xWhat is a "good king?" The Beowulf poet ironically begs the question, naming all the inhabitants of his poem "good" kings and heroes—even as they perpetrate marauding acts of warfare, feud, and revenge (actions pointedly linked by the poet with the crimes of Cain). The problem of right leadership was also an ongoing concern of Alfred the Great, a man who truly aspired to be a "good king" according to the model of virtue exemplified in David and the model of wisdom exemplified in Solomon (see Historical Resources).
xxThis shared concern affords an avenue into the poem. We can never know, of course, whether Alfred actually heard Beowulf; but we can say with confidence that he would have found the poem quite meaningful as a cautionary tale on the insufficiency of heroic virtue, or of any definition of leadership lacking in Biblical wisdom. In other words, if we take Alfred as one exemplar of Anglo-Saxon culture, we have at least one verifiable path into the poem.
xxWhat indeed is a "good king?" The problem of right leadership is with us to this day. In the example set by the inhabitants of Beowulf's fictive pagan world and the example set in the work and writings of Alfred, we find two very different answers:

Hrothgar and Beowulf bequeath as treasures the weapons of war.
Alfred bequeathed as treasures religious artifacts.

Hrothgar most deeply values physical strength and courage (calling Beowulf the "best"of men).
Alfred most deeply valued the precepts of Biblical wisdom.

Beowulf strives to be "best" in strength and courage.
Alfred strove to be "best" in emulating the virtues of David and Solomon.

Beowulf, basing defense in the strength of one alone, ultimately leaves his kingdom undefended.
Alfred, basing defense in a community-based strategy, ultimately leaves his kingdom strongly defended.

Beowulf and Hrothgar are trapped in revenge cycles.
Alfred developed laws to circumvent revenge; and on one famous occasion, forgave his enemy.

Scyld Scefing, Hrothgar, Hygelac, and Beowulf strive to increase security primarily by warring on their neighbors.
Alfred strove to increase security by primarily forging alliances with his neighbors.

Hrothgar’s national culture, manifest in the actions of officials, expresses paranoia about visitors, who are seen as potential marauders.
Alfred’s national culture, as expressed in law and protocol, welcomed visitors as traders and knowledgable travelers.

Scyld Scefing, Hrothgar, Hygelac, and Beowulf build wealth primarily through plunder.
Alfred built wealth primarily through industry and trade.

Hrothgar and Beowulf both violate promises—Hrothgar, to honor Beowulf as his son; Beowulf, to defend Hrothgar against all enemies).
For Alfred, the oath was sacred and central to law.

More topics for discussion and research:
Contrast Beowulf’s actions during Hygelac's dying battle with the heroic ideal exemplified in The Battle of Maldon.

Contrast Hrothgar’s motives for building Heorot with Alfred’s description of himself as “builder” in Pastoral Care.

Compare Hrothgar's sermon on the vagaries of Fate with Alfred's expression on the same topic in his translation of The Consolation of Philosophy.

Compare Alfred’s reluctance to rule in a time of national crisis with Beowulf's reluctance to rule in a time of national crisis.