Beowulf’s humility makes him a beloved member and ruler of the Geat dynasty; he never sinks to anyone’s level and he only brags slightly when making a formal boast, which everyone expects epic heroes to do. At the beginning of the epic when he reaches Hrothgar’s country and the Danes welcome the Geats, Beowulf meets a man named Unferth. Envious of Beowulf and his high regard, he brings up a tale from the past about Beowulf concerning a swimming contest, however he twists his words in order to make Beowulf look vain and unworthy. Rather than sink to his level and speak false, harsh information, he kindly corrects him without bragging: “Well, friend Unferth, you have had your say / about Breca and me. But it was mostly beer / that was doing the
