However, there was also motivational factor of family responsibility that Beowulf owes to Hrothgar, this shows the loyalty that Beowulf not only has for his father, for repaying his debts, but also to the Danes. Another important event where Beowulf demonstrated his loyalty to king Hrothgar can be seen when, "I brought the end of Edgetho's Quarrel, sent ancient treasures through the ocean's Furrows to the Wulfings; your father swore He'd keep that peace" (Heaney 204) This passage demonstrates the graciousness that at last conveyed Beowulf's dad to make peace with Hrothgar's kin. In going to the guide of the Anglo-Saxon's, Beowulf keeps the peace and therefore demonstrates his loyalty and appreciation to king Hrothgar. As we can see from these tales of Beowulf's feats loyalty and incredible strength and bravery play hand in hand when proving to be a hero.
Another major trait that must be met by all people to be qualified as a hero is strength and bravery. Strength ruled in this world and relatively few had it. The poem focused on how its legend, Beowulf, was a man who possessed almost God-like strength, and like him there was no equivalent for, "There was no one else like him alive. In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful" (Beowulf, 196-198). Beowulf's strength was by far the leading factor in why his heroic journey in the land of the Geats was very successful. Not only was he able to defeat Grendel, who had been terrorizing the Danes, but he was also able to defeat his mother with a sword no other man could carry. This same notion is again when Beowulf is depicted as, "the man who of all men was foremost and strongest in the days of his life" (Heaney 788). This passage demonstrates the idea of Beowulf being the strongest man at the time, and that no one else could compare. Everyone who lived in Western Europe at this time would have known Beowulf for his strength, bravery and, "a thanewith the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand" (Heaney 380).
