Critics who discuss Unferth, Hrothgar's pyle, usually give most of their attention to the flyting, or verbal combat, in which he brings up an embarrassing episode from Beowulf's youth to support his prediction that the Geat will get the worst of his encounter with Grendel. This flyting is the most spectacular and substantial of Unferth's appearances, occupying as it does 108 lines shortly after Beowulf's arrival in Denmark (499–606). But Unferth returns to the narrative four more times: after the first monster fight he boasts less of his own warlike deeds (980–90); after the performance of the song of Finnesburh we catch a glimpse of him sitting at Hrothgar's feet and hear that the Danes trust his spirit and bravery (1165–8); before the fight with Grendel's mother he lends Beowulf his sword (1455–71, 1488–91); and finally Beowulf returns the sword to him, magnanimously praising it despite its uselessness in the fight (1807–12). Unferth is the poem's most prominent Dane after Hrothgar himself, more prominent even than Wealhtheow. His story is woven into the narrative of Beowulf's Danish adventure.

In this chapter I will apply the ideas presented in Chapter Two to a problem in the interpretation of Unferth: having attacked Beowulf's wisdom and prowess in virulent terms, and having been accused, by way of retort, of cowardice, empty bragging and fratricide, why does he so far swallow his pride as to lend Beowulf his magnificent sword, surely his most prized possession? Other, related problems include how this sword comes to fail, what that failure may mean to Unferth, and how best to read Beowulf’s gracious speeches on accepting and returning the sword.