Beowulf is an inspiring character, showing bravery, leadership, and gratefulness throughout the poem. Hrothgar is the king the reader gets to know the most in Beowulf, he speaks to Beowulf before Beowulf departs about good characteristics and gives him a specific example of what bad kings are. Hrothgar spoke of Heremod and said that he was a bad king because he was uncontrollable and vengeful, he was not loyal and he was never rewarding to his troops. Hrothgar told how Heremod “suffered in the end/ for having plagued his people for so long:/ his life lost happiness.”(1720-1722) According to Beowulf and my own beliefs a good king protects their people and tradition, unlike bad kings that are impulsive, and not loyal. Great kings are not proud;
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As a warrior he was the finest, his bravery was unmatched. He risked his own life, while trusting in God, to protect others. I think Beowulf was an average king, during his time as king he ruled a peaceful land and his people were safe. There were no enemies, no other kingdoms that dared go against him. Leaders build protections, trust their army and are confident in the military they form. Beowulf was not convinced of his men, perhaps rightly so since they ran when he needed them. I think kings and leaders have responsibilities while they rule and a large part is to plan for the future, for what will happen when they are no longer on earth. Beowulf failed to remember what Hrothgar said before he returned home, “God…permits him to lord it in many lands/ until the man in his unthinkingness/ forgets that it will ever end for him.”(1725-1734) Beowulf acted selfishly when he chose to go up against the dragon, knowing before that he would not make it out. Beowulf did not establish rules for what would happen when he died. He did not leave direction, or strong troops to defend his people and kingdom. Beowulf died realizing that his people would suffer and come under multiple attacks from other kingdoms vying for his land and people. I do not think that Beowulf was a good king because he forgot that his time would end and although he maintained peace for 50 years, he failed his people and left them vulnerable and guaranteed to
As a warrior he was the finest, his bravery was unmatched. He risked his own life, while trusting in God, to protect others. I think Beowulf was an average king, during his time as king he ruled a peaceful land and his people were safe. There were no enemies, no other kingdoms that dared go against him. Leaders build protections, trust their army and are confident in the military they form. Beowulf was not convinced of his men, perhaps rightly so since they ran when he needed them. I think kings and leaders have responsibilities while they rule and a large part is to plan for the future, for what will happen when they are no longer on earth. Beowulf failed to remember what Hrothgar said before he returned home, “God…permits him to lord it in many lands/ until the man in his unthinkingness/ forgets that it will ever end for him.”(1725-1734) Beowulf acted selfishly when he chose to go up against the dragon, knowing before that he would not make it out. Beowulf did not establish rules for what would happen when he died. He did not leave direction, or strong troops to defend his people and kingdom. Beowulf died realizing that his people would suffer and come under multiple attacks from other kingdoms vying for his land and people. I do not think that Beowulf was a good king because he forgot that his time would end and although he maintained peace for 50 years, he failed his people and left them vulnerable and guaranteed to