Before Beowulf fights Grendel what is the political and familial relationship between Hrothgar and Beowulf? What is the relationship between Hrothgar...

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.