Why does unferth insult beowulf

Such a payment replaces the volley of violent retaliation with an exchange of obligation. SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook.

Why does Beowulf want to fight Grendel? What warning does Hrothgar give Beowulf? What is Grendel? Why does Beowulf want to see the treasure? Summary Lines Page 1 Page 2. Summary The watchman guides Beowulf and his men from the coast to the mead-hall, Heorot, where he takes his leave.

Previous section Lines Next page Lines page 2. Test your knowledge Take the Lines Quick Quiz. Unferth gave Beowulf the Hrunting sword because Unferth is to scared to defeat Gendel's mother.

He offeres it to the better swordsman Beowulf. The Sword given to Beowulf by Unferth, to indicate that Beowulf is much more capable than Unferth is himself.

Unferth drunkenly insults Beowulf by lying about a swimming competition from Beowulf's youth. He then predicts disaster when Beowulf encounters Grendel. Beowulf accuses Unferth of murdering his own brothers, and kin. Unferth teases Beowulf verbally. He claims that Beowulf lost a swimming competition to Breca, but Beowulf counters by telling the story of how he defeated Breca and many seamonsters.

Unferth then tells Beowulf that he will lose to Grendel next time the two fight. Unferth gave Beowulf an ancient sword called Hrunting to battle Grendel's mother. Hrunting was the sword Beowulf used. Possibly because if Beowulf kills Grendel, then Unferth will be wrong about his assumption that Beowulf would not win. Keep in mind that in the earlier parts of the novel, Unferth tells this huge story of how Beowulf lost the swimming race with Brecca and that he would also lose the fight with Grendel.

Beowulf proved him wrong with his side of the story, and Beowulf would also be proving him wrong by defeating Grendel. I can answer the first part. Sorry Im having trouble with the second, and third part. Unferth is a warrior that is really jealous of Beowulf. Beowulf is ethical in the way he went to Hrothgar and asked for permission to kill Grendel. Another ways is when he instead of winning the swimming match with Brecca, Beowulf fight the sea monsters and cleans out the seas.

A third way Beowulf is ethical is that Beowulf is merciful of Unferth, because Beowulf know that Unferth is drunk when he called Beowulf's victories luck. If you mean why Unferth dislikes Beowulf, that would be your opinion. Although I think he dislikes him because Beowulf is 'good' and has a 'pure' soul. Also, Unferth is the type of character that does not value the company of others, therefore meaning he has a slight problem with society.

Log in. Study now. See Answer. Best Answer. Study guides. Beowulf 22 cards. Removing book from your Reading List will also remove any bookmarked pages associated with this title. Are you sure you want to remove bookConfirmation and any corresponding bookmarks?

My Preferences My Reading List. Beowulf Anonymous. Home Literature Notes Beowulf Unferth. Character Analysis Unferth. Adam Bede has been added to your Reading List!