Modþryð
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Queen Modþryð or Modthryth, also Þryð or Thryth (meaning "strength", cf. Old Norse Þrúð, the daughter of Thor), is a queen who figures in Beowulf.
The reasons for the appearance of both the simple Þryð, and the compound name Modþryð is that the latter name is an emendation by Klaeber[1], because mod appear just before Þryð on line 1932 of the poem, where she is introduced.
She is a powerful and vengeful woman who punishes anyone beneath her station who dares to look her directly in the eye. She changes her ways after being married to Offa, becoming a gracious hostess and gaining fame for her good deeds and devotion to her husband (lines 1947-1955).
The poet juxtaposes the vice of Queen Modþryð with the virtues of Hygd (introduced a few lines prior in l.1926), not only admonishing Modþryð's behavior but reinforcing the idea that it is the role of a queen to be a freoðuwebbe or "peaceweaver" (lines 1940-1944).
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