Herebeald (killed by Haethcyn)

Haethcyn (killed by the Swedes)

Hygelac (killed by the Frisians)
m. Hygd
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Heardred (killed by the Swedes) and a daughter (m. Eofor)

[daughter]
m. Ecgtheow

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Beowulf

The story of the Geat dynasty is told on p. 79.  The old king, Hrethel, died of grief after his eldest son, Herebeald, was accidentally killed by his second son, Haethcyn. After Haethcyn was killed by the Swedes, Hygelac took over. When Hygelac was killed by the Frisians, the throne was offered to Beowulf (Hygelac's nephew) who turned it down in order to support Heardred (Hygelac's son, who was considered young for the kingship). After Heardred's death, Beowulf took the throne and ruled for 50 years.

If the story of the Danish dynasty tells us something about the values of the society and the qualities of kingship, the fate of the Geatish dynasty tells us something about the nature of the heroic ideal.  What sorts of strengths and weaknesses in the heroic ideal are revealed by  the way the kingship is passed through the members of the royal family?