Humanities Homework Help

I’m working on a humanities discussion question and need guidance to help me learn.

Compare and contrast the following passages: Lines 1591-1631 (when Hrothgar’s men leave, but Beowulf’s retainers stay) and lines 2401-2668. What do we think about the fact that Beowulf’s men stuck by him in the past when he fought Grendel’s mother, but they abandon him when he fights the dragon? He hand-picked these men both times, so what happened in the fight with the dragon? Is this fight different? How? Why? What does this say about Beowulf as a king? What does this say about Beowulf’s “best” men”? What could be the reason for their abandonment?