Hrothgar: The Virtue In The Epic Of Beowulf

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Even before we have met Beowulf himself, we are still hearing about the great kings of the Spear-Danes from the past. They use great leaders from the past to show an exemplifier example for the upcoming kings. The narrator reminds us of an important custom: the giving of gifts. In this world, if princes or kings are generous with their wealth and treasures, they are more likely to have faithful warriors surrounding them and standing with them.
This short and conscience passage is giving the virtues of the early Danish king Beow. It is illustrating the kind of political wisdom that characterizes Hrothgar. Hrothgar is a descendent of the Danish king Beow. There is this sense of a heroic code’s system that includes political and diplomatic structure. Another value that is viewed greatly, is Generosity. However, there is no attempt to disguise the fact that it is motivated by the need to maintain the support of a band of retainers. In the warrior culture, they accept and embrace this give-and-take relationship between a ruler and the people who are ruled. This relationship …show more content…
This warrior society so highly values its heroic code, it highly esteems those who conform to the code’s principles. So, anyone who follows these things is bound to earn the respect and support from others. Beowulf boast himself as a great warrior when he comes into town to try and earn the respect of others. To prove himself he takes on the mighty monster that is terrorizing the kingdom. From his accomplishments, he is then celebrated and received as a hero. Beowulf stands out against his peers from his quality because there are people like Unferth. Who prove an empty chatter unwilling to fight Grendel or his Mother to save the kingdom. Unferth has a way of boasting and storytelling to make himself look better, but in the warrior culture, heroes are above everything else, defined by their

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