Unferth

Plot Importance
Unferth is a Spear-Dane spokesman and courtier of Hrothgar. "Likewise Unferth, spokesman,""sat at the foot of the Scylding lord; everyone trusted his spirit,""that he had great courage, though to his kinsmen he had not been""merciful in sword-play. (ll. 1165-68)"Unferth challenges Beowulf's boasting before the Grendel episode by bringing up Breca and the swimming contest and insinuating that Beowulf lost. Beowulf, in turn, blames Unferth for kinslaying. Unferth lends Beowulf his family's sword, Hrunting, for his fight with Grendel's mother, but the sword breaks and Beowulf returns it in pieces.