BEOWULF Unferths Challenge The Battle with Grendel After

BEOWULF Unferth’s Challenge The Battle with Grendel After the Battle

UNFERTH’S CHALLENGE

UNFERTH’S CHALLENGE Unferth (one of Hrothgar’s men) accuses Beowulf of exaggerated boasting He claims Beowulf was defeated in a swimming match against Brecca in his youth A challenge to a hero made by an inferior character is a common motif in heroic epic poetry

BEOWULF’S DEFENSE Foreshadows his bravery to come in his battle with Grendel Tells the tale of how he and Brecca began the swimming match They swam for five days and were then separated by a storm Beowulf had to slay nine sea monsters before swimming to safety

WHAT IS A FOIL? Foil – a character who serves as a contrast to the main character Unferth is a foil to Beowulf

UNFERTH THE ANTI-HERO Unferth is not heroic He has no tales of heroism to his credit He does not challenge Grendel Unferth murdered his own brothers � Cannot pay wergild to your own kin

WEALTHOW’S TOAST Wealthow (Hrothgar’s wife and queen) offers a toast to Beowulf She thanks God for answering her prayers by sending them a hero who will help her people � This is an insult to Unferth

HROTHGAR’S PROMISE Beowulf assures Wealthow that his purpose is to defeat Grendel or die trying Hrothgar promises Beowulf treasures if he defeats Grendel

THE BATTLE WITH GRENDEL

GRENDEL ATTACKS Beowulf and his men set up their beds in Herot that night Grendel comes from out of the marsh excited to kill He has never seen Herot defended so firmly Grendel enters the hall and snatches up one of Beowulf’s men

GRENDEL’S ATTACK He rips the man apart He drinks the man’s blood Why does Beowulf allow Grendel to slaughter this man before taking action? � He might be forming a plan of attack � Grendel might have moved too quickly

GRENDEL VERSUS BEOWULF Grendel grabs for a second Geat – who happens to be Beowulf seizes Grendel’s arm and bends it back Grendel wants to run away (cowardly) but Beowulf’s grip is too strong Beowulf’s men attempt to kill Grendel but their swords are useless against him � Grendel has put a spell on all of their weapons

CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN INFLUENCES Grendel is described as “sin-stained” (Christian) Capable of the power to “bewitch” and cast “spells” (Pagan) Grendel is doomed to hell because he doesn’t understand what it is to feud with God (Christian)

THE BATTLE ENDS Beowulf tears off Grendel’s arm at the shoulder Grendel retreats to his lair to bleed to death Beowulf hangs the arm from the rafters in the mead-hall

DISPLAYING GRENDEL’S ARM Why does Beowulf hang the arm from the rafters? � It serves as a trophy � Shows that Grendel is defeated � Calls attention to Beowulf’s greatness What is the effect of seeing the arm? � Makes the people honor Beowulf � Serves as a warning to other monsters/opponents

AFTER THE BATTLE

GRENDEL’S MOTHER’S REVENGE Everyone rejoices at the death of Grendel They retell the story of Beowulf’s bravery Grendel’s mother comes and attacks Herot She takes Grendel’s arm back to her lair along with one of Hrothgar’s closest friends � She beheads him Beowulf is awakened and asked to undergo another quest