Why do the Geats fear invasion after Beowulf's death?
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Beowulf
Beowulf preparing to cut off the head of the monster Grendel, illustration from Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race, 1910.
In the Old English poem Beowulf, the Geats fear that their kingdom will be invaded by neighboring tribes following the death of their king, Beowulf.1
Throughout his 50-year reign, Beowulf provided stability and protection for his people. His death, which occurs after he is mortally wounded while defeating a dragon, leaves the Geats vulnerable. Because Beowulf was the central figure of strength and leadership for the Geats—a Scandinavian people from what is now southern Sweden—his loss creates a power vacuum that his people believe will be exploited by hostile forces, leading to the potential destruction of their society.12