Beowulf introduces the reader to the life of a thegn. Which of the following best describes the role of the thegn ?

• A. The thegn is a warrior who has sworn his loyalty to an Anglo-Saxon lord.
• B. The thegn is a class of protocapitalism opposed to the guild system.
• C. The thegn is a warrior who pays money in exchange for exemption from military service.
• D. The thegn is an Anglo-Saxon lord who partakes in the comitatus ethic.