I would say that the character described in these lines is Hrothgar, the king of Danes. His men are being killed by the monster Grendel, and he realizes that he needs a hero to help him get rid of the monster and save his kingdom.
Answer:
Demodocus is a poet who often visits the court of Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians on the island of Scherie. During Odysseus' stay on Scherie, Demodocus performs three narrative songs.
Explanation:
Demodocus, whose name means "beloved of the people," has several important functions in book 8, not the least of which is that Demodocus gives us a clear picture of the importance of the bard in Bronze Age oral culture. In addition, his songs about Odysseus—and, more important, Odysseus's reaction to those songs—prompt the key question from Odysseus's Phaeacian host, King Alcinous: "Who are you?"