17. "'The fact is, Unferth, if you were truly as keen and courageous as you claim to be Grendel would never have got away with such unchecked atrocity, attacks on your king, havoc in Heorot and horrors everywhere.'" (590-594)
Beowulf suggests that Unferth shouldn't go around insulting other warriors' courage until he's done something courageous himself.
18. "'Often, for undaunted courage, fate spares the man it has not already marked.'" (572-573)
Beowulf makes an interesting claim about his description of his swimming contest with Breca. At some points, the narrator reminds us that God determines everyone's fate. But in this passage, Beowulf claims that, if your fate hasn't been decided yet, you can succeed through sheer nerve and courageous behavior.
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