Compare And Contrast Beowulf And The Wife's Lament

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In both Beowulf and “The Wife's Lament” themes of betrayal and anger are woven into the texts. Although Unferth, Beowulf and the wife express their feelings of anger and competent through different means considering one is a women and Beowulf and Unferth are warriors. In Beowulf, both Beowulf and Unferth respond on their feeling of anger and competent by insulting each other's honor. Unferth taunts Beowulf honor out of anger that a stranger has come to his land trying to steal his glory of the kill. In the quote we see him try and prove Beowulf weak and dishonorable, “Are you the Beowulf who competed with Breca, vied with him a swimming match in the open seas...but Breca outstayed you, he was stronger...” He tries to taint Beowulf's honor, saying what chance would he have against Grendel if he could not even win a swimming match against Breca. …show more content…

Beowulf then takes the opportunity to destroy Unferth's honor by saying, “...though of course it is true you slew your own brothers, your own kinsman.” (503-504) and he also responds saying, “The fact is, Unferth, if you were truly as keen and courageous as you claim to be Grendel would never have got away with such unchecked atrocity.” (590-593) In these two quotes Beowulf reveals unferth to be a drunk, weak old man is only afraid. As we see with warriors the worst that can happen is losing one's honor through

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