Hrothgar the Old and Powerful King: A Closer Look at his Character Beowulf takes an especially interesting look at old age and its ramifications for kingship and heroism. The poem's two main characters, Beowulf and Hrothgar, have long been a study of contrast for scholars of the work, and of course it is Beowulf who emerges favorably from the comparison. Especially interesting is the comparison between the aged Hrothgar of the first two "episodes" of the poem, and the aged Beowulf of the third. Hrothgar is strongly associated with women, an observation is probably not accidental, given the few times women are actually mentioned