The Bravery of Byrtnoth Talon Shoemake College

When reading The Battle of Maldon, I found myself attempting to grade the noble Byrhtnoth using the heroic code as a rubric. Initially, I doled out poor marks, labeling Byrhtnoth as a failure according to the heroic code. However, after reexamining the poem and critiquing my own verdict, I concluded that Byrhtnoth instead served an unfit king, and is unfairly cast as a disappointment during the Battle of Maldon. In fact, Byrhtnoth is fiercely heroic and notably brave, exemplified by his willingness to commit entirely to a fight in spite of the resoundingly unfavorable odds, his ability to command an amount of respect from his thanes that is awe-inspiring, and his devoted dedication and understanding of the heroic code.

In the moments that precede the Battle of Maldon, a vivid picture is painted. From the opening lines of the poem, it is apparent that the Anglo-Saxon army is far from elite. The bold Byrhtnoth begins “to array the troops,” who are clearly greenhorn soldiers (17). Inexperienced in the art of war, the protector of heroes shows the soldiers “how they should stand” and instructs them on the proper way “to hold their shields securely” (18,20). It would be easy to criticize Byrhtnoth for the deficiencies of the...