Tanner White
Mrs. Bowman
English IV
Sept. 7, 2016
In Anglo-saxon culture, the term “comitatus” is referred to a code of honor between a lord and his warriors, who were called thanes. A man who lived up to the comitatus was deemed a hero in those times. People believed in fate and believed the only way to live forever was if you had fame. Beowulf was a very famous warrior, who kills Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon. Every time he received more fame and more glory, he became a king. I want to explain more to you about fame and comitatus in the story of Beowulf.
An example of comitatus in the story “Beowulf” is Beowulf’s sworn allegiance to King Hrothgar that he will defend the Hall of Herot against the monster Grendel. Beowulf lives by his oath and faithfully keeps it by slaying the beast. Comitatus also clearly exists between Beowulf and his warriors. When Beowulf fights grendel his own warriors stood strong beside him. But when it came time to fight the dragon everyone abandoned Beowulf except for one person, Wiglaf. This is a perfect example of comitatus, even though everyone else left Beowulf to battle the beast by himself, Wiglaf was loyal to his king and stayed to help him. …show more content…
To them fame meant immortality. For example, the narrator says, “But Beowulf longing only for fame, leaped into battle”. Beowulf received more fame after every battle he won. He defeated Grendel and Grendel’s mother which brought him respect and fame from Hrothgars people. His last and final battle made him an epic hero though. He defeated the dragon that had been terrorizing villages with the help of his friend, Wiglaf. Which takes us back to the term “comitatus”. Wiglaf was the only warrior who stuck by Beowulfs
Mrs. Bowman
English IV
Sept. 7, 2016
In Anglo-saxon culture, the term “comitatus” is referred to a code of honor between a lord and his warriors, who were called thanes. A man who lived up to the comitatus was deemed a hero in those times. People believed in fate and believed the only way to live forever was if you had fame. Beowulf was a very famous warrior, who kills Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon. Every time he received more fame and more glory, he became a king. I want to explain more to you about fame and comitatus in the story of Beowulf.
An example of comitatus in the story “Beowulf” is Beowulf’s sworn allegiance to King Hrothgar that he will defend the Hall of Herot against the monster Grendel. Beowulf lives by his oath and faithfully keeps it by slaying the beast. Comitatus also clearly exists between Beowulf and his warriors. When Beowulf fights grendel his own warriors stood strong beside him. But when it came time to fight the dragon everyone abandoned Beowulf except for one person, Wiglaf. This is a perfect example of comitatus, even though everyone else left Beowulf to battle the beast by himself, Wiglaf was loyal to his king and stayed to help him. …show more content…
To them fame meant immortality. For example, the narrator says, “But Beowulf longing only for fame, leaped into battle”. Beowulf received more fame after every battle he won. He defeated Grendel and Grendel’s mother which brought him respect and fame from Hrothgars people. His last and final battle made him an epic hero though. He defeated the dragon that had been terrorizing villages with the help of his friend, Wiglaf. Which takes us back to the term “comitatus”. Wiglaf was the only warrior who stuck by Beowulfs