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Briana Bircher Draeger English IV, P1 24 Oct 2011 Beowulf: Code of the Warrior Without evil there cannot be a hero and without a hero, there cannot be evil. A selfexplanatory statement that is strongly reflected in the epic poem, Beowulf, where the hero of the same name is faced with multiple battles, not only during his young years but well into his later years as the king of Geats. For aforementioned warrior, the path of becoming king is not that of an easy one, and there takes a bit of skill to achieve that status. According to the Anglo-Saxon warrior code, to become the quintessential Viking warrior-king, Beowulf must obtain the following qualities of excellence, loyalty from his comitatus or warriors, generosity, and maybe most importantly, fame. Beowulf achieves some traits early on into the story, his loyalty is already expressed with Hrothgar, protector of the Scyldings, as he addresses Beowulf: . . . you have come here . . . / . . . to fight on our behalf! (407-08) Which is referencing to Grendel, the menace that has wreaked havoc on Hygelic for seven years. As Beowulf feigns sleep in the mead hall, he is able to catch Grendel in the act of attacking and killing another soldier. Here is when Beowulf reflects the trait of excellence as he is the only warrior . . . [to] grapple with this fiend / hand to hand . . . (38788) and win by pulling off Grendels arm and hanging it as a trophy in the said mead hall where he gains fame and spoils as well. Its not long after that, that Grendels mother seeks revenge for the death of her son and Beowulf goes after her after she takes out the most important thane to

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Hrothgar and reclaims Grendel's arm. Which launches Beowulf on another quest, towards more fame. As Beowulf goes off for Grendels mother, he decides to use Unferths sword, Hrunting, which proved to be faulty since it . . . could not bite into her flesh . . . / . . . its edge failed / Beowulf (1215-17). But even though the sword was useless, Beowulf managed to find a sword that was handled by the giants and is able to defeat and decapitate Grendels mother as well as Grendels corpse. As a trophy, Beowulf takes Gendels head and the treasures that lay in their underwater mere. His fame expands as he earns more gifts from Hrothgar, Now, Beowulf, brave in battle . . . / . . . we shall share many treasures (1442-44). Later, the scop reinforces Beowulfs generosity as I heard that he gave Hygd the collar . . . / . . . and gave her three horses also . . . (1604-07) which is another trait that leads the young warrior to him becoming king. In the unlikely deaths of both Hrothgar and his son, Beowulf secures the throne as king of Geats and . . . had ruled it well / for fifty winters (1626-27). As did with Hrothgar, Beowulf grew into old age but that did not impede him from fighting with troops unlike Hrothgar. When Hrothgar died, his fame left him as he was too old in years to fight alongside his men. And since Beowulf had been king, no one dared to oppose him as he was too strong, even in old age. So when an unfortunate slave comes across a dragons cave by chance, he steals some of the drinking vessels and therefore re-launches Beowulfs chance at new proclaimed fame to stop the now terrorizing dragon with the help of his loyal comitatus. However, once in battle, all of Beowulfs army flees but Wiglaf . . . a noble warrior . . . / . . . saw that his lord, / helmented, was tormented by the intense heat (1804-07). With Beowulfs earned loyalty and Wiglafs help, both warriors are able to destroy and slay the dragon but it leaves Beowulf in a deteriorating condition. Be as quick as you can so that I may see / the age-old golden treasure, and examine / all the priceless,

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shimmering stones . . . (1904-06) the dying king tells Wiglaf in his last attempt at being a generous king as these spoils are for the people of the kingdom instead. With much regret about not having a son and a request to be buried in a barrow on a headland, Beowulf dies and in an ironic twist, his gold was buried with him, They bequeathed the gleaming gold, / . . . to the earth . . . (2068-69). A sign of the peoples loyalty to the generous, famous, and excellent Beowulf.