Several critics point out that the final lines of the poem might serve as Beowulf’s epitaph:
They said that he was, of the kings in this world,
the kindest to his men, the most courteous man,
the best to his people, and most eager for fame. (3180–82).
That the closing does not speak of Beowulf’s courage or strength or victories in battle is interesting. What it says of Beowulf is that he was kind. He knew decorum. He was good to his people. He was, in short, the exemplar of a civilized king. Some people are bothered by the last words of the poem: “most eager for fame” (lof-geornost). They seem to think that “fame” is a superficial goal. We might understand better if we remember that “fame” is really reputation for Beowulf. To him, his reputation was everything.
