Traditionally, heroes have always been men. Both Sir Gawain and Beowulf are the heroes of their respective poems. There are multiple similarities and differences between Sir Gawain and Beowulf. Similar to the warriors of today, Beowulf and Sir Gawain were fearless, intelligent, and selfless. Beowulf and Sir Gawain’s heroism is shown through their actions, speech, and their character traits. However, there are still some key differences between these heros. As heroic protagonists, Beowulf and Sir Gawain have both similarities and differences.
One of the first similarities is that both heroes travel in for their battles. Sir Gawain has to leave his place in the castle with King Arthur in Camelot in order to go meet the Green Knight. Beowulf travels
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a great distance to fight Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Both Sir Gawain and Beowulf embark on physical journeys in order to obtain a heroic status. In the poem Beowulf, Beowulf is the obvious hero(Garcia). His strength and courage is unmatched by any other character in the poem(Garcia). He is a beacon of hope to King Hrothgar and the Danes. King Hrogthar was once a young and strong man, able to protect and be a hero to his own people. However, he is now old and no longer able to protect his people by fighting Grendel for them. As Grendel continues to wreak havoc on the Danes Beowulf, a well-known hero from Geatland comes to help save the Danes. Beowulf was so confident in his ability to defeat Grendel and save the Danes that he chose to fight Grendel without weapons(Beowulf). Even without weapons Beowulf was successful in killing Grendel and saving the Danes. Beowulf also has the appearance of a hero(Garcia). When he first arrives in the land of the Danes, the coast guard sees Beowulf and says, "I have never seen a mightier warrior on earth than is one of you, a man in battle-dress" (Beowulf, 247). The coast guard’s first impression and judgement of Beowulf was that he was a strong leader. The coast guard doesn’t just put his hope in Beowulf, but his confidence, after just seeing him in person(Garcia). Although strength is an important element of a hero, it is not the only important element of what makes him a hero. In addition to being strong, Beowulf is also courageous. He recognizes courage in himself while arguing with Unferth. He says, "Fate often saves an undoomed man when his courage is good" (Beowulf , 12). Fate is something that was taken very seriously during this time(Garcia). Fate and destiny were considered to be something that was predetermined from birth and was impossible to change(Garcia). But in that quote, Beowulf is saying that with enough courage, it was even possible to change fate. Sir Gawain is also the protagonist and hero of his poem. When the Green Knight comes to Arthur’s castle on looking for a game, Sir Gawain steps up because he wants to be the hero. He saw the opportunity and took it. Sir Gawain is motivated by his pride (Walker 111). He wants to do something great and make himself look good. His motivation for stepping up is himself (Walker 112). He does not do it because it is the right thing to do, or because people are relying on him. Sir Gawain wants to prove to the people, King Arthur, and himself that he is worthy and strong. This is different from Beowulf’s heroism because there is no one relying on Sir Gawain except for himself. The only person who is at risk of dying is Sir Gawain. He is doing this to be his own hero and inspire others with his heroic story (Walker 112). Beowulf was working to save an entire kingdom while Sir Gawain was in charge of saving himself and not bringing shame to his family. This does not mean that Sir Gawain is not a hero, it just makes him a different type of hero (Walker 114). Beowulf’s road to heroism is not as simple as is seems.
