palisade a defensive fortification or fence made of pointed sticks (pales).
the prince's thane here, a reference to Hengest.
protector of nobles Beowulf.
protector of sailors Beowulf.
race of giants here, some of the descendants of Cain.
Ravenswood site (in Sweden) of major battle between Geats and Swedes.
retainer an attendant to the king, here sometimes used interchangeably with "thane."
Ring-Danes the Scyldings.
ring-giver ruler, king, feudal lord.
Ruler's favor God's preference. Sometimes God and wyrd are virtually interchangeable in the poem, possibly the result of Christian substitution.
rune-counselor an advisor especially adept at solving difficult problems.
runes letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic peoples, especially Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons; sometimes cryptic.
