How Does Beowulf Have A Bad Reputation

Reputation is very important today in society. If you have a good reputation than people will look up to you for advice and feedback. Plus more people would want to associate with you and not be afraid of your public image. But if you have a bad reputation people look down upon you and ignore you even when your down. It’s all about how you treat others and how you make them feel.

In The story of Beowulf, reputation was very important to the people. If a person didn't have a strong reputation they were looked down upon and gain no respect. In this book reputation is referenced In different types of examples. These examples are from all the battles Beowulf encounters. The first time is when Beowulf enters Herot hall and talks to Unferth. When he arrives he doesn't just say his name and where he came from, he gives a list of all of his plans on how he is going to kill Grendel. He says in the book "I battled and bound five beasts, I raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats". In these lines Beowulf takes pride in his achievements and his image as a strong warrior. …show more content…
So he says to him "are you the Beowulf who took on Breca in a swimming match on the open sea, and didn't he outswim you”. In that line you can see that he is hurt by Unferth's comment about his reputation. Beowulf's reputation is the only thing that proves that he is such a great warrior. So When Unferth questioned Beowulf's reputation, he was immediately put on the spot to explain what really happened, otherwise his reputation will be ruined. So In the story Beowulf explains that he “ time and time again was attacked by sea monsters”. He tells everyone that he killed the "seven sea monsters" and because of that the contest was