Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain

In Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Beowulf and Gawain show that they are worthy of the title “hero”, by assisting their rulers and kingdoms, completing burdensome challenges, and demonstrating excellent integrity. The two heroes were truly admired by their people, and rightly so, because of all that Gawain and Beowulf had done to prove themselves. In the end, some qualities of heroes have changed over history, but at the core, the key values and actions of heroes have always remained the same, as shown by Beowulf and Sir

Sir Gawain in this version is well known throughout many Arthurian stories for his loyalty, humility, and chivalrousness. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, these qualities are clearly manifested as Gawain undergoes many trials which put his character to the test, for he is knightly, to a fault. During this time period it isn’t easy to disobey this code. The medieval period the Lord of the land is supreme rule. The Lord are their providers, so you cannot bite the hand that feeds you. Gawain is a knight who values loyalty above all. Sir Gawain’s tale begins with

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

Gawain's interactions with the Green Knight distinguish him from his fellow knights, in that he is the only one brave enough to step to the plate and confront the giant. Faced with the specter of battle with the Green Knight, Gawain rises above all to defend the honor of his good king.  "Then Gawain at Guinevere's side/ bowed and spoke his design: / 'Before all, King, confide/ this fight to me. May it be mine."(Gawain 336-339) In this scene, Gawain reveals himself to be a pillar of virtue. He is subservient to King Arthur, a loyal and devoted servant. He is so moved by the threat to his lord's life that he is willing to put his own life on the line. D.S.

His honor serves as the catalyst for the events throughout the poem. Sir Gawain’s humbleness and honor lead him to respectfully request to participate in the Green Knight’s game. He proves his loyalty to the king by knowing that if King Arthur were to die as the head of the country the community would be devastated. This loyalty proves his honor as he willingly and knowingly sacrifices himself for the King’s and the community’s sake of safety. Sir Gawain even states his honor as support for his partaking in the Green Knight’s game, and when the time comes one year later he proves that his honor is everything to him by following through with his promise by heading out and seeking out the Green Knight. Throughout the poem, Sir Gawain’s honor is tested, but time and time again he proves that his code of honor is stronger than the temptations. Except for one time. Sir Gawain falters trying to protect his own life by holding on to the girdle. In spite of this, he redeems himself by admitting to the Green Knight about his actions. Furthermore, he learns from his mistake, something Beowulf never does. That is why Beowulf finds himself fighting against the Dragon in his older

Sir Gawain is described to be the weakest knight of Arthur’s, but what makes up for his disadvantage is his enduring sense of chivalry and faithfulness. Sir Gawain is portrayed with a purpose of guiding the readers to understand humanity’ instinctive traits and flaws that constructively formulate a proper individual. The following quote will indicates how Sir Gawain is being faithful to King Arthur, as he accepts the Green Knight’s challenge. He states, “But as faithful as you are, if I failed to find him/ and were to flee in fear in the fashion you urge,/ I’d be christened a coward, and could not be excused./…whether fairness or foulness follows, however fate behaves” (“Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” 2129-2135). When Sir Gawain accepts the Green Knight’s challenge, he unconsciously establishes a vow of not to deviate from his perspective of chivalry by stating, “… were to flee in fear in the fashion you urge, / I’d be christened a coward, and could not be excused.” Furthermore, he develops a belief that his fate cannot be changed, and he accepts to face the “fairness or foulness” in his journey.

James Fellenbaum Professor Beasley English 449A-1001 29 September 2015 Epics and Romances The heroes in epics and romances can apparently share many traits, as Beowulf and Sir Gawain have many similar characteristics despite being heroes in different ways. In physique Beowulf and Gawain seem to be nothing alike with Beowulf seeming more intimidatingly brawnier. Gawain on the other hand seems a little on the light side.

To start, Beowulf and Sir Gawain have moral characteristics in their own way. Beowulf was a mercenary, he fought and died for his people all to defeat evil creatures and save his troops. Sir Gawain dealt with a code of conduct that he had to live by, Sir Gawain was not involved in too many battles, while Beowulf was in blown out war. While Sir Gawain are both examples of moral characters, Beowulf is portrayed as a warrior while Sir Gawain is portrayed as a more progressive

Dominique Mendieta Mr. Green English 4 19 October 2014 The Fellowship of the Ring The story of The Lord of the Rings contains many aspects from Anglo-Saxon epic, Beowulf, and Anglo-Norman romance, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Certain components from these works are found in Frodo, a hero from The Fellowship of the Rings. These three characters; Frodo, Beowulf, and Sir Gawain, all have their similarities and differences. Despite the obvious connections between these characters, there are some significant traits that single out Frodo as a new type of hero.

