James Bantugan

Maya Efrat
Tristan Hennerty
Andrew Schwefler
AP English 12
Period 2
27 September 2016
Beowulf Discussion
In a warrior society, the strongest warrior becomes the king. The king must be
able to defend his small tribe of about thirty or more people. If a conflict arises, the king
must decide to go to war or settle the dispute with a blood price. When the king dies, the
next in line to rule is either the kings heir or the strongest warrior. When the Geats
arrive at Heorot, they all sat together at one table, with the Danes sitting everywhere
else. Hrothgar sat up front, in view of everyone on his throne, and Unferth sat at the
Kings feet.Wealthow is the wife of Hrothgar and serves wine. She first gives wine to the
king to show he is the one in power. After she gives it to her lords and warriors, then
finally gives wine to her visitors.
Beowulfs father owed a debt to the Danish king. The Geat king, Ecgtheow, killed
a Wulfing called Heatholaf and threatened war between the two tribes. The Danish king
paid a blood price (wergild) in order to settle the conflict. Before Beowulfs father could
repay his debt to the Danish king, he died. Therefore, Beowulf is obligated to repay his
fathers debt by killing Grendel. He gathers a small band of warriors and wants to fight
without the support of the Danes in order to prove his worth. He smooths it over with the
Danes by saying if Beowulfs men and him die, they are not losing anybody important.