In this section Beowulf and his men return to his homeland and we are introduced to King Hygelac and Queen Hygd. It is mentioned how Queen Hygd, is a beautiful and wise, though very young women. Like Wealhtheow in Denmark, Hygd is presented as a positive example of proper behavior in women—she is gracious in bearing and manner, attentive to the men around her, and loyal to her husband and lord. In order to highlight these positive qualities, the narrator positions the legendarily wicked Queen Modthryth as the opposite of Hygd’s. For instance, how Modthryth tortured and even killed many innocent people who she imagined were offending her. However, Modthryth’s behavior later improved, after she was married to the great king of the Angles Offa.
