In the first six hundred lines of Beowulf, the poet introduces several characters – Hrothgar, Wulfgar, and Unferth – who are juxtaposed with Beowulf to not only glorify the protagonist, but also illustrate the heroic codes of the time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The poet's portrayal of Hrothgar as a generous and "good" king, yet distressed by the problem of Grendel, contrasts with Beowulf's ruthless, warrior-like personality. The poet initially describes Hrothgar's accomplishments majestically, where the “fortunes of war” (line 64) have “favoured” (line 64) Hrothgar. However, it appears that Hrothgar, who may once have been a mighty warrior and king, is no longer at the height of his power. His generosity in regularly dispensing "rings and torques" (line 81) and other "God-given goods" (line 72) to his people reaches a point where he has been given the name "the giver of rings" (line 353). This fact seems to further imply that to some extent Hrothgar maintains the loyalty of his subjects through wealth. The subsequent description of the king's helplessness towards Grendel places Hrothgar in a position close to helpless pity in the eyes of the readers. The poet describes the troubled times as "harrowing for the Prince of Shields" (line 170) while the Danes place their offerings at the "pagan shrines" (line 175) with their "pagan hopes" (line 179). The situation of the Danes' futile resistance against Grendel under a troubled king provides a perfect backdrop for the entry of the hero of the epic, Beowulf. Hrothgar may have once been a charismatic and fearless leader similar to Beowulf, but now in a seemingly fragile state, Beowulf's great journey from Geatland via the "swan road" (line 200) with "a load of weapons" and " shining war gear" (line 214), can only further emphasize his heroic image of a warrior who is "truly noble" (line 250). Therefore, through the depiction of Hrothgar, the poet not only presents the problematic situation of land of the Danes, but also sets the conditions for Beowulf to be presented as a hero Both the coastal sentinel and Wulfgar, although similar to Beowulf in that they are both are warriors and in some respects also serve as a contrast to Beowulf who indirectly reinforces the image of Beowulf as a hero, the sentinel and Wulfgar directly praise Beowulf the sentinel states that he has never “seen a more mighty man-at-arms on this earth (line 248). Wulfgar, also as a "fierce warrior" (line 332), supposes that "sturdy heart, courage, not exile" (line 339) brought Beowulf to Hrothgar and believes the Geats to be "worthy of respect" ( line 369) were. The sentry and Wulfgar both reflect a central idea of ​​the epic which is the Germanic heroic code that values ​​strength, courage, integrity, and loyalty in warriors. Likewise, Beowulf also abides by these codes. However, what differentiates Beowulf from the two Danish warriors, aside from the fact that Beowulf possesses incredible strength, is that Beowulf undertakes these heroic feats in search of fame and glory. The sentry and Wulfgar are subordinates of King Hrothgar, but Beowulf is a warrior with his own "resolve" (line 416), one who seems to seek his own destiny and fame. After Beowulf "announces his plan" (line 199) to help the "prince who needed defenders" (line 201), he "hurls away with a will on the wood-wrapped [ship]" (line 217). This contrast between the two Danish warriors and Beowulf, who actively seeks adventures to increase his fame, adds.