January 16, 2020
Timothy Yao
Aim: How are themes of loyalty and kinship developed and contrasted against jealousy and pride?
Do Now:
What seems to motivate Beowulf to come assist the Danes?
Beowulf's father pledged loyalty to the King of the Danes since the king helped him resolve a large conflict that had occurred as a consequence of his own actions, that pledge was inherited by Beowulf.
Unferth's challenge:
When Beowulf arrived to assist the Danes, a celebration was held in his honor, but a jealous man named Unferth challenged Beowulf's honor by telling a story of when Beowulf lost a swimming contest, implying that his failure then made him unfit to tackle their issues.
Beowulf responded by stating that he only lost because sea monsters slowed him down and he was too busy fighting them to focus on the competition and then tells a story about how Unferth murdered his own brothers, which Unferth had not refuted.
Group Discussion:
How are Beowulf and Unferth characterized?
Beowulf is characterized as heroic and honorable, Unferth is characterized as shady and cowardly.
Why did the Danes welcome Beowulf and the Geats?
The Danes welcomed Beowulf and the Geats since they agreed to help in slaying Grendel, a monster which had been terrorizing them.
How are Beowulf's and Unferth's boasting different?
Beowulf's boasting elevates himself while Unferth's boasting undermines others.
Reflection:
In this lesson we see scenes of kinship and loyalty through the interactions of Beowulf and scenes of jealousy and pride through Unferth, we see how Beowulf, and by extension the Geats, is able to establish unity with the Danes and how people like Unferth, blinded by jealousy and pride, are unable to see the bigger picture and try to disrupt others for petty and selfish reasons.
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