Beowulf
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 However, these early perceptions changed and it was later recognized for its merits as a historical document.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 literat
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. 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 - XXIII). Both accounts serve to create a perception
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1322
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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