... particular role in society. As well The Scyldings' King Hrothgar and Queen Wealhtheow embody the themes of generosity and hospitality of kingship. The code of the comitatus is at the heart of the Beowulf epic. In this system, the king or feudal lord provides land, weapons, and a share of treasure to his warriors (called thanes or retainers) in return for their ... . In the eyes of several of the Geats, Beowulf's bold encounter with the dragon is morally confusing because it dooms them to a kingless state in which they remain vulnerable to attack by their enemies. Yet Beowulf also dem...

• Word Count: 3090
• Approx Pages: 12