Unferth was aristocratic retainer of King Hrothger and he is so hostile to Beowulf because Unferth has a unhonorable background and is envious of Beowulf's status. I believe that he was allowed to speak that way to Beowulf because he was so quick with his comments and hateful statements and once this question about Beowulf's adventure was posed everyone wanted to hear the answer.
Unferth is a Danish warrior who is too much of a coward to fight Grendel himself. His hostility towards Beowulf comes from the jealousy he feels towards Beowulf. Unferth wishes he could be brave and strong enough to fight the monster himself and he also desires the attention that the kinsmen and locals give Beowulf upon his arrival. Unferth is more of a foil to the character of Beowulf because he is less of a man and their traits contrast.
Unferth is a warrior of Danish descent and is hostile towards Beowulf because he is very jealous of Beowulf and even taunts him about his 7 night swimming match against Breca in which Beowulf lost. Unferth is too much of a coward to fight Grendel and Beowulf points out that most of Unferth's fame comes from killing his own brothers. When Beowulf goes to fight Grendel's mother Unferth has realized that Beowulf is superior and offers him a treasured sword for the fight.
Unferth is comomonly drunk and angry. Nobody in the story seems to like him and he speaks like that simply because he is angry, drunk and does not like Beowulf
"Unferth, a son of Ecglaf's spoke contrary words. Beowulf's coming, his sea-braving, made him sick with envy: he could not brook or abide the fact that anyone else alive under heaven might enjoy greater regard that he did..."
Unferth is unhappy of Beowulf's arrival because he himself is not able to defeat Grendel. Beowulf is being praised for his presence, and his oath to accomplish what no other man has, though many have declared themselves to be brave and strong enough, none of them are. Unferth provokes Beowulf because he wants to see Beowulf weak, rather than the hero. Beowulf sees through his shallow tactics, but instead of lashing out, he accepts that Unferth has had too much to drink, and that Unferth with never be Beowulf's equal in physical or mental strength. I do appreciate how Beowulf still entertains the audience in the hall with his story of fighting the sea-monsters on his swimming trek, and he further emphasizes his strength and agility. Essentially, he brought Unferth down to size, especially when he tells of Unferth's "valiant" history of killing his brethren, being weak with the sword, and his failure to protect his king from attacks.
Unforth was a man that was drunk, and everyone new he was at the time he made the commonts, so the people let him go. He is the opposite of Beowulf, who is brave, a great warrior, and sober. He is a way for the reader to measure up the hero, Beowulf.
Unferth was aristocratic retainer of King Hrothger and he is so hostile to Beowulf because Unferth has a unhonorable background and is envious of Beowulf's status. I believe that he was allowed to speak that way to Beowulf because he was so quick with his comments and hateful statements and once this question about Beowulf's adventure was posed everyone wanted to hear the answer.
ReplyDeleteUnferth is a Danish warrior who is too much of a coward to fight Grendel himself. His hostility towards Beowulf comes from the jealousy he feels towards Beowulf. Unferth wishes he could be brave and strong enough to fight the monster himself and he also desires the attention that the kinsmen and locals give Beowulf upon his arrival. Unferth is more of a foil to the character of Beowulf because he is less of a man and their traits contrast.
ReplyDeleteUnferth is a warrior of Danish descent and is hostile towards Beowulf because he is very jealous of Beowulf and even taunts him about his 7 night swimming match against Breca in which Beowulf lost. Unferth is too much of a coward to fight Grendel and Beowulf points out that most of Unferth's fame comes from killing his own brothers. When Beowulf goes to fight Grendel's mother Unferth has realized that Beowulf is superior and offers him a treasured sword for the fight.
ReplyDeleteUnferth is comomonly drunk and angry. Nobody in the story seems to like him and he speaks like that simply because he is angry, drunk and does not like Beowulf
ReplyDelete"Unferth, a son of Ecglaf's spoke contrary words. Beowulf's coming, his sea-braving, made him sick with envy: he could not brook or abide the fact that anyone else alive under heaven might enjoy greater regard that he did..."
ReplyDeleteUnferth is unhappy of Beowulf's arrival because he himself is not able to defeat Grendel. Beowulf is being praised for his presence, and his oath to accomplish what no other man has, though many have declared themselves to be brave and strong enough, none of them are. Unferth provokes Beowulf because he wants to see Beowulf weak, rather than the hero. Beowulf sees through his shallow tactics, but instead of lashing out, he accepts that Unferth has had too much to drink, and that Unferth with never be Beowulf's equal in physical or mental strength. I do appreciate how Beowulf still entertains the audience in the hall with his story of fighting the sea-monsters on his swimming trek, and he further emphasizes his strength and agility. Essentially, he brought Unferth down to size, especially when he tells of Unferth's "valiant" history of killing his brethren, being weak with the sword, and his failure to protect his king from attacks.
Unforth was a man that was drunk, and everyone new he was at the time he made the commonts, so the people let him go. He is the opposite of Beowulf, who is brave, a great warrior, and sober. He is a way for the reader to measure up the hero, Beowulf.
ReplyDeleteTerri--at least "more sober." They all seem to enjoy their mead :-)
ReplyDelete