During the semester, the class read a unit about heroes. “Beowulf” is an epic poem about a hero. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is a medieval romance poem about a hero as well. The two poems show comparison between characters who are arrogant and loyal.
First, Beowulf and the Green Knight are both arrogant. Beowulf is overly confident because he never lost a battle. Beowulf said, “In endless battles, I am old now, but I will fight and seek fame still. If the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (42). Even though he is old, he knows that a creature or human cannot beat him. The Green Knight is imperious because he knows none of King Arthur’s court will take him on. He said, “You haven’t a man that could match me, your might is so feeble. And so I ask of this court is a Christmas game” (179). The Green Knight makes a deal to give away his axe, but he knows no one will take on the challenge. Beowulf and the Green Knight are both cocky because they know people fear them.
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Finally, Wiglaf and Sir Gawain show their loyalty to their king.
All Beowulf’s soldiers left Beowulf suffering, but Wiglaf. Wiglaf said, “Now, be strong and brave, my noble king, protecting life and fame together. My sword will fight at your side” (44). He is loyal to Beowulf because he knows Beowulf cannot lose a battle. Sir Gawain volunteers for the task, so King Arthur will not have to sacrifice himself. Sir Gawain said, “I myself am the weakest, of course, and in wit the most feeble” (181). Sir Gawain is the weakest yet, he determines to save his king’s life. During the crucial times, Sir Gawain and Wiglaf remains loyal to save their king’s
life. All four characters show similarity of being arrogant and loyal. Beowulf is a hero who never doubts his ability to win. The Green Knight likes to put people in a test within a test. Wiglaf stays to fight while others run away. Sir Gawain feels bad for taking things because he does not want to go against the code of chivalry. The best character is Beowulf because he does not let anything or anyone bring him down. He is the ultimate warrior.
...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.
When referring to archaic writing, it is clear to see the recurring archetypes and symbols throughout plots and situations. Understandably, certain patterns involving such motifs have continued through centuries, resulting in various works based around the same monomythic template with slight variations. All the big movie titles we love, Aladdin, Shrek, even, Sharknado contain more than traces of these archetypal patterns, consisting of a hero, a mentor, a dark figure and so on. Prime examples of this archetypal plot structure, with their own unique adaptations, may be found within the two poetic narratives Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Aside from their completely disparate backgrounds and morals, both works include and follow the monomythic journey, as perceived by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, as well as in the secondary works of others who have helped to further our understanding of this analytical method. This generalization, however, is shifted when one dissects further into these two pieces of literature. As in the majority of monomythic quest narratives, the protagonist often practices and displays the characteristics of courage, loyalty, humility
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.
This essay is the comparison between Beowulf and a modern day hero. I consider any American soldier to be my modern day hero. In this essay I will explain in three paragraphs of how my modern day hero is like Beowulf. With in these three paragraphs I will go over how they are both fighting for a good cause, how they are both rewarded for what they do, and how they are both treated with much respect.
In conclusion many poems have different types of people or thing that can harm their society. This goes for heroes and villains. With Grendel in Beowulf he just wanted to want by the human society. They exiled him by the way he looks. With Sir Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight he wanted to show his society braver, representation, chivalry, and nobility. Both Grendel and Sir Gawain societies mean a lot to them and represents them in a major way.
One of the main topics discussed in lesson one is the fact that heroes over time and overseas all heroes have something in common; which is true in the case of King Arthur and Beowulf. It is obvious that they are similar in the fact that they are both heroes, but what makes them an idol of their time and in their culture are poles apart. There are many things that are different about Beowulf and King Arthur, but the ones that stand out the most are what kind of hero they are and what actions they did to make them heroic. Both heroes possess qualities that others do not have, but it is what they do with those abilities that prompts someone to write a story about them and idolize them in time.
...or a chivalric Knight embodies the battle of the righteous self against corruption. Gawain’s strength comes from his discovery of his own flaws. Beowulf’s ideals concerning honor and nobility exist only within the context of his society. Remove him from other people, and his life would be meaningless. This is the true flaw of Beowulf, which the character of Gawain, by the end of his story, comes to realize. The notion of "winning" can be applied at all times to the personality of the chivalric Knight. The battleground becomes the mind, which is separate from the realm of reality. Beowulf does not have the capability to win, without the recognition of his fellow warriors. Within the mind, all sorts of battles are waged. The true winner is the person who can learn from that struggle, and who is able to apply that knowledge within both solitary and societal venues.
Then the Danes decide to go back to Herot and while they are sleeping, Grendel’s mother
What is a hero? Merriam Webster defines a hero as being a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities. What are those noble qualities? They are bravery, selflessness, and strength. Two heroes, Beowulf and Sir Gawain, exemplify these traits while the "hero" Arcita fails to do so.
Beowulf and Sir Gawain share courage in both of their stories. Beowulf show his courage when he decides to take on Grendel without a sword and shield. In the story, Beowulf asks Hrothgar if he can slay Grendel without armor and he says this, “Grant me, then Lord and protector of this noble place, a sing request! I have come so far, oh shelterer of warriors and our people’s loved friend, that this one favor you should not refuse me – that I, alone ...
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
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. Sir Gawain was heroic in seeking out the Green Knight to finish the challenge that was brought to King Arthur’s men. “Said Gawain, ‘Strike once more; /I shall neither flinch nor flee; /But if my head falls to the floor /There is no mending me!’” (lns.
So in conclusion, Beowulf and Gawain have some traits that are the same that make them heros but some that are different and the traits that are the same between them are different because they show it in their own
Though Sir Gawain is brave, Beowulf seems more naturally heroic. He goes to the land of the Danes of his own volition. His king does not order him to go. He tells his king that he wishes to go help the Danes defeat Grendel, because he believes he can and should. His people support him because they know what a great warrior and leader he is. He also wants to help King Hrothgar because his father was in debt to Hrothgar and he wants to pay that debt. He wants to honor his father and his father’s word. Beowulf holds himself to a code of honor when he does not have to do so. He risks his life for a country he is not a part of.
Wiglaf was rewarded the position of king for his loyalty. “Beloved Beowulf, remember how you boasted, once, that nothing in the world would ever destroy your fame: fight to keep it, now be strong and brave, my noble king protecting your life and fame. Together my sword will fight at your side!” (44) lets you know Wiglaf would not leave Beowulf’s side. Another loyal character is Sir Gawain when he takes his kings challenge. He insisted on fighting the Green Knight for the king. Him saying “Let this game be mine.” shows he wanted to fight for the king. Both there pride and loyalty to their leaders are surely characteristics of a