A Comparative Analysis of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and How Their Differences Reflect the Changing Views of English Society
Throughout history and even continuing up through today, society has been infatuated with the concept of heroism, specifically with the idea of what truly defines a hero. One look at a list of upcoming movies will reveal as much, full of films featuring protagonists that range from warriors to just regular people who stay true to themselves while being faced with seemingly insurmountable barriers. Since the beginnings of English literature, there have been stories written about the ideal hero. The earliest of these stories, Beowulf, was composed by an unknown author somewhere around the year 700. (“Beowulf,” New World Encyclopedia). Another well-known English heroic story is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written approximately 700 years later in 1400 (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” Luminarium). While these two stories are both part of the same vast collection of English heroic literature, they differ greatly in the way that each goes about depicting the ideal hero. This ideological shift is representative of the sweeping transformations that England underwent between the Early and Late Middle Ages.
When analyzing any piece of literature, it is important to reflect on the time period in which it was written in order to gain better insight into what the work says about the society from which it came. In the case of Beowulf, this epic poem was
The upbringing of children by the environments (parents, relatives, the neighbor next door) in each generation and country differ, and thus produces a unique child for each. The societal environment molds the child and the child becomes a character as he/she grows older. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are extremely different despite the almost similar societies in which each grew up in. The few similarities they share are a small derivative from the religious aspect of their childhood to adulthood. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are both warriors in the sense of fighting for the protection and honor of their kings, but Beowulf struggles to maintain humility in his personality unlike Sir Gawain. Also with religion being prominent in mostly Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, it provides a contrast of each protagonist’s life. In full examination of the two characters, it can be said that Sir Gawain and Beowulf’s motives and actions throughout the story are for the morally right, however, the differences of personality reveal great detail of each’s persona.
Heroes come in many forms. The construction of "the heroic" has taken many forms, yet traits such as: courage, honor, and loyalty, reappear as themes throughout the "hero" personality. The characters of Beowulf and Sir Gawain each represent a version of a hero, yet each comes across quite differently in their story. A hero can be said to truly win if he remains constant to his noble values when put in any situation that crosses his way. When measured by that criterion, Sir Gawain stands out above Beowulf as a true hero, due to his command of both personal and spiritual power through the use of thought, as well as valiant deeds.
In Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight there are two heroes that help the present day reader gain insight into what the hero of the Middle Ages would have held as ideals and necessary triumphs. Beowulf and Sir Gawain each fill a different role within their unique societies. Beowulf is a leader and a savior in times of need, willing to go to any length to help another group of people as well as his own kingdom. Sir Gawain is also willing to rise during moments of trouble within his court but lacks the altruism that is inherent in Beowulf's leadership. Although there are many pursuable comparisons within the two tales, the most apparent between the two heroes are that of faith, the men who encouraged them, bravery and the
Beowulf and Gawain are shown as great leaders. Sir Gawain is liked by most people he has met. Beowulf has many loyal followers by his side. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are both brave and loyal. They attempt to honor their kings and kingdoms. Those are all
In the epic poems of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf, the role of heroes is significant. However, the epic poems differ drastically on these topics. The epic poems of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf share many things yet differ in the qualities of the heroes; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight defines heroism as imperfect, mortal and humble, as delineated by the actions of Sir Gawain at the Green Chapel, while Beowulf defines heroism as being “larger-than-life” and proud, as shown by Beowulf’s encounter with Unferth.
According to Tom Hanks, a hero is “somebody who voluntarily walks into the unknown.” A hero is someone who puts another’s needs before themselves, is strong, and courageous. Sir Gawain and Beowulf are epic heroes who embody these ideals. Sir Gawain is part of King Arthur’s court, and he is the sole knight who bravely accepts the Green Knight’s challenge in order to protect his king. On the contrary, Beowulf is a warrior and a king. He is constantly battling monsters for the glory and fame. Sir Gawain is more honorable, because he has superior beliefs, motivations, and is more courageous.
difference between Beowulf and Sir Gawain, is that Sir Gawain is a real hero, and
Beowulf and Sir Gawain and The Green Knight are British mythological stories whose authors are unknown. The stories paint the picture of brave and selfless heroes who put the lives of their fellow men before their own. Though the stories differ in their narration, they are built on the same ideas and principles. This essay compares and contrasts the various themes in these two stories and their development. The issues discussed are the role of women, strength and courage and afterlife.
Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green knight are correspondingly similar as they are different. Both Sir Gawain and beowulf are the best of their occupations and great heros but, based off of different intentions and roles they both have different personalities which lead them to their successes.
Lastly, Beowulf and Sir Gawain realize their flaws and frailty for what makes them unique and relevant to their respective civilization. Beowulf grows up in a distinct civilized society, where he can easily develops common flaws that human beings unconsciously expose to. For the following quote, he willingly abandons an entire kingdom without an heir; he respects his heroic feats above anything else due to the aspects that his respective society imposes on him. He declares, “Yet there was no way the weakened nation/ could get Beowulf to give in and agree/ to be elevated over Heardred as his lord/ or to undertake the office of kingship” (“Beowulf” 2373-2376). The quote indicates how Beowulf establishes a flaw of honoring his own unique attributes instead of
In the worlds of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the journeys of two heroes, Beowulf and Sir Gawain, are depicted through the form of poems. The two stories have become two of the most important works of literature in the English history. In the two poems, both Beowulf and Sir Gawain face great challenges in their journeys as heroes. Beowulf embarks on a quest to defeat Grendel and his mother while Sir Gawain faces many difficulties on his search for the Green Knight. Although the main characters in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight exhibit many of the same characteristics, the two poems have stylistic differences and differ in societal values.
Throughout Beowulf’s story, he sets out to face his enemy. From going on a journey to find Grendel’s mother (1492-1924), to facing a dragon (2516-2280); Beowulf’s story is not of one where he stays in one location, but is a story that takes place at various locations as Beowulf sets out to face his enemy. In comparison, Sir Gawain sets out to face his enemy, the Green Knight. However, the difference between Beowulf’s journey and Sir Gawain’s is that fact that Beowulf went on a journey to face his enemy out of bravery, while Sir Gawain does so because of the code by which he lives by (1-490). The code of chivalry that Sir Gawain lives by is the primary reason he goes on a journey to honor the bet he made with the Green Knight, whereas Beowulf does it more so out of his own will with no obligation. For he is more vocal about his accomplishments as shown when he tells his version of the swimming race (301-709). Beowulf is quick to go on a quest for battle thinking as though he is the only one capable one to for the job; Sir Gawain on the other hand will go to be battle as though it is his duty, and obligation, due to him being a knight. Even though both Beowulf and Sir Gawain go on an adventure for different reasons, they both set out on an adventure to battle with their enemies, and become the
As kids we grow up watching superhero movies and books that teach us moral lessons for when we grow up and participate in society. Although we do not know it at the time, these stories help to put cultural beliefs and lessons in our minds so we grow up to follow these sets of standards. This is not a recent phenomenon, however, as it has been happening for centuries on end. For example, during the Anglo-Saxon Period and the Late Middle Ages, there were stories that portrayed their societal beliefs and morals through the same Monomythic framework that even our modern stories possess, as suggested by Joseph Campbell in his monumental work The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Such narrative poems as Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight represent what the Anglo-Saxons and the Middle English saw as both acceptable and non-acceptable demeanor. Both works possess the same values and beliefs while others, distinctly oppose, something that can be clearly observed through the careful archetypal study of the heroes of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
While the Epic of Beowulf, translated to modern English, by Dr. David Breeden and the Chivalric poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by W. A. Neilson have some similarities, such as possessing the characteristic of bravery and being noble, they do contrast greatly. To survive his adventure, Beowulf relies on God and faith for protection. Whereas, Sir Gawain relies on truth and promise. Regardless of how they accomplished their tasks, they completed them and continued until they were not needed anymore.
Throughout the history of fictional writing, cultural values of certain time periods have been expressed and implemented through the depiction of the heroes’ experiences on their journeys and the knowledge they gain by the quest’s end. For example, in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a chivalric romance written in the Late Middle Ages, Gawain epitomizes a knight with the characteristics that knights from the Late Middle Ages were expected to possess according to the requirements outlined in the rules of chivalry, such as honor and valor. Likewise, Beowulf, the hero of the folk epic Beowulf, embodies the qualities of an exemplary hero as well as king. Therefore, in both stories, the reader encounters a heroic character that is presented with traits that Anglo-Saxons and the Middle English valued in their culture through their stories’ monomyths, a concept of similar and structural sequences that can be applied to many stories, created by Joseph Campbell. Some of these values are carried from the Early to Late Middle Ages and can be seen through the works of both Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf.