In Anglo-Saxon society, a strong will, physique, and mind were nearly required; the requisites for a king and warrior are raised considerably. Hrothgar and Beowulf, while serving as king to their respective people, meet all these necessities, as well as being brave, wise, and more than willing to fight for their people. A dragon began wreaking havoc on Geatish villages; Beowulf did not back down in the face of a challenge. Courage and bravery were of extreme importance to a man of "warrior" status in the Anglo-Saxon era. On the other side of the spectrum, respect and generosity are key factors Hrothgar is both giving and highly respected; people accept his "very word, far and wide, as command,"( ). The ideal king and warrior for the Anglo-Saxon era is created by a stew of qualities that both Hrothgar and Beowulf show in the poem. Generosity, respect, and trust play a great deal in the hand of a king. Hrothgar has an enormous amount of respect within his kingdom. The people give him great titles such as the "Lord of the Mighty Danes," "Guardian of the Scyldings," and "Protector of Warriors,"( ). Much of the respect is earned in response to Hrothgar's generosity to everyone. After Beowulf defeats Grendel, Hrothgar rewards Beowulf with many priceless valuables as he says to the warrior, "You shall lack no earthly riches I can offer you,"( ). Although people of the Anglo-Saxon time period believed in their own gods, influences of Christianity can be seen throughout the poem. The people under Hrothgar also trust their king, who holds a strong belief in God. Hrothgar says, "Let us give thanks at once to God Almighty for this sight," as he holds up the arm previously owned by Grendel ( ). The virtues of a good king are overall wisdom and courage; Hrothgar he is slightly lacking in the latter of the two qualities. After all, he is an aged man. However, Hrothgar displays the true traits of a king who is more than qualified for the title.
