The phrase "he was a good king" appears three times in Beowulf. The first iteration (line 11) is a tribute to Shield Sheafson. By describing Sheafson in honorific terms, the poet suggests that Sneafson's descendants are also worthy of respect. The second iteration refers to Hrothgar, descendant of Sheafson; the poet tells us "yet there was no blame on their lord / the noble Hrothgar; he was a good king" (862). Here, the phrase protects Hrothgar from envious comparison with the younger and more robust Beowulf. The last and final repetition applies to Beowulf, who finds himself in the position of Hrothgar's adopted son. The poet states: "Heardred was slaughtered and Onela returned / to the land of Sweden, leaving Beowulf / to ascend the throne, to sit in majesty / and rule over the Geats. He was a good king." Each repetition of the phrase "he was a good king" resonates powerfully and brings to mind the previous usage. What did being a “good king” mean to the Anglo-Saxons? What did these three characters from different generations have in common beyond their origins? Given the repetition of this phrase, these questions deserve closer examination. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The first attribute shared by Sheafson, Hrothgar, and Beowulf was their mature age when they earned the honorific title of “good king.” Although the reader is told that "Shield was still thriving when his time came / and passed into the Lord's keeping" (26-27), our impression of him is that of an experienced ruler who had lived long enough to raise Beowulf until he was young. adulthood and "establish the law among the Danes" (29). Similarly, after meeting Beowulf, Hrothgar is described as "an old man among servants" (578). References to his venerable age are almost incessant: Hrothgar is "the grey-haired giver of treasure" (607), "the grey-haired prince" (1792) and "that good grey-haired Dane, that high-born king" (1870-1871). Finally, Beowulf also finally earns the title "good king" after having "ruled well / for fifty winters, growing old and wise / as guardian of the land" (2208-2210). He is now a "veteran king" (2417), who in the face of death recalls his youth by saying "many skirmishes I survived when I was young" (2426) and openly states, "now I am old" (2412). Looking at these three rulers, youth is clearly not a qualification of a "good king". One must first be "wintered in wisdom" (1725). The second attribute shared by these three "good kings" is their ability to dominate their enemies. In a culture where fierce, battle-tested warriors were common, it was not enough to simply defeat one's enemies; we must continue to subdue them. Being a "salt breaker", "scourge of many tribes", and terrorizer of the "salt troops" was not enough to earn Sheafson the nickname "good king"; he also had to dominate them so that "every clan on the outlying coasts beyond the whale road should yield to him / and begin to pay homage" (10-11). Similarly, Hrothgar comments "Then I was in the first period of reign, establishing my influence over all the rich strongholds / of this heroic land", thus receiving an oath of allegiance from Ecgtheow. Although we are told that "the fortunes of war favored Hrothgar" (64), if he had failed to "establish his influence" and consolidate his gains, he could not have built Heorot, his seat of power. Finally, Beowulf is also not recognized as a "good king" because he killed Grendal and Grendal's mother. Such victories alone are not enough. Beowulf is only called a "good king" after ascending the throne of a nation, 2000