Beowulf Part Two

Beowulf Part II
Beowulf and Arthur both pass the torch

In order for the survival of a people, the torch of leadership must be passed to a worthy individual. In both Beowulf and the Arthur samples, the old and wise king knows his time is short and he must name a successor.
When Beowulf sets out to battle the dragon, he takes with him a small army of warriors both for protection and in order to weed out the best man for his heir. Of all the warriors that journey out to fight the dragon, only Wiglaf remains by his masters side, exemplifying the Anglo-Saxon code of duty to ones king. This makes him a worthy man to be king of the Geats.
The second part of Beowulf also exemplifies the Anglo-Saxon idea of meeting death honorably. In order for a Anglo-Saxon hero to be worth remembering he must have performed great deeds and died with honor. While Beowulf may have achieved fame in his defeat of the monster Grendel, he is no match for the monster of death, portrayed by the dragon in the second part of the epic poem. Age has made the epic hero vulnerable, and meeting death on the field of battle ensures Beowulf a place in the Anglo-Saxon version of heaven. Beowulf has also led by example, by dieing honorable he has shown Wiglaf the way to be a honorable king.
Like Beowulf, Arthur also sets out bravely to face his death, but, according to legend never really dies. He "lives" long enough to name his successor, Constantine, as regent until his return and then is taken away to the isle of Avalon for his wounds to be mended. In past brave acts, Arthur has proven himself worthy of immortality, and much like the prophet Elijah is taken into heaven to await return.
By dying bravely in battle, both Beowulf and Arthur have fulfilled the heroic code that was the glue binding their societies together. They have also ensured that their kingdoms will continue to prosper by naming successors who have proven themselves worthy.