The Similarities 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.

As the poet says, “...So fame Comes to the men who mean to win it And care about nothing else!” This represents a common pagan belief that fame and good things come to those who fight and win. This is also a common theme found all throughout Beowulf. In the poem, Beowulf fights monsters with violence to earn his honor and glory, which is against Christian morals and beliefs. Anglo-Saxon culture was evident as readers see that Beowulf, and everyone else during this time period, believed that everything was earned from how much glory someone could gain for themselves. This is pretty much the opposite in a Christian society as christians believe that all glory should be given to God. The idea of an afterlife is not really discussed in Beowulf since it is mainly based on worldly things. There is so much belief in the idea that someone’s worth comes from the material items that an afterlife is senseless. The author says, “And the most beautiful necklace known to men: Nowhere… on Earth is there anything like it.” (Beowulf 1195-1197). This is talking about the gifts that Beowulf was given and how these gifts were viewed as more important than anything else. Materialistic things were viewed as marvelous out of this world things as opposed to putting Christ in that place. Christians believe that materialistic things do not matter because the only thing that matters is Christ. In Christian beliefs, you cannot believe in the value of materialistic things and believe that

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.

The story of Sir Gawain works on an opposite level from that of Beowulf. Just as Beowulf emphasizes outward strength, the character of Gawain stands as a paradigm of inner strength as a path to outward glory. The battles Gawain fights occur inside his mind. The chivalric code is one concerned with honor and duty within a society of corruption and sin. The role of chivalry was one concerned with example. A chivalric Knight, such as Gawain, must abide by the inner code of morality in order to remain true to his self, his lord, and his God. Sin, for Gawain, would begin in the mind, and lead to dishonorable deeds in the outside world. Throughout Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain travels on a path which is as much one of inner contemplation, as it is of actual travel. We see Gawain at the beginning of his journey being,"...faultless in his five senses,/Nor found ever to fail in his five fingers,"(640-1). Gawain’s traits being likened to the five wounds of Christ sets up his eventual fall from the very start. However, like Christ, Gawain is reborn to a new life through the "scratch" the Green Knight gives him (2312). From that small wound, Gawain realizes that he cannot live up to the perfect image of chivalry he has sworn to uphold. To Gawain, this wound comes very close to being the death knell of the entire moral system Gawain has dedicated his life to.

Faith is also a prominent figure within Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Gawain's faith in God is shown when he is regularly praying to God for protection and forgiveness before his trip or his challenge with the Green Knight. Sir Gawain is perpetually referencing to God, saying, "as God allows", "by the Lord's decree", and "in God's own name" to give the impression that he truly relies on God for guidance and strength (199-201). Gawain starts to reference to God much more the closer he gets to his face-off with the Green Knight. Finally turning over his fate to God, Gawain prays that "I shall not give way to weeping; God's will be done, amen! I commend me to his keeping" (202). Gawain and Beowulf both reflect the idea that the fate God has chosen for you is an inescapable certainty, no doubt reflecting the beliefs of their time.

Beowulf comes from Danish descent who value bravery, heroism, strength, loyalty and fame. Throughout the story, Beowulf embodies each of these traits well. Beowulf is the strongest and greatest warrior in his country before and after he defeats Grendel and Grendel's mother. While both of these victories were done under courage and bravery, it is known that Danish do things for fame and glory. Beowulf performed these acts for the fame and glory to be remembered and therefore requested a monument to be dedicated in remembrance of him and how great he was. The reason to include this monument in honor of Beowulf, was to remind generations after him that he embodied the qualities of strength,courage, and loyalty and for them to fight the forces of evil with the same qualities. Beowulf is the virtuous person who bravely and courageously fought for evil for the sake of his people and for fame. His loyalty to his followers and also his leaders shines through. Overtime, Beowulf’s morality involves a faith in God’s help to win battles against evil.

Every man must expose himself to the reality that death is unescapable. There is no amount of human strength, shiny armor nor treasured sword that can always prevent the inevitable. Any character in literature that is being portrayed immortal is fiction. Beowulf as often as not regards himself as the one who can conquer all. Beowulf like others is ignorant towards his own mortality. Even though, Beowulf is successful in his earliest battles he still remains careless to the understanding that he will die. The concept of mortality was something Beowulf was faced with time and time again. Beowulf had to discover how accepting one’s fate can later become the most rewarding.

Gawain’s humility and faults are demonstrated by his actions at the Green Chapel. Gawain admits to his faults and is humble. In addition, the Green Knights criticism of Gawain brings out these characteristics.

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.

Long-form poems Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight stem from two distinct time periods containing distinguished cultures, values, and ideologies. The Anglo-Saxon age, where Beowulf takes place, was a melting pot of Christian and pagan values. Epic battles, gruesome challenges, ideas of fate and destiny, and personal pride defined their heroism. Centuries later, in the Age of Chivalry, heroes possessed humility, respect, honesty, and integrity. Beowulf and Sir Gawain represent their cultures’ ideals respectively. Beowulf’s masculine demeanour and physical prowess, contrasted with Sir Gawain’s nuanced mental self consciousness, demonstrate an incoherent, often polarizing depiction of Old English heroism, in which neither protagonist fully possesses the values of an ideal hero.

Tricked by the Green Knight and Morgan le Faye, Gawain, driven by his sense of duty and honor, must sacrifice his own life for those ideals. I believe that though Gawain is a bit foolish in his quest to lose his head, he did make the correct decision in protecting Arthur. Like King Beowulf, the loss of Arthur would have been very detrimental to the society at the time. Gawain sacrifices himself in order to preserve Order.

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.

A hero, what is a hero? Close your eyes and imagine what a hero is. Is it a man or a woman? Are they tall or short? Do they have dark or light hair? Are they young or old? Now take this hero you have imagined and give him or her traits. What would they be? Is he or she courageous or adventurous? Are they physically strong or mentally strong, or both? A hero is defined in 3 ways; selflessness, humbleness, and bravery.

The deeper meaning of this quote signifies that Beowulf’s fame and glory through the representation of his “wealth” has continued on into the so-called “afterlife”. As the wealth continues on with him to his grave, Beowulf’s heroic deeds will live on as his story is passed on in time. Ultimately, the essence of riches and praise is displayed through the values of self-sacrifice and honor which is seen as a definitive goal throughout the Anglo-Saxon culture.

Beowulf’s life long ambition is to achieve lof; lof is the remembrance of one after death, and the great deeds they’ve accomplished. Beowulf’s journey begins once he hears about the monster in Herot, he takes advantage of the situation and decides to conquer the monster. Thus, leading to two other battles Beowulf encounters. After he is crowned king of the Geats, Beowulf has grown a bit wiser and deeply cares for his people. He encounters a dragon, and chooses to fight it, despite him being a frail, old man. He would rather die in battle, than in the comfort of his kingdom. He has success in slaying the dragon, but is fatally wounded. His death is soon known by all, and the bards sing of his greatness. The author expresses Beowulf’s journey for remembrance with this elegy, “They said that all of the kings upon the earth(840) he was the man most gracious and fair-minded,(841) kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.(842)” By Beowulf undertaking such obstacles it adds up to an amazing journey, and in the end he completes his goal of achieving