Hrothgar Vs Beowulf

Hrothgar and Beowulf

The epic, Beowulf, written by an unknown author tells a story of heroism, good versus evil, and defeat. The story starts out with a monster Grendel, whom is said to be the decadence of Cain, awaking. This devilish monster goes on a rampage of pure evil killing everything in its sight which leaves the once great leader, Hrothgar, hopeless. Beowulf hears of this terrible monster and comes to the king’s rescue. Beowulf ends up defeating the monsters threatening the land and then the two great leaders form an alliance and become appreciative friends. These leaders, Beowulf and Hrothgar, are very similar yet very different, they are both heroic, christen, and lastly they both experienced a very different yet similar demise.

The two character, Hrothgar and Beowulf are heavily praised when they are first introduced to the readers rapidly demonstrating that they are great, well known, chivalrous heroes. In the epic, Hrothgar is introduced first, “Then Hrothgar, taking the throne, led the Danes to such glory that comrades and kinsmen swore by his sword” (Line 64 – 66). Unlike Beowulf Hrothgar is king right away in the story. Yet Hrothgar is not the hero this story because he allowed Grendel to become a marauder of many men. If he had found a way, either by himself or someone else, to get rid of Grendel, only then he would he have been labeled as an epic hero. But that does not happen. The honor of being the epic hero goes to Beowulf, “Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats---greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world” (Line 195 – 196). Beowulf does not start of as a king in the story but rather an accomplish to the king of the Geats. In addition, an epic hero is someone who performs heroic deeds which means Beowulf is the obvious hero of the story. Beowulf killed Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon, which are all heroic deeds that no one was willing to commit but himself. Although Hrothgar was not the hero of the story he was a hero to his people before the reign of Grendel, therefore, both Hrothgar and Beowulf are