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Similarities Between The Wife's Lament And Beowulf

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In both poems “unferth from beowulf” and The wife’s laments” they both have the same theme, which is betrayal and anger. Both of the stories are expressing anger the same way, but are expressed differently throughout the story. When Beowulf first arrives Unferth doesn’t have any kind words to say about Beowulf. He begins to question him about how he’s going to defeat Grendel if he couldn’t even win a swimming race with Brecca. “unlocked his thoughts with these unfriendly words-for the journey of Beowulf”(418-419). As you know Unferth isn’t really glad that Beowulf has arrived. Unferth points out he won’t be able to defeat Grendel, “ So I am sure you will pay a heavy price”(442). Beowulf only replies back with the truth, feeling frustrated
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Beowulf’s Vengeance It is a fair night in Geatland, and Beowulf is celebrating his victory over Grendel's Mother in the mead hall Higlac built for his nephew. The mead hall is named The Court of Champions. "Let us celebrate my nephew’s great accomplishments of ridding the Danish people of their hideous creatures!" Higlac exclaims as he raises his mead cup to his subjects. Higlac by far was one of the fairest kings the Geats have had, after raids he gave each member a portion of the loot and made sure that everyone in the clan was cared for.

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469 Words | 2 Pages

It 's more than that, as my coming here has proved. No man above us will ever know whether Unferth died here or fled to the hills like a coward.” (pg. 64). This is where Grendel realizes that Unferth really is a good man.

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1002 Words | 5 Pages

Beowulf explained how Unferth was wrong and claimed that Unferth should not make such accusations when he killed his own family. Beowulf overcame his shadow, and later on Unferth becomes a

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1220 Words | 5 Pages

Despite Unferth’s challenge and jealousy towards Beowulf, his actions help Beowulf admit his flaws amidst his greatness. Beowulf first encounters Unferth, one of Hrothgar’s courtiers, when he goes to the Danes to help King Hrothgar fight Grendel.

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904 Words | 4 Pages

In Beowulf, Unferth tries to rile up Beowulf, viewing him as not as glorious as the stories claim, but once he kills Grendel and begins his hunt for Grendel’s mother, he realizes his words were wrong. He tries to apologize by lending Beowulf his own sword, Hrunting. Beowulf gladly accepts the sword and even states “‘to that far-famed man I bequeath my own / sharp-honed, wave-sheened wonder-blade. / With Hrunting I shall gain glory or die’” (1489-1491).

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1333 Words | 6 Pages

First of all, despite the fact that men are highly emphasized in Beowulf, women are highly absent in the story. Even within the first couple of sentences, the style and wording create an atmosphere in which

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650 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf reflects the traits that conformed to their masculine norms . While sorrowful Hrothgar laments the deaths caused by Grendel’s mother, Beowulf urges him to “not grieve” and to “avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning” (1384-5). However, earlier the epic alluded to a story about a princess named Hildeburh who after losing her husband, child, and brother, was “waylaid by grief” (1081). There is a definite contrast between how men and women are expected to confront loss- according to the patriarchal values, men avenge and women weep. Therefore, Beowulf is even more of an ideal masculine hero because he adheres the the Anglo-Saxon gender roles.

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494 Words | 2 Pages

Grendel believes Beowulf cheated and him being defeated was an accident. He shouts out, “If you win, it 's by mindless chance. Make no mistake. First you tricked me, and then I slipped. Accident.”.

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242 Words | 1 Pages

In the poem,”The wife's lament”, by Ann Stanford, and the excerpt of Beowulf, by an anonymous author both have distinct characters. For example, the wife in the poem states that,”I should find the man well matched to me hard for fortune mournful of mind hiding his mood thinking of murder”.(line 18-20) In this quote the other tries to describe how hard it is to deal with the wife and that the future husband should hide his murderous thoughts if he has any. However, in the Beowulf excerpt, Beowulf claims,”I slew nine sea-beasts with my sword. I have never heard of a fiercer fought by night under heaven’s vault nor of a man who endured more on the ocean streams.

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805 Words | 4 Pages

The continued honor shown in Beowulf’s character shines through when Beowulf never mentions that Unferth’s trusted sword was no match for Grendel’s mother. Beowulf could have simply boasted how the sword was useless and ineffective against the female beast, yet he was silent out of respect for Unferth. Finally, during Beowulf’s time as ruler (fifty winters), another beast arrives: a dragon. This time, Beowulf is much older and is in a much weaker state than when he first defeated Grendel and his mother. However, that does not deter Beowulf from going out and defending his kingdom.

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306 Words | 2 Pages

5 Literary Devices in Beowulf: “the way it all melted as ice melts” (p.52) Beowulf just finished slaying Grendel and his mother; the ancient sword he used to kill them melts. The poet uses a simile comparing the sword to ice cubes as they melt to emphasize. Giving the image/effect of the sword slowly dissolving in a stunning way; emphasizing the incredibility of it. “the shining blade refused to bite” (p.50) Beowulf dives underwater to fight Grendel’s Mother.

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964 Words | 4 Pages

Also it was very hard to kill Grendel's mother. In the movie and poem, Unferth gave Beowulf a gift to fight Grendel's mother. But unfortunately, the sword didn’t works on

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517 Words | 3 Pages

In writing, authors use different types of tone. Tone is an expression of a writer's attitude toward a subject. An author may use specific words or phrases to convey their intended tone. The author of "Beowulf" uses a variety of tone to express their attitude towards certain characters and events. This author's tone adds more depth to the plot and provides entertainment for the reader.

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467 Words | 2 Pages

n both the excerpt about Unferth from Beowulf and the poem “The Wife’s Lament”, the themes of betrayal and anger are shown within the stories; however, they are expressed differently. To begin with, Unferth shows his anger towards Beowulf by attempting to embarrass him in front of all the men, including King Hrothgar. For example, Unferth states “No one, neither friend nor foe, could keep you from your sad journey, when you swam out to sea… Breca outslayed you, he was stronger” (427-435). Unferth is trying to say that Beowulf is weak and can’t compete with anyone or anything.

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629 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the epic poem of “Beowulf” many literary devices are used. Which devices stand out to you? The three that I see from the writing of Roberta Frank are kenning, foreshadowing, and alliteration. These devises are in my opinion the ones that are used the most and stand out from the others. In the epic poem Kenning is used to transform a simple word into something much more Complex or something that may sound better.

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