Heroic ideals and mortality in Beowulf

¶ … epic poem "Beowulf" written by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet. Specifically it will discuss Unferth's challenge to Beowulf in the land of the Danes and what it means to the story. Unferth's challenge indicates that he is jealous of Beowulf, and cannot stand to see anyone else get attention and support from his people. However, his behavior later on shows that he is a coward and not as brave as Beowulf, and so, he has reason to be jealous.

Beowulf and his men enter the land of the Danes, and find themselves welcome, until they meet Unferth, a jealous and manipulative man who taunts Beowulf and questions his bravery. He says, "Are you that Beowulf who with Breca strove in swimming on the open sea, when you two for pride tested the tide and for a rash boast risked both your lives in deep waters?" (B,54). This shows that Unferth is filled with his own importance, and yet, he has done nothing to fight Grendel and his mother, which shows that inside, Unferth is a coward and a jealous coward at that. Beowulf shows this when he says to Unferth, "I've not learned of any such contests of skill or combats like these on your part. Neither you nor Breca has yet played in such battle-sport, performed such a bold and fearless deed with bright swords" (B,56-57). This indicates again that Unferth can talk about it and challenge others to fight Grendel, but he avoids it himself, making him look like a cowardly fool.

Later, Unferth again shows he is afraid to fight Grendel himself when he lends Beowulf his sword to fight the monster. The poet writes, "Not the least of mighty aids was lent to him in his need by Hrothgar's thyle, [Unferth] the long-hilted sword called Hrunting, outstanding among ancient treasures" (B.87). Thus, Unferth shows his cowardice when, instead of joining Beowulf or fighting the monster on his own, he merely hands over his sword to another man to fight the monster and save the people. Unferth is all talk and no action, showing him to be a boastful coward with little real backbone or courage.

These events help show Beowulf for the great hero he is. He is not afraid to battle Grendel and his mother; in fact, he seems to welcome the challenge. This is important to the story because it helps back up the poet's tales of bravery and courage, and helps show that Beowulf is indeed an epic hero. A hero has to be brave in battle, and understanding off the battlefield, and Beowulf is both. He is not afraid to rise to Unferth's challenge because he is sure of himself, and this is a characteristic of a hero as well.

This challenge also helps the reader understand the characters even more. Beowulf shows not only that he is heroic, but also that he can argue and persuade with the best of them, when he takes Unferth's challenge and explains what really happened in the seas. He says, "I had greater strength at sea, withstood in the waves more woes than any man. Being young and rash, as youth is prone to be, we two promised, and then pledged, that we would venture our very lives out on the ocean -- and so we did" (B, 55). Thus, he shows his strength and heroism, but he also shows that he will not back down from a challenge, something that Unferth cannot say.