Beowulf is nothing if he is not loyal. This is a significant trait and one that every warrior or hero must possess. We know that a hero must not only be loyal to oneself, but also to one's personal belief and one's country and one's belief to be a good warrior. Loyalty appears in the poem in many different ways, with one being how the other characters in the poem relate to Beowulf. For example, Hrothgar demonstrates his loyalty to Beowulf with promises of a "rich treasure" (385) for his good deeds. This scene is interesting in that we see that loyalty is a two-way street. On the one hand, Beowulf is demonstrating his loyalty to his code of ethics by offering Hrothgar his assistance because his father, Hrethel, owed Hrothgar a favor. Beowulf arrives "to follow up an old friendship" (376). On the other hand, Hrothgar repays Beowulf for his loyalty with treasures. Hrothgar tells his people that for his heroism, he will "recompense him with a rich treasure" (387). Here we see how both men recognize societal codes and honor them even thought they have never met each other. We see another example of loyalty when Unferth lends his sword, Hrunting, to Beowulf. This scene is significant because Unferth did not always think highly of Beowulf. Over time, Unferth comes to understand the hero in Beowulf and, as a result, respects him a great deal. His sword "never failed/that hand of anyone who had fought and faced the worst/in the gap of danger" (1460-2). His offering is a demonstration of loyalty declaring that he believes in Beowulf and supports him.
These are not the only cases in which Beowulf is rewarded for his loyalty. We see Halfdane's son reward Beowulf with a grand feast where he gives him gifts of gold, which are "standard as a victory gift" (1020) along with a banner, a helmet, and a sword that are "tokens of honour" (1023). Later in the story, Wealhtheow awards Beowulf with a torque and a mail. She says that Beowulf and his men are "true to the other,/loyal to lord, loving in spirit" (1228-9). Through the recognition of others, we see the greatness of Beowulf's character. We also know that Beowulf's heroism and loyalty are not insignificant. To the contrary, it is something that is to be admired and rewarded. These scenes illustrate how loyalty is extremely important to not only the warrior but also his followers.
Facing the dragon is yet another example of Beowulf's heroism and loyalty. We read:
No help or backing was to be had then From his high-born comrades; that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood. (256-9)
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now