In the Anglo-Saxons era everybody had to follow a specific code. They had to be loyal, friendship, generosity, and courage. The Anglo-Saxons Code of Conduct was the code that had to be followed by every man and woman. If the code was violated, punishment would be the lowering of one’s reputation, or even death. In the epic Beowulf there were many characters who follow the code, and many who broke the code. Beowulf was one of the few who followed the code. King Hrothgar, was one of the many that broke the code.
Beowulf, prince of the Geats, is the main character in the epic Beowulf. He lived his life following the code, and didn’t care if he died with honor. Beowulf heard the stories of a monster terrorizing the land of the Danes and set sea on a quest (Beowulf 109-116). He set of from his home land to defeat something that had nothing to do with him or his people. The Prince showed courage and generosity by going to kill a viscous monster that was said to be unbeatable. Beowulf is a prime example of displaying the laws of the Anglo-Saxons Code of Conduct.
Wulfgar showed loyalty to his king when everybody else deserted him. When Beowulf and his 14 men showed up on the shores of Hrothgar, Wulfgar told him and his men to leave there weapons on the ship. That they would go as they are, and meet the king (Beowulf 127-133). Wulfgar didn’t know if Beowulf
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When Grendel snuck into Herot while everyone was sleeping, he slaughtered thirty men in their sleep (Beowulf 36-40). When Hrothgar woke the next day, he seen the bloody scene, and responded with tears of sorrow. Instead of swearing revenge, and going to kill Grendel his self, he went into hiding, crying every night about his loss (Beowulf 44-59). Being a King, Hrothgar broke the Code of Conduct by not displaying courage, by showing his people that he was weak. He showed weakness in a time to when his people needed him the