Hrothgar is the King of the spear-dances in Denmark. Hrothgar was a strong warrior during his younger days but now is an old king who is in a dangerous position where he cannot defend his people against Grendel without the assistance of Beowulf. Hrothgar understands his own mortality because he is not the warrior he once was and he would have been killed like all the other warriors that lost their lives to Grendel if he battled him. If Hrothgar dies then there is no one to take his position as king because his children are still too young. This makes Hrothgar accept Beowulf’s offer to defeat Grendel for him. After Beowulf defeated the demon, Hrothgar explains to him that “soon in their turn sickness or war/ will break your strength, or the grip of fire/ overwhelming wave, or sword’s swing/ a thrown spear, or hateful old age/ the lights will darken theater were your eyes/ Death overcomes you all at once, warrior.” (Beowulf, pg.
Hrothgar is the King of the spear-dances in Denmark. Hrothgar was a strong warrior during his younger days but now is an old king who is in a dangerous position where he cannot defend his people against Grendel without the assistance of Beowulf. Hrothgar understands his own mortality because he is not the warrior he once was and he would have been killed like all the other warriors that lost their lives to Grendel if he battled him. If Hrothgar dies then there is no one to take his position as king because his children are still too young. This makes Hrothgar accept Beowulf’s offer to defeat Grendel for him. After Beowulf defeated the demon, Hrothgar explains to him that “soon in their turn sickness or war/ will break your strength, or the grip of fire/ overwhelming wave, or sword’s swing/ a thrown spear, or hateful old age/ the lights will darken theater were your eyes/ Death overcomes you all at once, warrior.” (Beowulf, pg.