Unferth in Beowulf and Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey :: comparison compare contrast essays

Unferth in Beowulf and Odysseus in the Odyssey Kemp Malone in his essay Beowulf comments that the heros swimming match with Breca, an episode of more than 100 lines, is not told as such, but set in a frame the flitting between Unferth and Beowulf (Malone 144). This quarrel or challenge between the hero and a rude rivalry appears not only in Beowulf but in other doughty poetry like the Odyssey. When Beowulf and his crew of brave Geat warriors arrive to the court of poof Hrothgar of Denmark, one of the kings retainers, Unferth by name, has been drinking too firmly of the mead. This puts him into a drunken state of mind wherein he unwisely and discourteously challenges the hero regarding a swimming contest sometime earlier Unferth, Ecglafs son, rose to speak, who sat at the fee of the lord of the Scyldings he detach a battle-rune - the journey of Beowulf, the brave seafarer, caused him chagrin, for he would not grant that either other man under the heavens might ever like m ore for famous deeds than he himself Are you the same Beowulf who challenged Breca to a swimming match on the open sea? There out(p) of pride you both tested sea-ways, through foolish boasting risked lives on the deep. None could dissuade you, friend or foe, keep either of you from that paltry trip, when you went swimming out of the bay, your arms embracing the crests, sea-currents, flung out your hands to criterion the sea-roads, the ocean of wind. The steep seas boiled in winters pourings. You both toiled seven nights driven by the waves, and in that swimming he overcame you, had great strength.(499ff.) So far Unferth, a proud warrior himself, tells Beowulf that the hero is foolish and that he has been bested in this sea-competition by his opponent both of which are big, embarrassing putdowns. Unferth continues to incumbrance it in The sea cast him up on the Heatho-Raems shore from in that respect at daybreak he sought his homeland, beloved by his people, came fanny t o the Brondings, fair peace-fort where he had subjects, stronghold, and treasures. The good son of Beanstan had truly fulfilled his intact boast against you(519ff.) Nothing like siding 100% with the foe forwards even hearing both sides of the story Finally, in concluding, Unferth states his minimal expectations of Beowulf considering the latter(prenominal)s utter failure against Breca