Unferth
Anglo Saxon · mortal · heroic age · Recorded classification
The record does not settle whether he is a villain, an office-holder whose office is to challenge, or a man being generous with a sword after being wrong; the poem does not, and two centuries of criticism have not.
Relations
- thane of: HrothgarIn-batch.Reference treatment: Unferth is a Danish thane at Hrothgar's court. (secondary)
- challenged: BeowulfNon-symmetric.Reference treatment: Unferth voices doubt about Beowulf's past accomplishments at the banquet. (secondary)
- contended with: BrecaIn-batch, and not a fight - the contention is over whose account of the match is true.Reference treatment: Unferth's challenge concerns Beowulf's swimming match against Breca. (secondary)
Sources
- Unferth is the Danish thane who challenges Beowulf at the feast over the Breca swimming match and later lends him the sword Hrunting.: Reference treatments of Beowulf and of Unferth. (secondary)