Comparing Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

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Erik Tirado Susan Austin English-241 February 12, 2024 Literary Analysis Essay #1 In medieval literature, "Beowulf" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" are seen as some of the best for their portrayals of heroism and chivalry. These themes are important, and they are not just ideals; they are the center of medieval society. "Beowulf" is an epic poem that brings out heroism through acts of bravery and strength through many tough battles and is believed to have been written in the Anglo-Saxon era, a time when societies were often at war and physical strength was highly valued. "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is a poem that brings out chivalry with emphasis on integrity, honor, and the moral challenges its main character finds. It was written …show more content…

Heroism in "Beowulf" is shown to the reader through the main character's accomplishments, bravery, and honor. Beowulf has had many battles, each symbolizing the bravery he has to fight for his people and the desire for glory and fame. One key moment in the poem is his fight with Grendel. This moment reflects true heroism in the story, for example, as depicted in this quote "Unarmed he shall face me if face me he dares" ("Beowulf", line 684). This act may be taken as bravery or just foolishness. But what this act is based upon is Beowulf's commitment to fairness and valor, to meet his enemy man to man, weaponless. It is such a …show more content…

It brings into focus the expectation of society that heroes ought to be more than just brave, but should also have a moral direction that informs their deeds for the good of all. Thus, Beowulf's position of heroism is fortified not only in his heroic deeds but in the way he carries them out, raising a bar of honor and valor carried throughout the epic. Chivalry in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" was presented through the dedication of Sir Gawain towards the chivalric code. The chivalry code is shown to the reader as honesty, loyalty and honor. Chivalry today may be seen as being nice and generous, but in the medieval era and in this story there is a lot more than that. One important moment in the poem that shows Gawain’s chivalric values is when he honors his agreement to meet the Green Knight at the Green Chapel, despite realizing this could be dangerous. A quote from the poem of proof that this is his pledge is, "faith pledged by one’s word and owed to a lord," indicating the level of dedication with which he keeps his word ("Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," p. 202). This is not just being brave, but it shows just how much dedication and honor Gawain has towards his values, traits that would show a knight to possess a characteristic of chivalry. It was the ideal of the era to present a combination of bravery and moral

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