Question

read the passage from beowulf.

from where he crouched at the kings feet,
unferth, a son of ecglafs, spoke
contrary words. beowulfs coming,
his sea-braving, made him sick with envy:
he could not brook or abide the fact
that anyone else alive under heaven
might enjoy greater regard than he did:

the passage supports the inference that unferth is

acclaimed.
frail.
petty.
religious.

Explanation:

Analyze the textual evidence

The passage states that Beowulf's arrival and "sea-braving" made Unferth "sick with envy." It further explains that Unferth "could not brook or abide the fact that anyone else alive under heaven might enjoy greater regard than he did."

Evaluate the character traits

• "acclaimed": Not supported; the text focuses on his internal jealousy rather than public praise.
• "frail": Not supported; physical weakness is not mentioned.
• "petty": Supported; his inability to tolerate anyone else receiving greater recognition or regard demonstrates a small-minded, envious, and petty nature.
• "religious": Not supported; the phrase "under heaven" is a common idiom of the period and does not indicate personal religious devotion.

Determine the correct option

The characterization of Unferth as envious and resentful of another's glory directly aligns with being "petty."

Answer:

• acclaimed.
• frail.
• petty. (Correct answer)
• religious.