UNFERTH’S CHALLENGE OF BEOWULF
üUnferth, one of the younger warriors is angered by Beowulf’s boasting and challenges Beowulf’s claims. He is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel which proves him inferior to Beowulf
üBeowulf responds by describing how he fought the sea beasts with his naked sword in a swimming match with his childhood friend Brecca
üEven though Hrothgar realizes Beowulf is the man for the job, he still has to prove himself to the company of the Danes.
üUnferth’s job is to test the actual valour of the warrior and his ability to fend off a verbal attack.
üBy answering Unferth’s challenge and showing the extent of his bravery he proves himself worthy of being allowed to fight Grendel.
üHe also through his response that is correcting Unferth’s version of the match, both represents the true values of the society as well as illustrates the the proper way to tell a story
üBeowulf’s story is more in keeping with the code of honour than Unferth’s bitter speech
üUnferth’s challenge to Beowulf and helps to reveal some of the subtleties of the heroic code that warriors must follow
üUnferth is seen as a foil to Beowulf and perhaps realizes that his inability to protect Herot makes him not the sort of warrior legend will remember
FOIL:A CHARACTER WHOSE TRAITS CONTRAST WITH AND THEREBY
ACCENTUATE THOSE OF ANOTHER
üthe boasting match between Unferth and Beowulf is one of a series of told and retold stories in
the poem
üThe repetition of stories is important as it
(i) reveals the oral tradition of the culture so people learn legends and histories of their
land
(ii) teaches people lessons of morals by examples of people who did good or ill
BOASTING
üBOASTING is presented as a key component of one’s
reputation
üA valid way to assert one’s position in a society
which rewards bravery
üBeowulf’s boasting pleases Welthow, increases his honour and raises the level of expectation for those around him and the reader with regards to how he will fare with Grendel
üthe baosting between Unferth and Beowulf also clarify the difference between proper and petulant (irritable) boastfulness.
üUnferth’s criticism of Beowulf’s exploits as foolhardy and his accusations that Beowulf is guilty of vanity, is reversed as it is Unferth himself who is guilty of vanity since he is jealous of Beowulf
üUnferth is guilty of breaching rules of etiquette by dishonouring his guest unlike Hrothgar who, although he acknowledges there is some disgrace in their inability to handl their own business he welcomes Beowulf rather than resent him.
WELTHOW’S/WOMEN’S FUNCTION IN THE POEM
ü She exhibits the qualities of Anglo-Saxon women at the time
ü she welcomes her husband’s guests
ü she is cheerful, and as is dictated by what is known as the “Exeter Book Gnomes” at the mead hall she greets her husband then the warriors by placing the cup directly in his hands first.
ü She then serves Beowulf after her husband drinks
ü She plays the perfect host to the warriors in the Mead hall
THEMES
SELF VS. FATE [or wyrd]
üBeowulf acknowledges that if fate would have it, he will die trying to kill Grendel, but places his faith in God’s guidance in killing the monster
üin his descriptions of his sea exploits Beowulf claims that fate “saves the living when they drive away death by themselves”
HEROISM:
üBewoulf and Unferth have a verbal showdown with Unferth trying to discredit Beowulf as a good warrior
üBeowulf’s decision to help Hrothgar and his warriors without being summoned is a selfless act which dons him the status of hero
üBeowulf’s eagerness to take challenge Beowulf something Hrothgar’s men including Unferth are afraid to or just simply have not done
IDENTITY
üBeowulf’s boasting and Unferth’s challenge function to highlight the connection between accomplishments and identity.
WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY
üWelthow’s appearance and her carrying out her duty as Queen and host.
üLike the men, women also follow a code of behaviour and protocol
üBeowulf responds by describing how he fought the sea beasts with his naked sword in a swimming match with his childhood friend Brecca
üEven though Hrothgar realizes Beowulf is the man for the job, he still has to prove himself to the company of the Danes.
üUnferth’s job is to test the actual valour of the warrior and his ability to fend off a verbal attack.
üBy answering Unferth’s challenge and showing the extent of his bravery he proves himself worthy of being allowed to fight Grendel.
üHe also through his response that is correcting Unferth’s version of the match, both represents the true values of the society as well as illustrates the the proper way to tell a story
üBeowulf’s story is more in keeping with the code of honour than Unferth’s bitter speech
üUnferth’s challenge to Beowulf and helps to reveal some of the subtleties of the heroic code that warriors must follow
üUnferth is seen as a foil to Beowulf and perhaps realizes that his inability to protect Herot makes him not the sort of warrior legend will remember
FOIL:A CHARACTER WHOSE TRAITS CONTRAST WITH AND THEREBY
ACCENTUATE THOSE OF ANOTHER
üthe boasting match between Unferth and Beowulf is one of a series of told and retold stories in
the poem
üThe repetition of stories is important as it
(i) reveals the oral tradition of the culture so people learn legends and histories of their
land
(ii) teaches people lessons of morals by examples of people who did good or ill
BOASTING
üBOASTING is presented as a key component of one’s
reputation
üA valid way to assert one’s position in a society
which rewards bravery
üBeowulf’s boasting pleases Welthow, increases his honour and raises the level of expectation for those around him and the reader with regards to how he will fare with Grendel
üthe baosting between Unferth and Beowulf also clarify the difference between proper and petulant (irritable) boastfulness.
üUnferth’s criticism of Beowulf’s exploits as foolhardy and his accusations that Beowulf is guilty of vanity, is reversed as it is Unferth himself who is guilty of vanity since he is jealous of Beowulf
üUnferth is guilty of breaching rules of etiquette by dishonouring his guest unlike Hrothgar who, although he acknowledges there is some disgrace in their inability to handl their own business he welcomes Beowulf rather than resent him.
WELTHOW’S/WOMEN’S FUNCTION IN THE POEM
ü She exhibits the qualities of Anglo-Saxon women at the time
ü she welcomes her husband’s guests
ü she is cheerful, and as is dictated by what is known as the “Exeter Book Gnomes” at the mead hall she greets her husband then the warriors by placing the cup directly in his hands first.
ü She then serves Beowulf after her husband drinks
ü She plays the perfect host to the warriors in the Mead hall
THEMES
SELF VS. FATE [or wyrd]
üBeowulf acknowledges that if fate would have it, he will die trying to kill Grendel, but places his faith in God’s guidance in killing the monster
üin his descriptions of his sea exploits Beowulf claims that fate “saves the living when they drive away death by themselves”
HEROISM:
üBewoulf and Unferth have a verbal showdown with Unferth trying to discredit Beowulf as a good warrior
üBeowulf’s decision to help Hrothgar and his warriors without being summoned is a selfless act which dons him the status of hero
üBeowulf’s eagerness to take challenge Beowulf something Hrothgar’s men including Unferth are afraid to or just simply have not done
IDENTITY
üBeowulf’s boasting and Unferth’s challenge function to highlight the connection between accomplishments and identity.
WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY
üWelthow’s appearance and her carrying out her duty as Queen and host.
üLike the men, women also follow a code of behaviour and protocol
