Courage In Beowulf And Sir Gawain

Courage is a heavy word to carry, yet not heavy enough for Beowulf, by Dr. David Breeden and Sir Gawain and The Green Knight translated by W. A. Nielson. The word describes two remarkable, fearless men who fought for their kingdoms. Although the men came from different eras, both Beowulf and Sir Gawain shared uniformed principles, and courage resonates among the most dominant.

Legends of Beowulf occurred first in history. When an evil creature named Grendel shows up to attack the sleeping people, Beowulf does not shy away. “At dawn, when the Danes learned of Grendel's strength, there was great weeping. The old king sat sadly, crying for his men. Bloody footprints were found.” (Part I) Beowulf eventually kills the evil creature, and then sets out to kill the creature’s mother. Suiting up in his finest armor, Beowulf, along with a band of men, tracks down the frightful creature. The terror emerges and all but two men flee; Beowulf and Wiglaf. To any other man, the odds may be against him. Yet even in the moment of the frightened men, Beowulf still found the courage inside himself to withstand the battle ahead of him.

Sir

Gawain, likeminded, challenges an unknown enemy as well. During a New Year’s Eve feast, a Green Knight challenges the king. “If any warrior be wight enough to try what I propose, let him leap lightly to me and take this weapon- I quit-claim it forever, let him keep it as his own- and I shall stand him a stroke firmly on this floor. At another time, by our lady, thou wilt grant me the boon of dealing him another blow…” (P. 7 para.13) The king knows he cannot look like a coward in front of the kingdom so he, rises to the challenge. In the nick of time, Sir Gawain, a knight of the king steps in and demands to that he dual the intruder. Not knowing the enemy’s strength, skill, or truthful intentions, Sir Gawain faced the fear of the unknown revealing his courage.
Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain had courage to fight when they must. Beowulf was more renowned than Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain was principled and values his actions for others. Beowulf protected everyone including himself at all cost and if it did come time for him to lay his life down, he would. Everyone already knew that Beowulf was a hero, while Sir Gawain proved he was. Even though Beowulf has more rigid and brute principles, it does require a strong will power to come out of the shadows like Sir Gawain did, especially with more noble and sophisticated principles.
Sir Gawain’s courage was relentless while fighting the green the knight.

He claims he will not flinch when the knight tries to behead him. “’…I shall stand still and hinder thee not least from doing the work you like.’ He bent the neck and bowed down, showing the flesh all bare; and behaved as it he cared not. For no dread would he flinch.” (P. 46 Para.11) He upheld his courage until he hit some turbulence of indignity when The Green Knight reveals himself as being Bernlak, the king of a foreign castle. “Bernlak de Hautdesert I am called in this land, through the might of Morgen la Fay, who dells in my house.” (P.49 Para. 19) Sir Gawain was in shame for lying and telling the evil king he gave all his earnings, yet still is seen as a noble knight for his courage and his home kingdom wears a bustle for him as he wears his as a reminder of

guilt.

Beowulf did die for a cause and is still seen as being a courageous for defeating the Grendel(s). No man dare spoke badly about Beowulf for being a great King and a great fighter. “Then twelve warriors rode round the grave speaking their sorrow, reciting praises for their lord's courageous deeds.” (Part 12) While Sir Gawain did not die, he is still honored like Beowulf. Neither of the two shied when danger presented itself, regardless of when the era of their life, both are courageous heroes.