Beowulf

Beowulf Beowulf “ I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea. As I sat in the boat with my band of men, I ment to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall” (632-638) Boasting in the poem seems to be a suitable and accepted form of self-assertion. It is interesting to see how the protagonist Beowulf is able to boast with out appearing to be conceded. As odd as it may seem he is very humble with his boasting. It is more like he’s selling himself to Hrothgar and his county men by telling them what he can do for them rather than bragging. I came to this conclusion because of the Danes reaction to Beowulf’s boasts. They are not threatened or offended by his boasts instead they feel protected, even thought they have yet to see him in action they have solely heard the stories of his triumph. Unferth is the only one who challenges Beowulf claims. He harasses Beowulf about his swimming match beowulf, boast, able, poem, dragon, unferth, swimming, put, purpose, men, match, fulfill, form, fight, even, danes, boasts, because, youth, yet, words, wiglaf, whale-beast, wanted, very, uttermost, what, true, triumph, through, threatened, thought, telling, talking, suitable, strong, stories, solely, slay, simply, shall, selling, self-assertion, seems, seem, sea, sat, responds, reputation, really