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.