Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics give it a powerful effect. He rebuts suggestions that the poem is an epic or exciting narrative, likening it instead to a strong masonry structure built of blocks that fit together. He points out that the poem's theme is a serious one, mortality, and that the poem is in two parts: the first on Beowulf as a young man, defeating Grendel and his mother; the second on Beowulf in old age, going to his death fighting the dragon. The work has been praised by critics including the poet and "Beowulf" translator Seamus Heaney. Michael D. C. Drout called it the
Harald the Old Harald the Old Harald Valdarsson, also known as Harald the Old (, born circa 568) appears only by name in "Hversu Noregr byggðist", but his father, sons and their descendants played a central role in the politics of Scandinavian legends. "Hversu Noregr byggðist" tells that he was the son of Valdar, who was the son of Hróarr (i.e. king Hroðgar of "Beowulf"), and Harald was the father of Halfdan the Valiant and the grandfather of Ivar Vidfamne. "Skjöldunga saga" tells that the same Valdar (i.e. Harald's father) disputed that Rörek, the cousin of Hróarr (Hroðgar) should succeed Hrólfr Kraki (Hroðulf)