Reputation. One simple word, but it holds great value. Reputation is said to be everything and it’s very easy to comprehend. A bad reputation could simply put one on the path to failure; a good reputation could put one on the path to success. One’s reputation can be set in a shadow of their parents’ or it can evolve from their past reputation. Reputation is an important theme throughout Beowulf. In example, Shield Sheafson, founder and king of the Danes, formed a reputation of his own. Starting out as an orphan and then bringing himself up to greatness “as his powers waxed and his worth was proved” (Beowulf 41). Shield Sheafson didn’t have anyone else in his life to base his reputation for him, so he had to build one on his own. By building his great reputation he set a basis for his …show more content…
Why would a child’s name be known through the north? It’s simple, his father set that reputation for him. By his father being a great ruler, it was assumed Beow would be also. Going onto Beows heir, Halfdane, it is stated that he “held sway for as long as he lived” (Beowulf 42). Halfdane was a great ruler to and that reputation had to have also been presumed when he was born to Beow, since Beow was a great ruler, as his father before him. Halfdane’s heir was Hrothgar. The king who had the idea a Heorot and saw it through and also the one who witnessed and suffered from its attacks by Grendel. Hrothgar was unsuccessful in defeating Grendel and allowed Beowulf the opportunity and chance of defeating Grendel. Why would he, the king, allow this man to come into his kingdom and defeat Grendel? Once again it’s simple, Beowulf’s reputation. He gathered some reputation from his father and gained it mostly from his acts. Some was gained by his father when he came to South-Danes for help after killing a man of the Wulfing tribe. Beowulf was already known of in Hrothgar’s mind because of the past encounter with Beowulf’s