How long has hrothgar ruled the danes

In contrast, the scop also sings of Heremod, a bad ruler who brought sorrow and death to his own people. Beowulf briefly recounts the battle, and even Unferth is impressed enough to keep silent.

Work is begun to refurbish Heorot. Before dawn, Beowulf and his men report to Hrothgar. Hrothgar promises more rewards and greater fame for Beowulf. Accompanied by warriors, Hrothgar leads Beowulf to the mere that harbors the vengeful mother. It is a dark and evil place. Huge serpents and water-beasts inhabit the lake. Beowulf dresses for battle and prepares to search the lake for the enemy.

Unferth humbles himself by presenting Beowulf with his great sword, Hrunting. The Geat hero speaks what may be his final words. Beowulf dives into the mere wearing his mail-shirt and carrying Hrunting in its scabbard.

Deep in the lake, the mother grasps him tightly with her claws so that he cannot draw his sword. Beowulf then tries to wrestle her, but he fails to gain the kind of death grip that defeated Grendel. She pulls her knife, but it cannot pierce his mail-shirt. Again on his feet, Beowulf spots a huge sword made by giants. Beowulf lops off the head to replace the trophy of the claw that the mother retrieved.

Only his Geats await him. Thinking him dead, Hrothgar and the Danes have returned to Heorot. The king examines the hilt and then speaks to Beowulf, giving a sermon on the dangers of fame and success and the vicissitudes of life. Hrothgar notes that he himself had great fortune as a young man and ruled successfully for 50 years until Grendel brought him down. The warriors feast and sleep safely. In the morning, Beowulf returns Hrunting to Unferth and receives numerous gifts before he and his men exchange farewells with the Danes and sail for home.

Beowulf and his men return to their ship and set sail for Geatland. Beowulf presents various treasures to Hygelac and Hygd, most notably presenting the queen with the magnificent gold necklace that Wealhtheow gave him. Hygelac rewards Beowulf with a rare heirloom, a sword covered with gold. Beowulf is now a lord of the realm, but it is clear that he still owes his allegiance to Hygelac. Years pass. Hygelac is killed in battle. Beowulf becomes king of the Geats and rules well for 50 years.

A lone Geat fugitive, apparently a servant or slave escaping a cruel master, has stolen a single flagon from the hoard, outraging the dragon and inciting him to vengeance. Before long, however, the aging warrior focuses on his responsibility as protector and prepares to face the monster in battle. Although he is now an old man, Beowulf believes that he can defeat the dragon by himself.

Always conscious of weapons and tactics, Beowulf prepares by ordering a new shield, made of iron, since the dragon-fire would make short sparks of his usual linden-wood. Courageous and determined, if not quite the man he once was, the old warrior sets off.

With eleven of his most trusted retainers, men who have gladly accepted the gifts of a generous king, Beowulf sets out to find the dragon.

Reluctantly guiding them is the fugitive who originally stole the cup from the treasure-trove. Once there, Beowulf pauses to reflect on his life and he recalls his own glory days and the victories that he earned for his king and their people.

Beowulf presents his last war speech to the select company. He will face the fire-dragon alone. Discovering an entrance to the barrow under the stone cliff, Beowulf decides that he cannot enter due to flames already covering the passage. He calls out the dragon, and the two face off. Wounded and burned, the great old champion needs help. At this crucial time, all but one of his retainers abandon him, fleeing to safety in a nearby wood. Only young Wiglaf remains. Although this is his first battle, he cannot desert his king.

Wiglaf calls to the other ten retainers and reminds them of the promises that they made to Beowulf. In exchange for his protection and gifts, they all had vowed to fight for their king whenever he needed them.

Even though Beowulf intended to deal with the dragon one-on-one, he now clearly needs help. The other thanes do not return. Realizing he is dying, Beowulf speaks his final words as Wiglaf attempts to comfort him.

The other ten retainers come out of the woods and receive a harsh lecture from their new king. He continues to refrain from vengeance against Unferth for the earlier insults regarding the Breca contest; nor does he blame the sword for its failure in the cave fight.

He is, we are told, "noble, generous in spirit" , perhaps reflecting, at least for the time, virtues of Hrothgar's sermon. Beowulf generously offers to come to Hrothgar's assistance if enemies threaten the king.

He speaks for his own country's ruler in welcoming Hrothgar's son to Hygelac's court if the lad chooses to visit.

Hrothgar observes, prophetically, that Beowulf would make a fine king himself if the Geats should ever find themselves in need of one. He presents Beowulf with a dozen more treasures. Hrothgar's farewell to Beowulf is poignant and sincere. Tears running down his cheeks, he embraces and kisses the young warrior as an aging father might treat a son whom he realistically does not expect to see again.

Hrothgar is not a bad king. Heaven's hall-ruler God is metaphorically spoken of as a Germanic king. Hrethel father of Geats' King Hygelac; maternal grandfather of Beowulf. Previous Lines Next Lines Removing book from your Reading List will also remove any bookmarked pages associated with this title. He is in awe of Beowulf. How many men did Beowulf take with him on his journey?

Why does Hrothgar's lookout approach Beowulf and his crew as he does? The boat looks like it is ready for war. Hrothgar's throne room. Gad made the earth for men. What did Hrothgar's people do in hope to be rescued. Vow offerings at pagan shrines.

How many years has Grendel been terrorizing the Danish people? Wins a swimming match to Beowulf through luck. The first name the scop mentions of Hrothgar's lineage. Beowulf kills this monster by ripping his arm off. Beowulf kills this monster with a magic sword. A wise and aged ruler, Hrothgar represents a different kind of leadership from that exhibited by the youthful warrior Beowulf.

He is a father figure to Beowulf and a model for the kind of king that Beowulf becomes. An ancient, powerful serpent, the dragon guards a horde of treasure in a hidden mound. The second king listed in the genealogy of Danish rulers with which the poem begins. Beow is the son of Shield Sheafson and father of Halfdane. The narrator presents Beow as a gift from God to a people in need of a leader. The father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, Halga, and an unnamed daughter who married a king of the Swedes, Halfdane succeeded Beow as ruler of the Danes.

A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf, Unferth is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel, thus proving himself inferior to Beowulf. Hygelac heartily welcomes Beowulf back from Denmark. Hygd is contrasted with Queen Modthryth.