Breca (sometimes spelled Breoca or Brecca) was a Bronding who, according to the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, was Beowulf’s childhood friend. Breca defeated Beowulf in what, by consensus, is described as a swimming match.

What did Breca and Beowulf do together?

Breca and Beowulf engage in a strange swimming contest where they take on the open sea while wearing full armor and carrying swords, supposedly to defend themselves from sea monsters. It’s not entirely clear who wins this contest, although Unferth suggests that Breca actually beat Beowulf.

Who challenges Beowulf about Breca?

Unferth

When Beowulf arrives at Heorot Hall, Unferth challenges him by telling the story of a swimming contest that Beowulf once lost to a man named Breka. However, Beowulf says that he only lost because he had to fight nine sea monsters after five days in icy water.

How many days did Beowulf and Breca swim?

seven days

1 The exact duration of the swim is not altogether clear, but it appears likely, from the statement of Unfer6 (1. 517), that it is seven days, Beowulf being in his version of the story not altogether explicit with time-reference after mentioning that Breca and he swam together for five days.

How many nights did Breca and Beowulf contend before the sea monsters showed up?

The ocean swayed, winter went wild in the waves, but you vied for seven nights; and then he outswam you, came ashore the stronger contender.

What happens when Unferth challenges Beowulf about Breca?

What does Unferth say to Beowulf? Unferth challenges Beowulf and tries to pick a fight with him by stating that if Beowulf could not beat Breca in the swimming contest, then he will never be strong enough to defeat Grendel.

Who killed Unferth?

Tension however arises from the two when Unferth falls in love with Wealhtheow and Hrothgar shows no sign of intending to keep his promise. Unferth begins to plot against the king with the court minstrel, but is murdered on Hrothgar’s orders by Beowulf.

How did Breca beat Beowulf?

Breca (sometimes spelled Breoca or Brecca) was a Bronding who, according to the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, was Beowulf’s childhood friend. Breca defeated Beowulf in what, by consensus, is described as a swimming match.

What saved Beowulf from death in the sea?

How does Beowulf escape? Beowulf’s armor saves him from the knife Grendel’s mother has. He was able to use his strength to throw Grendel’s mother off of himself. How does Beowulf kill Grendel’s mother?

What does the name Heorot mean?

Heorot. Heorot, also Herot, is a mead-hall described in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf as “the foremost of halls under heaven.” It served as a palace for King Hroðgar, a legendary Danish king of the sixth century. Heorot means “Hall of the Hart“.

Did Beowulf lie about the sea monsters?

Thou Beowulf is viewed as a mighty hero one of his downfalls is his lying. Beowulf claimed to have killed 7 sea monsters but we hear Wiglaf in the back ground saying unclearly “Last time it was 3,” This statement alone shows us that Beowulf has issues with lying.

What does the dragon in Beowulf look like?

The dragon is very much feared in the story of Beowulf. Like most dragons in Western folklore, in Beowulf, the dragon is depicted as a huge, reptile-like beast with enormous claws and bat-like wings.

Is Hrothgar Beowulf’s King?

King Hrothgar



A wise and aged ruler, Hrothgar represents a different kind of leadership from that exhibited by the youthful warrior Beowulf. He is a father figure to Beowulf and a model for the kind of king that Beowulf becomes.

Who insults Beowulf?

One of Hrothgar’s top retainers, Unferth, interrupts the celebration to insult Beowulf and challenge his reputation. When Beowulf was a youth, apparently during his adolescence, he engaged in a swimming match on the open sea with another boy, named Breca.

What crime did Unferth commit?

Unferth kills his brothers; therefore, he commits a crime against the Danes as a tribe.

Why does Unferth challenge Beowulf?

Unferth challenges Beowulf because of Beowulf’s boasts about his abilities as a warrior.

What did wiglaf do in Beowulf?

Wiglaf, one of Beowulf’s kinsmen and thanes, is the only warrior brave enough to help the hero in his fight against the dragon. Wiglaf conforms perfectly to the heroic code in that he is willing to die attempting to defeat the opponent and, more importantly, to save his lord.

Who is Danes in Beowulf?

Danes (Dene) A tribe living in part of the area now called Denmark. At the time most of the story takes place, Hrothgar is lord of the Danes. The Dragon – Its home is in Geatland. It lives underground guarding a huge treasure.

What did Ecgtheow do?

Ecgtheow, Beowulf’s father, once found himself in a blood-feud with the tribe called the Wulfings because he had killed a man named Heatholaf. Ecgtheow sought refuge with King Hrothgar of the Danes, who eventually “healed the feud by paying” (470)—that is, he made reparations to the Wulfings on Ecgtheow’s behalf.

Is Grendel Hrothgar’s son?

In the movie Grendel was Hrothgar’s son; however, in the textbook Grendel was a descendent of Cain. Grendel was Hrothgar’s son in the movie because he slept with Grendel’s mom.

Is Grendel Beowulf’s son?

Grendel is feared by all in Heorot but Beowulf. A descendant of Cain, Grendel is described as “a creature of darkness, exiled from happiness and accursed of God, the destroyer and devourer of our human kind”.