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Examples Of Comitatus Code In Beowulf

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The act of being a hero in Anglo-Saxon Culture Throughout history, heroes were accepted with a lot of praise among people in almost every civilization. However, certain things needed to be done and a particular way of life needed to be lived in order to be recognized as one. When it comes to Anglo-Saxon culture, a man was considered a hero when he lived up to the Comitatus Code. Comitatus Code is a code of honor which refers to a fellowship between a lord and his thanes (warriors in Anglo-Saxon England). The thanes needed to promise their allegiance to the lord and vow to protect him even at the cost of endangering their own lives. In return, the lord provided them with lands and wealth. Not only did Comitatus apply to a lord-warrior relationship, but it was also the bond which held the warriors together and ensured that neither of them left the battle before the others, especially not before the leader. In case someone left, he was outcast and rejected by his clan (a social unit in Anglo-Saxon culture which consist of Comitatus relationships and families related by marriage). …show more content…

It is a story about a great warrior from Geats, Beowulf, who decides to help King Hrothgar by defeating the monster, Grendel. As a matter of fact, he succeeds in his plan and kills Grendel, but the tension of the plot escalates when Grendel’s mother comes for revenge. Again, Beowulf manages to kill his enemy and after all the praise he gets from the King and the Danes, he returns home to Geatland where he is reunited with his king and queen, Hygelac and Hygd. After certain events, Beowulf comes to the throne of the Geats. Fifty years pass and the final battle comes in which Beowulf needs to defend his people from a dragon. With the help of a servant Wiglaf he manages to kill the dragon. However, during the fight he receives a deadly wound and before he dies, he says these

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