Wiglaf

Wiglaf is a character in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem "Beowulf". He is the son of Weohstan, a Swede of the Wægmunding clan who had entered the service of Beowulf, king of the Geats. Wiglaf is called "Scylfing" as a metonymy for Swede, as the Scylfings were the ruling Swedish clan. While in the service of the Scylfing Onela, king of the Swedes, Weohstan killed the rebel prince Eanmund and took his sword as a trophy; [Lines 2612-5.] Wiglaf later inherited it. [Lines 2620-4.] Weohstan belonged to the clan of the Wægmundings, the same clan that Beowulf's father Ecgþeow belonged to; so Wiglaf is a distant cousin of Beowulf, and at the time of Beowulf's death he was Beowulf's only living relative.

Beowulf

Wiglaf first appears in "Beowulf" at line 2598, as a member of the band of thanes who go with Beowulf to seek out the dragon that has attacked Geat-Land. This is the first time Wiglaf has gone to war at Beowulf's side. [Lines 2625b-2627.] He is called a "praise-worthy shield-warrior", a "prince of the Scylfings", and "mæg ælfheres", "kinsman of Ælfhere." [ Lines 2603-4.]

When Beowulf damages his sword wounding the dragon and is burned by the dragon's fire, [Lines 2585-95.] Wiglaf is the only man of Beowulf's band to overcome his fear of the dragon. [Lines 2599-2600.] He rebukes the other thanes [Lines 2631-60.] and goes to Beowulf's aid [Line 2661.] crying words of encouragement. [Lines 2663-8.]

Wiglaf does not retreat, though his shield is consumed by fire. [Lines 2675-7.] When Beowulf wounds the dragon a second time, striking so hard his sword shatters, [Lines 2677-82.] Wiglaf strikes at the open wound with his own sword, tearing at the dragon's throat so it can no longer breathe fire. [Lines 2699-2702.] His hand is badly burned, [Lines 2697-8.] but his attack allows Beowulf to close and kill the dragon. The poet says of Wiglaf, "So should a man be, a thane at need!" [Lines 2708-9.]

At Beowulf's command, Wiglaf gathers treasure from the dragon's lair and piles it where Beowulf can see it. [Lines 2752-82.] The dying Beowulf tells Wiglaf to "watch his people's needs" [Lines 2799-2800.] (by which he means that Wiglaf is to become the next king.) He tells Wiglaf to build him a funeral mound [Lines 2802-8.] and gives Wiglaf his rings, helm, and mail-shirt. [Lines 2809-12.] He says that Wiglaf is now "the last of the Wægmundings." [Lines 2813-4.]

The other eleven men that came with Beowulf [He took eleven thanes (line 2401) plus the man who knew where the dragon's lair was (line 2406) for a total of thirteen men, counting Beowulf.] gather around the body, and Wiglaf condemns them for their failure of duty and declares that he will order them exiled. [Lines 2864-91.] He sends a messenger to tell the other Geats what has happened. [Line 2892.] When the Geats have gathered, Wiglaf addresses them, mourning Beowulf's death and expressing dismay at the bleak future of the Geats without Beowulf to guard them. [Lines 3077-3109.]

Wiglaf's last appearance is at line 3120, where he chooses seven thanes to help him push the dragon's corpse over the cliff into the sea, loot the lair, and lay the treasure on Beowulf's funeral pyre. [Lines 3120-36.]

Role in "Beowulf" the Film

In the 2007 film "Beowulf" directed by Robert Zemeckis, Wiglaf's role (played by Brendan Gleeson) is larger; he is present in the movie from the first introduction of Beowulf and the Geats to the end when Beowulf vanquishes the dragon and dies. The movie makes Wiglaf into a side-kick and best friend of the epic hero.

Cultural References

Wiglaf is also the main character of the poetic novel "Beyond Beowulf" by Christopher Lloyd Webber. In "Beyond Beowulf", Wiglaf sides with a group of Geats who believe they should abandon Geatland in search of greener pastures.

=References=

See also

* "The Wanderer"