Study of Kingship
The word “king” symbolizes the values of both clan and blood; a king is the top dog of the tribe. A king has to be patriarchal figure. The connection among kings and their vassals is solemn and both have certain notions and parts to play. In the Anglo-Saxon society the king is determined by strength. Most kings were the greatest warriors of the tribe or their descendants.
There is a distinct system of civil responsibilities characterized in the epic. It is the king’s responsibility to act reasonably with benevolence. He has to award his soldiers with expensive tokens as thanks for their protection of the clan and victories in battle. This can be why King Hrothgar is known as “gracious” and a “good king”. He’s got to act in accordance to the beliefs and obligations becoming of a lord, so when he extravagantly gives gifts to Beowulf and his companions for killing Grendel he is doing it out of regal duty. Throughout the poem Hrothgar is seen the ideal king until he falls from the warrior path, which leads to Beowulf’s descent to the throne. King Hrothgar's actions as a leader prefigures Beowulf's fashion of ruling. He is meant to be an influence and role model for Beowulf.
In Beowulf it is stated and implied a king should be required to follow proper rules and have certain traits as: act in accordance with his people, bravely escort and follow his soldiers into battle, compensate warriors that fought with prizes, and be a strong mediator and keeper of peace. The king also has to set an example for his subjects, this stressed at the very beginning of the poem: “Behaviour that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere.” (ln 24-5) Since warriors are honored and admired in the Anglo-Saxon society the kings are supposed to follow a heroic code which simply put is “gain glory or die.” (ln 1491) The worth of a man in the society, especially a warrior or king, is determined by how well he follows the warrior’s code. That can be why Beowulf is so obsessed with gaining honor and glory in battle.
The king’s people are also expected to resign everything to the king, which can include lives, and take vengeance when a king dies or die trying. Subjects that don’t will be shamed and not given a heroic status or funeral. So the way the king rules is what really determines the loyalty of the subjects, a proper king determines whether “companions will stand by him and hold the line” or leave him to die. (ln 23-4)
This poem is supposed to fundamentally demonstrate the significance of a ruler that is adored by his subjects. The kinship amid Beowulf and his followers at the end parrot a situation in which the ruler serves the people by helping and protecting them and in return they honor and serve him. His power and control is valued as much as any civil agreement in modern society, which ties in with humanity’s basic need to survive and strengthened by cooperation and loyalty.
The word “king” symbolizes the values of both clan and blood; a king is the top dog of the tribe. A king has to be patriarchal figure. The connection among kings and their vassals is solemn and both have certain notions and parts to play. In the Anglo-Saxon society the king is determined by strength. Most kings were the greatest warriors of the tribe or their descendants.
There is a distinct system of civil responsibilities characterized in the epic. It is the king’s responsibility to act reasonably with benevolence. He has to award his soldiers with expensive tokens as thanks for their protection of the clan and victories in battle. This can be why King Hrothgar is known as “gracious” and a “good king”. He’s got to act in accordance to the beliefs and obligations becoming of a lord, so when he extravagantly gives gifts to Beowulf and his companions for killing Grendel he is doing it out of regal duty. Throughout the poem Hrothgar is seen the ideal king until he falls from the warrior path, which leads to Beowulf’s descent to the throne. King Hrothgar's actions as a leader prefigures Beowulf's fashion of ruling. He is meant to be an influence and role model for Beowulf.
In Beowulf it is stated and implied a king should be required to follow proper rules and have certain traits as: act in accordance with his people, bravely escort and follow his soldiers into battle, compensate warriors that fought with prizes, and be a strong mediator and keeper of peace. The king also has to set an example for his subjects, this stressed at the very beginning of the poem: “Behaviour that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere.” (ln 24-5) Since warriors are honored and admired in the Anglo-Saxon society the kings are supposed to follow a heroic code which simply put is “gain glory or die.” (ln 1491) The worth of a man in the society, especially a warrior or king, is determined by how well he follows the warrior’s code. That can be why Beowulf is so obsessed with gaining honor and glory in battle.
The king’s people are also expected to resign everything to the king, which can include lives, and take vengeance when a king dies or die trying. Subjects that don’t will be shamed and not given a heroic status or funeral. So the way the king rules is what really determines the loyalty of the subjects, a proper king determines whether “companions will stand by him and hold the line” or leave him to die. (ln 23-4)
This poem is supposed to fundamentally demonstrate the significance of a ruler that is adored by his subjects. The kinship amid Beowulf and his followers at the end parrot a situation in which the ruler serves the people by helping and protecting them and in return they honor and serve him. His power and control is valued as much as any civil agreement in modern society, which ties in with humanity’s basic need to survive and strengthened by cooperation and loyalty.