Gawain follows the code of chivalry which values loyalty, integrity, courtesy, chastity, and religion. He must be loyal to God, his king, and his wife. Gawain is very humble which is evident when he takes up the Green Knight’s challenge and proclaims, “I am the weakest [of your knight], I know, and the dullest-minded/So my death would be the least loss, if truth should be told/Only because you are my uncle am I to be praised/No virtue I know in myself but your blood"(12.354 - 357). He is very self-deprecating in this particular

During the Anglo-Saxon literature and culture, to be a hero was to be a warrior. A hero had to be strong, and have the presence of intelligence and bravery. The warriors had to fight unto their death when needed in order to fight for the glory of their people. In addition, these heroes had to still be able to encompass humility and care in pursuance to be considered the perfect Anglo-Saxon hero, but that is proven not to be an easy task. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf illustrate heroes in the face of urgency, however each character views their own importance in their society. Both heroes display the attributes of an Anglo-Saxon hero, but Beowulf tends to reside in popularity whereas Sir Gawain values his dignity. To sacrifice a life is not related to the sacrifice of who one is; one should not sacrifice one's dignity to try to attain glory.

Literature has changed and developed over the course of time. Despite these alterations, however, there are certain archetypes that can be recognized in every work. Often a hero emerges from a literary piece and embarks on the quest of saving his or her jeopardized community. In addition, the courageous hero often becomes the symbolic figure by representing the esteemed cultural ideals of the community. Such is the case in the works Beowulf from the Anglo-Saxon period and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight from the Late Middle Ages. Both heroes Beowulf and Sir Gawain represent certain customs for their respective communities; however, the three hundred and fifty years between these two works contribute to the contrasting views in the definition of the aforementioned standards. Through a thorough examination of the Monomyth, a pattern identified in Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces, a paradigm shift of cultural values such as valor between the works Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is evident.

According to the Oxford dictionaries a hero is “A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities” (Oxford Dictionaries). Despite the time period, the qualities of a hero appear the same; the circumstance that a hero encounters is what differs. In the poems “Beowulf” and “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” both protagonists display noble qualities that exhibit heroism such as their selflessness, bravery, and honor. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are perceived as ancient heroes because of their courage to stand against figures that threatened their society; comparably in modern day, heroes are faced with different obstacles, but fight them holding the same values. In 2017, a hero holds the same qualities as these past heroes. Currently, in America people are suffering from natural disasters, which let us identify our modern day heroes as they rise to help the people affected.

According to the Oxford dictionaries a hero is “A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities” (Oxford Dictionaries). Despite the time period, the qualities of a hero appear the same; the circumstance that a hero encounters is what differs. In the poems “Beowulf” and “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” both protagonists display noble qualities that exhibit heroism such as their selflessness, bravery, and honor. While Beowulf and Sir Gawain are perceived to be ancient heroes because of their courage to stand against figures that threatened their society, there are modern day heroes that fight against obstacles, but in a different form. In 2017, a hero holds the same qualities as these ancient heroes. Currently, in America people are suffering from natural disasters, which let us identify our modern day heroes as they rise to help the people affected.

Dawning from the Anglo Saxon and Medieval period, Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, are two significant works of literature that describe tales of heroes during a period when one was required. Both poems were cited by oral poets. After generations of oral citation, these works were inscribed by Monks who were skilled in the art of handwriting. Monks were known to add additional information that was not previously discussed by the original poet. They also added in literary devices that make the poems more interesting. For example, there are multiples incidents of exaggeration. Sir Gawain is a young lad who stands up to prove his worthiness to his uncle and face a quest against death. On the other hand, Beowulf is a handsome, young hero who sailed to aid King Hrothgar in the battle against a hell-dam. Each character has their own set of battles to face along the journey and prove their worthiness through persistence. While Beowulf and Sir Gawain have similar heroic and chivalric qualities, Beowulf is the ultimate heroic character.