Beowulf has a backstory that we are not told about in the poem. (Earl 295) Beowulf is haunted by incest in his family (Earl 295). This can contribute to Beowulf feeling as if he needs to redeem himself and prove himself to others. It is possible that the poet of Beowulf was not aware of the incest that was written into Beowulf’s past (Earl 296). It is theorized that the knowledge of incest in his dark past is what fuels Beowulf’s demeanor, serving as something to keep him humble (Earl 297). It is possible that this element of Beowulf’s past is what motivated and sculpted him to be the great hero that he turned out to be. This contributes to the difference in the motivations of Sir Gawain and …show more content…
Beowulf. A similarity between Sir Gawain and Beowulf is that both of the characters took initiative. Neither Beowulf or Sir Gawain was forced to take on their respective challenges. Beowulf choose to save the Danes from Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Sir Gawain choose to take the Green Knight’s challenge instead of letting King Arthur do it (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight). This shows that both characters wanted to help and wanted to be heros. Both heroes are brave and loyal and wanted to bring honor to their kingdoms. Beowulf’s heroism is characterized in a Christlike manor. Beowulf continually exhibits courage and strength to save people, even if it means putting himself at risk and laying down his life (Helder 148). This is similar to how Christ is believed to have laid his life down to redeem or buy back his chosen people. In the poem, Beowulf saves the Danes twice. He kills Grendel and goes into Grendel’s cave to kill Grendel’s mother after Grendel is dead . This makes Beowulf a hero among the Danes (Helder 149). In Christianity, Christ is seen as the hero. Many people often describe how they had heard of Christ but felt more of a connection to him after they joined Christianity. There is a similar relationship between Beowulf and the Danes (Helder 152). Prior to his arrival, the Danes had heard about Beowulf. Even the coast guard recognized Beowulf as a hero just by looking at him (Beowulf, 247). But once Beowulf saved the Danes, not once but twice, the people were not only grateful but proud. They knew there was nothing they could do to repay what Beowulf had done for them. While Beowulf’s portrayal is Christlike, Sir Gawain’s is not. Sir Gawain is much more relatable than Beowulf. Sir Gawain’s portrayal is more of an typical hero than an icon (John 278). Beowulf is seen as this icon and great hero who accomplished so much and saved so many people. Where as Sir Gawain is his own hero. Sir Gawain’s story of his encounter with the Green Knight makes him come across as more human and relatable than Beowulf (John 280). Since Sir Gawain made a mistake and lied to Bertilak out of fear, he was humanized and given a level of relatability that Beowulf does not have (John 281). One of the differences between Sir Gawain and Beowulf is their reputations. Beowulf had earned the reputation of a hero. Sir Gawain was known as a hero because of his relationship with King Arthur and his position in the royal family. However, Sir Gawain was also known as a womanizer. Bertilak’s wife mentions this when she is flirting with Sir Gawain(Sir Gawain and the Green Knight). She talks about how she has heard about his reputation and she uses it to tempt and tease him (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight). Overcoming this reputation could be one of the reasons that Sir Gawain has for wanting to prove himself. Sir Gawain is hesitant to accept the Green Knight’s challenge.
He is worried and scared for his life. In the end he only chooses to accepts the challenge in order to protect King Arthur’s life and honor. He is aware that it is his duty to protect King Arthur, but only volunteers to do so at the last possible second. This shows that even though he is a hero, courage is not his greatest strength (Woods 229). Sir Gawain also breaks his oath to the Bertilak while he is a guest in his castle. He broke their arrangement to trade whatever they had earned during the day when he decides to keep the girdle that Bertilak’s wife gives him(Sir Gawain and the Green Knight). Sir Gawain does this because he believes it will protect him during his meeting with the Green Knight(Sir Gawain and the Green Knight). Sir Gawain also uses the girdle in an attempt to cheat in his battle with the Green Knight. He does not plan to take a fair honest blow from the Green Knight like the Green Knight took from him (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight). He wanted to use the girdle to cheat by using it’s magical power to save his life. It is likely that Sir Gawain believed that he probably would not ever have to take the blow from the Green Knight because he would kill the Green Knight with his initial blow. When he realized he would have to finish the challenge, he attempted to use the magical girdle to beat the Green Knight. Sir Gawain is said to be experienced in fighting, but does not take as much pride in
his battles and accomplishments like Beowulf does (Woods 231). This might be because he simply has not fought as many epic battles as Beowulf has or because he is more modest about his successes,even though his reluctance to accept the Green Knight’s challenge in the beginning would suggest that it is because he has less experience than Beowulf does. In conclusion, both Beowulf and Sir Gawain are heros. Both characters prove their worthiness of the hero title in the way that they both took initiative,traveled, and risked their lives. However these well known heroes have some major differences too including their pasts, their reputations, they way they are characterized in their respective poems, and their pride.
