The Old English poem Beowulf offers a number of contrasts in telling the story of the hero Beowulf and his fight to save a community not his own from the monster Grendel. One of the contrasts is between youth and old age, and this contrast is not presented in a very explicit fashion but is inherent in the role of the young man, Beowulf, who is expected to achieve a certain heroic stature before he becomes older, like the leader of the Danes, a man much older now but one who would have been more like the youthful and vigorous Beowulf when he was in his prime. Now, he needs the help of the younger man to protect his kingdom and so to maintain his household. Through his actions, Beowulf is able to create his own legend and secure his own riches
