostess
peace-weaver
spouse Hrothgar
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

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (6)

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

Hrothgar marriedTo Wealhtheow
Hrothgar spouse Wealhtheow
Hrothmund mother Wealhtheow
Hrothmund relative Wealhtheow
Freawaru childOf Wealhtheow
Freawaru hasMother Wealhtheow