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Shield Sheafson is the legendary Danish king from whom Hrothgar is descended. He is the mythical founder who inaugurated a long line of Danish rulers and he embodies the heroism and leadership valued by the Danish tribes. The poem opens with a brief account of Sheafson’s journey from a lowly orphan to a renowned hero. According to legend, Sheafson was a foundling (an infant abandoned by his parents) who grew into a strong and powerful warrior and king. When he died, his subjects honored him with an elaborate funeral ceremony; his body was put into a boat, covered with treasures and armor, and cast off to sea.
The poet likely began his epic with an account of Shield Sheafson for a few key reasons. To begin with, patriarchal lineage was an essential component of warrior culture. Characters are consistently referred to as the sons of their fathers. For example, Beowulf is often called “Ecgtheow’s son.” Patriarchal lineage was also used to keep track of and record the passage of time. By opening the poem with an account of King Hrothgar’s ancestry, the poet grounds the events that are about to unfold in a historical timeline. The poet’s description of Sheafson also introduces the reader to the heroic code. The poet argues that Sheafson was a great ruler because he was able to perform heroic deeds and dole out equally heroic sums of treasure. This overview of warrior culture provides much-needed historical context through which the reader might understand subsequent rulers such as Hrothgar, Hygelac, and eventually Beowulf, and whether they too are considered “good kings.” The fact that Sheafson was fatherless in a society so steeped in the veneration of patriarchal lineage serves to further underscore the significance of valor; that is, in a world in which one’s identity is intrinsically linked to their lineage, heroism was the only way Sheafson could construct an identity that would stand the test of time. Throughout the poem, it is made clear that a well-won reputation ensures that a warrior will become part of history.
Finally, the poet uses Sheafson to foreshadow Beowulf’s status as a legendary and foundational figure. The poem consistently links Sheafson and Beowulf together; they were both left fatherless at a young age, they both unexpectedly ascended the throne, and they were both widely celebrated for their valor, strength, and generosity. Beginning the poem with a description of Sheafson’s death foreshadows Beowulf’s own passing and highlights the cyclical nature of life and death; Sheafson’s life ends as it began, with him on the water, and the poem ends as it began—with the funeral of a good king. The poet links these two kings together to show that Beowulf, like Sheafson, will be celebrated long after his death.
