ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Then Beowulf put on his armour, his silver-grey helmet decorated with the fierce faces of wild boars and a mail-shirt to protect his body. Unferth, Hrothgar’s best warrior, offered Beowulf his sword. Its name was Hrunting. It had belonged to Unferth’s family for many years, and tasted blood in many battles.

Detailed explanation-2: -The word befits Hrunting, the most famous sword in the heroic world of Beowulf.

Detailed explanation-3: -What is Hrunting? It’s an ancient sword with an iron blade that has never failed its owner in battle. It belongs to Unferth, but it was lent to Beowulf to fight Grendel’s mother.

Detailed explanation-4: -In the entire saga, he used four swords-his own, Unferth’s Hrunting, a sword from Grendel’s mother’s hoard, and Hrothgar’s Nægling.

Detailed explanation-5: -The sword in medieval literature reflects the warrior who wields it by standing in as a phallic symbol and the general concept of gender beyond its physical uses in war. When Beowulf enters the den of Grendel’s Mother, he can’t help but take notice of the large sword stashed amongst her hoard.