Of The Kings In Beowulf example essay topic

The epic poem Beowulf has had a diverse history of scholarship. Originally, Beowulf was appreciated in terms of its value as a study in Old English, as well as for its literary value. Other scholars perceived it to be a relatively childish tale of the supernatural, with an emphasis on its hero Beowulf, and his encounters with the supernatural. However, these early perceptions changed and it was later recognized for its merits as a historical document. The poem itself did not present a completely reliable history of a people or an event, but its value came from the fact that it gave insight into the world of the Germanic peoples. One aspect of Germanic culture that has been thoroughly described in the poem was its definition of kingship.

The objective of this essay is to examine various elements of the Germanic definition of kingship, which includes exploring its basic attributes and the criteria by which it is judged, and citing examples in which it is enacted. One of the most apparent elements of Germanic kingship is a concept known as comitatus. The term refers to the unique relationship between a lord and his warriors or thanes. Thanes, as described by Liuzza on page 57, were retainers surrounding a king in Germanic literature. They were sworn to defend their lord to the death, and dishonored themselves if they left a battle in which their leader was killed. Another aspect of the comitatus was a code of vengeance if their lord was murdered.

Later the code of vengeance was modified when the idea of wergild was introduced. Wergild was monetary compensation for the death of a kinsman, in which the amount to be paid to the victim's family was based on the status of the victim. An example of wergild is Hrothgar compensating the family of the man Ecgtheow killed (pg. 67). Additionally, thanes were known for their selfless acts of courage, bravery, and most notably their loyalty to their leader. For their distinct form of devotion to their lord or chief, thanes were awarded weapons and wealth, and entitled to the protection provided by their leader. Although the values of the comitatus could refer to a leader with a status lower than a king, it had supreme significance in relation to the king due to his utmost position in the leadership hierarchy.

Besides introducing the concept of comitatus, Germanic kingship can be additionally defined by the significance of bravery. An example of such bravery would be the manner in which Beowulf eventually succeeds in becoming King of the Geats. This fact can be attributed to his attractiveness as a leader due to his various heroic exploits. He initially distinguishes himself by disposing of the troublesome Grendel (Chapters XI XII), and by later removing the threat of Grendel's vengeful mother (Chapters XXII XX ). Both accounts serve to create a perception that he is truly the brave champion of the Danes. However, these accomplishments are overshadowed by his battle with the dragon that threatens his own nation (Chapters VI VII) for several reasons.

This battle takes place against a larger, more fearful foe than Grendel and his mother. It also takes place on his homeland, where his victory means the survival of his people. Another factor of concern is his old age, which may hinder his own chances of survival against the dragon. This acknowledgement is apparent from his final address of his thanes in lines 2510-2537 of the poem, in which the finality of the situation is well pronounced. Furthermore, his battle with the dragon suggests that despite the fact that he is already king and has nothing left to do to improve his standing with the Geats, he still feels compelled, as king, to fulfill his duty of protecting his people. In addition to being brave, there was an importance placed on being a generous king.

As mentioned previously, in the discussion of comitatus, kings were expected to share their wealth with their thanes. The Beowulf poet included numerous examples of handsome rewards for acts of valor. For example, Beowulf received the Bros inga necklace from Wealtheow, Hrothgar's queen, as a reward for defeating Grendel (lines 1215 1220), and received four matched bay horses from Hrothgar upon his departure, after defeating Grendel's mother. Such prizes are fulfillment of promises, as in lines 1380 1383, in which Hrothgar goads Beowulf into pursuing Grendel's mother by saying, I will reward you with ancient riches for that feud, as I did before, with twisted gold, if you return alive. Clearly, it was important for kings to fulfill their promises of generosity upon completion of designated tasks. Despite the loyalty and devotion that some of the kings in Beowulf enjoy, in particular Hrothgar, they are greatly devout and often exalt God for their victories.

An example would be when Grendel seizes Beowulf in Heo rot, and Beowulf quickly reflects on the good fortune that God had shown upon him (lines 1270 1274), but he remembered his mighty strength, the ample gifts which God had given him, and trusted the Almighty for mercy, favor and support. Another example would be in the manner the Beowulf poet detailed Hrothgar's reaction to Beowulf's stirring speech, when he wrote (lines 1397 1398), The old man leapt up, thanked the Lord, the mighty God, for that man's speech. This idea of a pious king is further reinforced when Beowulf (as an elderly king) contemplates why a dragon has been unleashed in his nation (lines 2329 2330), the wise one believed he had bitterly offended the Ruler of all, the eternal Lord. A fourth attribute that is implicit of kingship is wisdom. The Beowulf poet repeatedly uses the word wise to describe the kings in the poem.

One example would be the description of Hrothgar in lines 1307 1308, then the wise old king, gray-bearded warrior. The poet enhances the reader's perception of Hrothgar as a wise leader by mentioning the beard, which has the connotations of a time-honored age, and hence the acquired wisdom that goes along with old age. Another illusion to the wisdom of kings that the Beowulf poet makes is in Hrothgar's speech to Beowulf (lines 1709 1723), when he suggests how to be a good leader, and not to follow the example of Heremod. Another example would be in the manner the poet alluded to the insightful nature of Hrothgar (lines 1873 1875), he was of two minds but in his old wisdom knew it was more likely that never again would they see one another.

Besides suggesting the attributes a king should have, the Beowulf poet included an allusion to an evil king, Heremod, an ancient Danish king who was a cruel and selfish ruler. The poet draws a contrast between Heremod and Hrothgar, when Hrothgar describes him to Beowulf. In his description, Hrothgar warns Beowulf of Heremod's infamous treachery to his people, his deviance in his pursuits, his insidious war-like nature, and his unwillingness to pay tribute to his thanes. These characteristics can be later contrasted with the attributes of Beowulf when he acts as a model king.

This juxtaposition of Heremod, Hrothgar, and Beowulf within the same poem serves to illuminate well how the ideal Germanic king should serve his people. Clearly, the Beowulf poet has carefully delineated what the model for Germanic kingship should be. The concept of comitatus, the ability to identify kingly attributes, and the inclusion of a juxtaposition of one bad king with two good kings within the same poem has been dutifully accomplished through his extensive character development, and detailed story-telling. He has in effect, made a social commentary on what the Germanic peoples at the time sought in their leaders. Finally, after performing this analysis of the poem, it is apparent that the earliest scholarship was shortsighted in that it did not fully consider this historically rich and textured document.