Which term is used to denote the Germanic code of loyalty and revenge central to Beowulf?

• A. Comitatus
• B. Beowulf
• C. Lōf
• D. Kleos

Answer: (A)

A reciprocal bond between a lord and his warriors drives Beowulf’s world. This alliance, where a king provides protection and treasure and his thanes vow loyalty and steadfast defense, is known as comitatus. It explains why characters act as they do: loyalty must be proven, and wrongs or threats to the lord demand vengeance, keeping the group’s honor and social order intact. In Beowulf, scenes of warriors pledging fealty, accepting risks for the lord’s safety, and seeking to avenge injuries or deaths all illustrate this code in action. The term captures the whole system—the obligation to protect the lord, the reciprocal generosity, and the duty to avenge—more precisely than other terms listed. While Beowulf himself embodies heroic courage, and while praise (lōf) or glory (kleos) appear, they are outcomes within the comitatus framework, not the code of loyalty and revenge itself.