Which literary concept is illustrated by the phrase 'steadfast companions will stand by him' in Beowulf?

Explanation

Option A refers to a decorative neckpiece, not a literary theme. Option B is the name of a weapon in the poem. Option C correctly identifies the comitatus ethic, which represents loyalty and mutual support between a lord and his warriors. Option D describes a poetic device involving metaphorical phrases, unrelated to the quote.