The dragon (Beowulf) His Lair in "Beowulf"" that the fight between Beowulf and the dragon tends to receive less critical attention than other portions of the poem, commenting that "Grendel and his dam have, as it were, become more beloved of the commentators". Conversely, Kemp Malone writes in "The Kenning in "Beowulf"" that Beowulf's fight with the dragon receives much critical attention, but that commentators fail to note that "the dragon was no fighter. Not that it refused to fight when challenged, but that it did not seek out Beowulf or anyone else. It left Beowulf to do the seeking out". In his
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)