understatement

line 1007 to line 1048 is an example of understatement, it's explain that Beowulf has came back from killing Grendel's mother and King Hrothgar is in his mead hall about to honor Beowulf for his doings. Beowulf enters with all the men and warriors, and Hrothgar enters with all the ladies. This shows who the real man is in the kingdom. King Hrothgar doesn't thank Beowulf for killing there lands demons, but he thanked God, which isn't bad to do, for everything, even killing Grendel and saving the village. But the village was in bad shape under Gods view until Beowulf came. So Hrothgar doesn't give the correct praise to Beowulf.