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain shows qualities of a chivalrous knight. He demonstrates that by showing generosity, courtesy, and loyalty during his travels. A mysterious knight shows up at the king’s castle and calls himself the Green Knight. The Green Knight then challenges one to play a game which he challenges the king to strike him with his axe if he will take a return hit in a year and a day. Sir Gawain steps forward to accept the challenge for his uncle King Arthur when nobody else in the castle would. He took the King’s role in the game to protect him from the Green Knight. He must learn to accept his responsibility as a knight, in accepting his fate.He demonstrates goodness at the hand of the Green Knight. He shows courage by accepting what is to come upon him during his voyage. His journey to find the Green Knight is filled with temptations.In the conversation with him and the “Lady”, Sir Gawain showed a Chivalrous code by keeping his loyalty to the king by not kissing his wife. The lady states “if I should exchange at my cho...
He could have figured out a way to prepare for what was to come, rather he took the path of deception when he decided not to be honest with his host, who as far as he knew was genuinely being a friend to him. In keeping the girdle to save himself from what he thought was certain death, Sir Gawain decided to deceive his host and not keep to the deal they had made. I believe that after Sir Gawain deceived his host, even if he felt a twinge of guilt, that … made it easier to deceive the Green Knight. He entered the Green Knight’s chapel, prepared to take his blow knowing that he was not forthcoming about having protection against said blow. While Sir Gawain kept his word and showed up to face the Green Knight, the choices he made along the way presented him in a less than honorable light. Although he told the truth to the Green Knight and then again to his court, accepting responsibility for his shortcomings, this did not absolve him of wrong doing nor does it erase the stain of deception that he would now wear for the rest of his days. So, with that, long live Sir
...e the quarrels, the hatreds, the feuds,/ That will bring us battles, force us into war/ With the Swedes, as soon as they’ve learned how our lord/ Is dead” (Beowulf 2999-3002). That quote shows that Beowulf lived in a war-torn country and therefore his strength and ability to protect his people made him a revered hero. Sir Gawain, on the other hand, lived in a time when inner qualities were valued. The valuing of inner qualities along with Sir Gawain’s exceptional traits made him a hero. That being said, although Beowulf and Sir Gawain differ in some aspects, they both fit the hero archetype of being better than the ordinary man, proving oneself many times, and having a tragic flaw.
The three heroes discussed here, Beowulf, Sir Gawain and King Arthur, are heroes for different reasons. Beowulf, our earliest hero, is brave but his motivation is different than then other two. To Sir Gawain personal honor and valor is what is important. King Arthur, Sir Gawain's uncle, is naturally the quintessential king of the medieval period. Though all men to a certain extent share the same qualities, some are more pronounced than in the others. It is important to see how these qualities are central to their respective stories and how it helps (or hinders) them in their journeys.
Yet, Gawain did err in accepting the girdle; that much cannot be denied. We, the reader, can forgive him since he repents fully, even going so far as to impose penance (of wearing the girdle eternally as a mark of his fall) on himself. It takes a mild rebuke by the Green Knight to crack Gawain’s façade of confident valor. His conscience compels him to break down when confronted by his host as to his indiscretion. However, this happened only when the host had revealed himself to be the same as the Green Knight. We realize that Gawain had previously perceived in Sir Bertilak an equal in knighthood; thus his ease in deceiving him in the exchange of winnings game. When Gawain realizes he was the subject of a test, he sees Bertilak/Green Knight in a different light. The Green Knight now becomes Gawain’s confessor and in doing so assumes a fatherly role.
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.
Do people ever talk about superheroes, and monsters? Especially people into comic books and children. Every child, even adults, have a superhero they look up to, or a role model they want to grow up to be like. Superheroes are everywhere from movies to books. Children even sit in their room playing with toy superheroes, hoping one day they can be just like them. Even hundreds of thousands of years ago there were superheroes! A long time ago in the Anglo-Saxon Period there was a brave and loyal hero! His name was Beowulf, and everyone looked up to him. This hero definitely brought peace to many people, and if it wasn’t for the mighty hero Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxons would have been terrorized forever. Therefore, the times were hard before Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon warriors always stood for three values, and the time was changed without monsters.
