The Emulation of Unferth

The Emulation of Unferth

“The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents." These words of wisdom, spoken by Salvador Dali, can be directly related to the basis of the relationship between Beowulf and his foil, Unferth, in both the epic poem Beowulf, and John Gardner’s novel Grendel. When comparing these two pieces of literature, many connections amongst the two are apparent. One of the most prominent of these connections between the works, is the portrayal of an important character, Unferth.

Unferth, whose name means strife or mar-peace, is the son of Ecglef and a member of Hrothgar’s court. He was said to have killed his own brother, which, if true, is the worst crime possible to commit in accordance with the Anglo-Saxon system of belief. Despite this fact, in the original poem, Unferth was said to have been a well-respected warrior and hero. This remains true, until Hrothgar and his kingdom are faced with attacks from Grendel, and are for...