Scyld is the King and founder of the Danes and represents everything a king is and should be. The poet describes Scyld as a “good king” who saves the Danes from ruin by taking control of a leaderless kingdom and by standing strong against all of it’s enemies. Earning the respect of your people is vital to the success of any king during this period. Scyld accomplishes this by rewarding his thanes for good deeds and for bravery in battle.

The poem begins with the funeral of Scyld. The guidelines for the funeral were set forth by Scyld himself prior to his death. This fact alone reveals how significant Scyld felt that the funeral ceremony was for his memory and for his people. Scyld instructs his comr

Beowulf’s people honor him with his funeral. According to Beowulf’s own direction his people built a special pyre along the Whale's Cliff, which took ten days to make. Along the pyre lay helmets, battle-boards, and coats of chain mail. Wiglaf returned Beowulf’s armor because he felt that he could never live up to the standards set by Beowulf, the best warrior ever. It is also appropriate that Beowulf is buried with his armor, which symbolizes his great military success and valor. The armor that protects Beowulf the warrior in life will also keep him safe in the after life. During the funeral the poet acknowledges a Geatish woman grieving for Beowulf "[she said] that she feared [the attacks of raiders], / many slaughters, the terror of troops, / shame and captivity" (3153a-3155a). The Geatish woman represents the hopelessness that the Geatish commoners feel due to the death of their previously flawless king. The Geatish people are also concerned about the future of the kingdom. The one thing Beowulf did not do for the Geats was to arrange for a predecessor. This leaves the Geats with no one to turn to in a time with which the future of the kingdom is in jeopardy.

ades to carry his body to the sea and on to a ship. Scyld’s body is placed in the center of the ship by the mast. The ship is then covered in layers of all types of jewels and riches. In addition to jewels, all types of military paraphernalia were included to reflect the king’s valor on the battlefield. There had never been “a ship so decked/ with better war-dress, weapons of battle,/ swords and mail-shirts”(38b-40a). His men wept as they pushed him off to sea never to be seen again. At that time the sending

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