Both of these poems tell about two different stories and many different people in those stories, but that does not make the characters any different. Beowulf and Sir Gawain proved their courage by either clashing with a monster or choosing a deadly game. They both also showed their desire to help and save the people they care about by battling the supernatural. Despite the different journeys that Beowulf and Sir Gawain went on and the people they meet both characters share courage, the desire to save the people they love, and conquering the supernatural which are the qualities that make them an epic hero.
Initially, Gawain’s strongest trait is humility, Beowulf’s is pride. In the beginning of Gawain and the Green Knight, a mysterious warrior enters King Arthur’s court to extend a challenge. Although he knows others in the court would handle the challenge better than him, out of respect, when King Arthur attempts to accept the challenge Gawain comes forth and suggests he takes his place. Gawain presents himself as “the weakest of them, I know, and the dullest-minded/ so my death would be 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” (Broadview Analogy 269). Instead of bragging about his bravery, Gawain acts modestly and states that his death would be of little loss during this challenge. He is not self-absorbed and gives off the impression that the only reason he is a knight is because of his relation with King Arthur. By stating this, he gives off the impression that his self confidence is quite weak; this is astonishing for a character of this era. Although King Arthur has at least one of his knights to be proud of, it seems as though
Beowulf is an epic poem that describes the heroics of a man with superhuman strength and bravery to go with it. The poem starts with a journey across the sea to defeat an enemy that has plagued the land of Herot for twelve years. The poem ends with Beowulf’s final deed of defeating a dragon that was plaguing his own land, but with the defeat of the dragon also comes the death of Beowulf. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a poem of bravery by one of King Arthur’s knights. Sir Gawain takes up the deed of playing a Christmas game with the challenging Green Knight. The Green Knight takes a blow from an ax at the hand of Sir Gawain, and in one year and one day, the Green Knight is to reciprocate the action to Sir Gawain. While Sir Gawain was heroic in his deed, Beowulf shows a certain selflessness in his bouts makes him a better hero than Sir Gawain.
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 qualities of a hero.
The title characters in both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight were both considered paragons of excellence by their peoples. Yet, upon close inspection of the specific actions of these characters, stark differences emerge. While Gawain is virtuous and exemplifies selflessness, Beowulf's heroism is marred by his pursuit of fame and wealth, which seems to dominate his every action. The discrepancy can be explained by a contextual analysis of both heroes. Gawain's code of chivalry emphasizes perfection and thus he is flawless.
From an outsider’s perspective, it may seem that this quality is unimportant to Sir Gawain's character, however, it is his loyalty that serves as the catalyst for the entire story. When the Green Knight enters Arthur’s court to challenge anyone to risk their lives, the unloyal knights remain silent, forcing Arthur to volunteer himself. However, Sir Gawain’s loyalty surpasses that of the court, and he volunteers himself for the sake of his King. The quote, “A year turns full turn, and yields never a like; the form of its finish foretold full seldom” (2. 22) shows how he was in fear and anticipation for the returned strike, and the quote “I am the weakest I know, and the wit feeblest” (1. 16), shows his lack of self-confidence. Yet despite all of that anxiety and self-doubt, he continued on with his mission and did not allow them to get in the way of his goal. This loyalty extends to the very end, where he “leant down his neck, and bowed” to receive the Green Knight’s blade without
A quote from the great Robert Louis Stevenson says, “All human beings are commingled out of good and evil.” While many people in the world today would definitely agree with this, it is unclear how people during the Anglo-Saxon era and Middle Ages would think about this. Since we obviously cannot ask a living person from these time periods what they think about this, we can analyze their literature to discover what the common man thought so many years ago. The classic literature I have personally analyzed on this topic are as follows: Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and The Canterbury Tales.
This shows that Gawain is loyal to his king and he would give his life in order to save Arthur’s. Later in the story of the Green Knight when it comes time for Gawain to pay the prices of playing the game he