This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He may be trying to lighten the room a bit so that things don’t get too gloomy and throw him off his game (or get him thrown from the feast table). What are the kennings used during Beowulf's battle with Grendel. telling of his victory! Or, at the least, it shows the poet’s desire to have his subject appear to be expert in this essential skill. You can find the next part of Beowulf here. As a combination of the word for “youth” (“geogoð,” which even sounds sort of like the Modern English word since its vowel-ensconced “g”s are pronounced as “y”s) and the word for “life, principle of life, soul, spirit” (“feore”) a literal translation of this compound could be “youthful in spirit”. Given the context of Beowulf's speech—a celebration of welcome for Beowulf—his comment would, under most circumstances, be the cause of a fight because he has just accused the Danes of cowardice, but the comment is ignored by the Danes. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Business. further establishes the hero's character and maturity. He fights the dragon and kills it, with the help of Wiglaf. Whatever sort of verbal tricks and public speaking strategies Beowulf might have used up to the end of this week’s extract, its final sentence really shows his acumen as a story teller. Latest answer posted October 31, 2010 at 8:51:03 AM In Beowulf, why is Unferth so hostile to Beowulf? Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Is it better to go with the rough equivalent of a word in Modern English even if it simplifies the Old English original, or should a translation err on the side of being literal as much as possible? Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. is that I more swimming strength had, Though authority and gravity weren’t the only things the Anglo-Saxons saw coming with such maturity. Log in here. Tallying swimming strength in youth It’s not direct, but I read this as Beowulf’s reply to Unferth’s implication that the swimming challenge was something off the cuff or coming from a drunken mind. Wealhtheow, wife of Hrothgar and queen of the Danes, enters with the ceremonial goblet, which she offers to everyone in the room. hardship on the waves, than any other man. Yes, Beowulf and Breca would have been fairly young when their boast was made and carried out, but “geogoð-feore” implies more than simply being “young.”. In the second paragraph above, Beowulf essentially tells Unferth (and the assembled court, including Hrothgar) that the Danes (the West-Scyldings, Hrothgar's tribe) are too weak to confront Grendel successfully because they are more fond of boasting than fighting. So, though he may well have been younger when he and Breca braved the waves in this foolish bet, he isn’t now that much older. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. What’s more, Beowulf reflects that he and Breca were yet young then, and so the foolishness of the boast should be definitely be set aside. -Graham S. Download Unferth Character Timeline in Beowulf. Beowulf notes that neither Unferth nor Breca could have survived such an adventure and mocks Unferth by pointing out his obvious helplessness against Grendel. Get an answer for 'What is the significance of Beowulf's response to Unferth?' Unferth's point is that, if the Geat could not win that swimming match, he is surely no match for Grendel. Whatever the case, Beowulf’s saying that he and Breca bet that they would risk their lives on the “spear-sea” (“gar-secg” (l.537)) – not even just the “secg” but the dangerous-sounding “gar-secg” – and that things turned out that way too is the perfect end point for an introduction. Beowulf’s confidence cheers the whole hall, and soon the warriors are laughing and drinking happily. I get the definite impression that Beowulf, as serious as he may be taking himself here, might also be trying to diffuse the seriousness of Unferth’s attacks with some comedy. Beowulf. Such presence of mind and considered thought also give Beowulf an air of maturity. Closing. What is the significance of Beowulf's response to Unferth? Change ). I like to think that Beowulf paused for laughter then, if only that of his own men (while Hrothgar, or maybe some of his other thanes, groaned). Already a member? ( Log Out / Unferth does become more generous after Beowulf defeats Grendel, and lends Beowulf his family sword to fight Grendel's mother. This could be seen as another example of tribal rivalry that survives the pagan era. Unferth also warns that none have survived against the monster Grendel (lines 527-528). Recordings Nonetheless, the word he uses in his “The truth as I reckon” (“Soð ic talige” (l.532)) is “talian,” (the root of the modern “tally”) a word that can also mean “count,” “calculate,” “account,” “relate,” or “impute.” Among these options, I went with “reckon” because I think that even in Old English this understanding of “talian” connotes clear, sober thinking. Tallying swimming strength in youth.
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