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Relationships among Hrothgar, Beowulf, and Grendel in Beowulf

Summary:

The relationships among Hrothgar, Beowulf, and Grendel in Beowulf are central to the epic. Hrothgar, the Danish king, is plagued by Grendel, a monstrous creature attacking his hall. Beowulf, a heroic Geatish warrior, comes to Hrothgar’s aid, battling and ultimately defeating Grendel. These relationships highlight themes of heroism, loyalty, and the struggle between good and evil.

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What is the relationship between Grendel and Hrothgar in Beowulf?

The relationship between Grendel and Hrothgar is one of hate; Grendel loathes the celebrations of God that take place at Heorot. Though Beowulf and Hrothgar had no personal relationship before Beowulf arrived to slay Grendel, Hrothgar knew Beowulf's father, respected him and believes that Beowulf might be able to help save Heorot. 

The narrator in Beowulf describes Grendel as a monster who was cast out from the sight of men. As Hrothgar builds Heorot and the men gather to enjoy their feasts and tales, Grendel stirs. The narrator describes Grendel, saying:

Grendel this monster grim was called,
march-riever mighty, in moorland living,
in fen and fastness; fief of the giants
the hapless wight a while had kept
since the Creator his exile doomed.
On kin of Cain was the killing avenged
by sovran God for slaughtered Abel.
Ill fared his feud, and far was he driven,
for the slaughter’s sake, from...

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sight of men.
Of Cain awoke all that woful breed,
Etins and elves and evil-spirits,
as well as the giants that warred with God
weary while: but their wage was paid them!
Grendel arrives at Heorot and kills many of the men before returning to his lair. The men continue to use Heorot as a mead hall to praise God and tell stories of their own glory; Grendel returns to kill them. Grendel's actions bring Hrothgar great sorrow. The narrator says:
There came unhidden tidings true to the tribes of men, in sorrowful songs, how ceaselessly Grendel harassed Hrothgar, what hate he bore him, what murder and massacre, many a year, feud unfading, — refused consent to deal with any of Daneland’s earls, make pact of peace, or compound for gold: still less did the wise men ween to get great fee for the feud from his fiendish hands.
This continues until the mead hall is abandoned since no one seems able to kill Grendel.
When Beowulf arrives to try his might against Grendel, he tells Hrothgar of his past exploits and successes fighting monsters. Ultimately Hrothgar is so sure of Beowulf's goodness and strength that he yields control of Heorot to Beowulf for a night while the men wait to fight Grendel, something he's never done for another man before. Hrothgar says:
Never to any man erst I trusted, since I could heave up hand and shield, this noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee. Have now and hold this house unpeered; remember thy glory; thy might declare; watch for the foe! No wish shall fail thee if thou bidest the battle with bold-won life.
Though Grendel and Hrothgar are enemies and locked in a feud that brought the king years of grief, the arrival of Beowulf gives Hrothgar hope for the first time and, ultimately, allows him to regain control of Heorot. 
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What is the political and familial relationship between Hrothgar and Beowulf before their fight with Grendel?

Beowulf is one of the oldest surviving epic poems in the Old English language. The manuscript was produced between 975 and 1025, but we do not know when the actual poem was first composed. We also do not know who the original poet was; that mystery person is referred to as the “Beowulf poet.”

In this epic poem, the great hero Beowulf comes to the aid of the tormented Danes. He slays the monster Grendel and then Grendel's monster mother, and eventually kills a dragon. He dies in the final battle with the dragon, but successfully rids the land of its plague of monsters.

One of the requirements for “heroes” in ancient English literature is an inherent imperative duty to help those who are helpless and in danger. Beowulf fulfills this role. Beowulf has no obligation legally to help the Danes. He actually serves a different king and is a hero of the Geats. He is not part of the Scandinavian tribe being attacked by Grendel, a monster descended from Cain. Thus, Beowulf asks his king if he can go to the aid of the Danes and King Hrothgar, and his king allows it. Beowulf leaves his land to go assist people he has no obligation to, and that action makes him a hero. So, even though Beowulf does not know Hrothgar well, he decides to come to his aid and help rid the great hall Heorot of the monster Grendel.

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Although not related by blood, Beowulf the Geat shares a name with a beloved Danish king of old. Hrothgar knew Beowulf's father, and so the two had a respectful allegiance to each other. Hrothgar had interceded on the Geats behalf years before and prevented a war, so both Beowulf and Hrothgar saw Beowulf's coming as a valorous and honorable deed.

Even though Unferth questioned Beowulf's abilities, Beowulf's account of his own victories over sea monsters was sufficient for Hrothgar to see the heroic ideal working itself out in Beowulf and brought him in as a friend and son of the Danes.

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What's Hrothgar's relationship with his retainers in Beowulf?

Hrothgar is the King.  His people are "retained" through loyalty and love.  In Anglo-Saxon times, loyalty and family ties meant everything.  Hence, Grendel is such a monster mainly because he is descended of Cain, who murdered his own brother.  Crimes against family, blood, and loyalty oaths were considered unforgiveable.

So, anyone fighting to protect Hrothgar would have received the pledge that the King would take care of him as Hrothgar expected the warrior to protect the King.  As payment for a warrior's loyalty, Hrothgar often gave rings or other trinkets of wealth.  This is how the kings of the time period came to be known as "the ring-givers".   The bond can only be honorably broken through death.

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