Comparison Of Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Since the beginning of society, bravery has been innate in everyone. From David’s fight with Goliath, to modern day’s stand against prejudice, people continue to attack in tough positions. However, cowardice is ingrained in everyone as well. People are constantly avoiding danger―physical and internal, such as Peter’s denial of Jesus and dodging responsibility. Consequently, there is a fine line between bravery and cowardice. Granted, when is the turning point where self preservation becomes a greater priority than helping others? In the epic poem, Beowulf, and the medieval romance, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Beowulf and Sir Gawain similarly show humanity’s inclination to act brave when situations become difficult, until their lives are put at risk―revealing everyone's inner cowardice.

Unworldly characters such as beautiful fairy with her wise mind and magical wand, hideous monster craving for blood with its horrifying fangs, and mysterious elf luring children away from their parents often add a magical aroma to the stories. Readers are enthusiastic to learn how their heroes encounter with these marvelous creatures, whether receiving a powerful golden sword as gift or putting on a life or death fight for his loved ones. These unworldly characters help the readers to perceive the story in a more in-depth way; they make readers bringing up different question for their appearance, purpose, and the idea they symbolize.

Heroes come in different shapes, sizes, and looks. Maybe someone you saw on the street one day was heroic for saving someone’s life in a car accident. A hero to me is someone who can be brave in situations that aren’t so safe, and take a risk to make sure everyone is okay, no matter who

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 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are tales about two brave heros. While both Beowulf and Sir Gawain are heros in their own stories, both men are portrayed differently. In each story, both heroes possess similar traits such as courage, loyalty and honor. A hero may be unchanging to his values when a situation crosses his path. However, when it comes to comparing these two great men, I would consider Sir Gawain the true hero.

A hero is someone who is idealized for his courage and noble qualities. Beowulf and Sir Gawain can certainly be called heroes. They both have many qualities that are expected of heroic knights and warriors. They are both brave, gallant, and skilled men, but are they the perfect heroes their people believe them to be? While they are portrayed as perfect heroes and they possess many heroic qualities, Beowulf and Sir Gawain are far from perfect.

“Faith, valor, loyalty, truth...” one can expect these virtues that comprise the Chivalric Code from an orthodox knight in the Middle Ages. The Germanic Warrior Code, on the other hand, governs the warring tribes of Norsemen. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf as translated by Simon Armitage and Seamus Heaney, the core values of the two codes are respectively personified as the two protagonists.

Someone who is dearly admired or idealized for their courage and outstanding achievements or their noble qualities is what is said to be a hero today. Hero’s in today’s world have many qualities, such as, courage, selflessness, humility, patience, and a care/concern or kindness for others. When comparing both Dante the pilgrim’s character qualities to Beowulf’s character qualities, Beowulf comes out on top being the most like today’s modern heroes.

“My body, but for your blood, is barren of worth; And tis I have asked for this folly not fit for a King.”

Nowadays, many young people in the world always read the literature book with many stories like science fiction, comedy, fantasy, and romance in life and society. Two of the most famous literature stories that make me really love it called “Beowulf” and “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” Both of this story illustrated between these women 's always try to overcome with all the mission in life and show their responsibility to achieve successfully in life. Thus, the poet shows that the women 's role in British literature is a very good central point, they always face with all these conflicts about the protagonist male throughout the poem. Besides that, Beowulf and Sir Gawain always challenge with all the women in the story about their power and honor. Thus, the poet assumes all the women in the literature focus on the life actions and deeds with the male hero. In the literature work, all the women try to bring everyone in their lives with all the peace, and their sole purpose in life was to please a man’s every desire through the story. In both stories, the role of women 's is important to everyone in our society and life. We cannot deny the importance of women role in society as a wife or a mother in their families. They have a responsibility to take care of their own personal lives and their families by overcoming many obstacles from these heroes in the poem. Throughout the stories, the presence of the role of women in literature is very important and necessary in life with

Although Gawain and Beowulf share many similarities, their characters are almost complete opposites. Both aim for some sort of fame, one more than the other; differing in the way they attempt to achieve this success. Gawain remains true and looks to humility to guide him, whereas Beowulf is very prideful and selfish, loving nothing more than boasting about his virtues. Regardless, both go through tremendous changes throughout their quests, dealing with repercussions, and many challenging obstacles along the way.

Throughout the middle ages, the epic stories of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and "Beowulf" were both epic heroes who traveled far out to face situations that would affect their people if they didn't. Both of these men were brave and fought many battles, but they also had many differences. In the poem of "Beowulf," Beowulf kills Grendel and Grendel's mother to shield his people. Later on, in Beowulf's lifetime, he becomes King, and a dragon has appeared. As pretentious as Beowulf is and with how much he cares about protecting his people, he goes out to fight the dragon. Sir Gawain, on the other hand, was just a knight that wanted to be known. In Beowulf, the Kings new of Beowulf and soon after he became a king while Sir Gawain was still only a noble knight. Although the settings, characters, and events of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and “Beowulf" are inconsistent, the

Beowulf repeats the structure of an epic twice, the first being during his time in Heorot. Beowulf is introduced as a man of great power, as is common for protagonists of literary epics. The author states that, “There was no one else like him alive. / In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful" (196-198). When Beowulf arrives in Heorot, he is tasked with defending the Shieldings from the threat posed by Grendel, which is the quest that a hero is often charged with in an epic. Beowulf proves himself worthy of defending Heorot when he defeats Grendel, dismembering him and driving him away from King Hrothgar’s hall, and is rewarded with the admiration of the Shieldings and even Hrothgar’s adoption. However,