Shortly after the defeat of Grendel and Grendel’s Mother, Beowulf presents Hrothgar with the hilt of the sword used to kill the two demons. As Hrothgar examines the beauty of the hilt, he begins to see that the sword actually tells of how war was brought into the world. As Hrothgar reflects on war and the power Beowulf has shown through his feat against Grendel and Grendel’s Mother, Hrothgar is reminded of the evil king Heremod, and feels compelled to speak a warning unto Beowulf. In the beginning of his speech, Hrothgar is trying to share the example that Heremod became following his death. Heremod was skilled and mighty “Almighty God made him [Heremod] eminent and powerful and marked him from the start” (1715—1716), but soon fell bloodthirsty
