The Middle Ages were a very difficult time for individuals to try to live and succeed on their own. Most people did not live life this way, most lived in large communities. The same is true in the epic poem Beowulf. In fact, community is such a major theme of the poem that it almost seems like there is a constant reminder on every page. Every aspect of life is engulfed in communal affairs; every meal, every gathering, every celebration is done as a whole. The good times as well as the bad times are shared within the walls of the kingdom, together as one municipality. Community is extremely important to the populations every day life in so many ways. The place of gathering in the story is Heorot, a magnificent mead-hall constructed by the King and Ruler, Hrothgar. Hrothgar was a very powerful ruler of the Danes; he was successful in many battles and therefore had grown to become a great emperor. He decided to build Heorot so he could have the most splendid hall in all the land, as the author says: "he handed down orders/ for men to work on a great mead-hall/ meant to be a wonder of the world forever;" (68-70). This became, according to the story, the wonderful gathering place for the Danes and all their people.
             Having a place to gather is one essential aspect of a community, but an even more important presence is the common goals of the people that comprise it. In the Middle Ages, and especially in Beowulf, having a common foe brought together a community in times of need. This is shown when Beowulf travels to Heorot to fight the evil monster Grendel. He is immediately welcomed as soon as he steps off his boat, even though he is an unknown traveler at this point. The poem says, "Nor have I seen/ a mightier man-at-arms on this earth/ than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble" (257-50). This is said to Beowulf when he is first confronted by the Danes coastal lookout. After ...