What Are The Similarities Between Sir Gawain And The Green Knight And Beowulf

English Clergyman Charles Kingsley writes of chivalry that “Some say that the age of chivalry is past, that the spirit of romance is dead. The age of chivalry is never past, so long as there is a wrong left unredressed on earth.” As the quote suggests, chivalry is a collection of traits concerning morality by which an ideal knight abides by. No two works of literature put these noble qualities on display more than Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The two medieval texts follow the quests of two benevolent warriors, Beowulf and Sir Gawain respectively, who in their journeys face obstacles and enemies that they both approach with a level of chivalry. However, it becomes clear when reading these texts that Sir Gawain is the more chivalrous of the two, shown by his loyalty to King Arthur and others, his ever-present courtesy to all deserving characters, and his humility.

Those who would assert

Beowulf’s superiority in terms of chivalry often cite the fact that Sir Gawain is dishonest in his hiding of the girdle from the lord of the castle in which he was staying, which violated the vow he had made to “exchange (the lord) for” whatever he earned (2. 45). They use this one incident of dishonesty on the part of Sir Gawain as evidence of Beowulf’s primacy in terms of chivalry. However, while it is certainly true that Beowulf displays a great deal of the chivalric qualities of bravery and loyalty, these are the only two chivalric qualities he is truly tested in. Therefore, we cannot truly assess whether or not Beowulf was superior in terms of honesty, as we never see him being confronted by this kind of challenge.
Perhaps one of Sir Gawain’s more overlooked traits is his undying loyalty.

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

hesitation.
Beowulf, on the other hand, acts not because of loyalty, but acts at best in an altruistic manner, helping Hrothgar not because he was originally loyal to him, but because he wishes to assist those in need. Alternatively, Beowulf’s constant boasting of his heroic accomplishments and the quote “inspired by the thought of glory” would suggest he acted to seek glory or a legacy through means of heroic deeds (2677). The literary analysis by Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations seems to concur with this narrative, as they write:
“His glory has little to do with worship, unless it be justified self-worship, and he fights primarily for glory, to increase his fame, to show that he occupies the foremost place among all Germanic heroes...When Beowulf goes forth to battle, he is in quest of reputation and treasure, but not of Christ or God or the truth.” (“Critical Interpretations”).
Beowulf’s benevolence, while commendable, has no basis in loyalty.
Sir Gawain’s most prominent feature is his courtesy. All of his interactions are characterized by his manners, and especially those with the lord’s tempting wife who, according to the literary analysis by The Facts On File Companion to British Poetry before 1600, made him “clearly uncomfortable, especially after she reminds him that they are alone, (yet) Gawain manages courteous discourse with the lady.” Gawain’s courtesy extends so far, he comes across a “conflict between courtesy and purity.” (“British Poetry”), as he is being challenged in two ways; he must remain loyal to his host and abstain from romantic contact with his wife, and he must treat the wife with the utmost courtesy. Despite these seemingly opposite and incompatible tasks, literary critic Michael G. Cornelius writes that, for the first two days, “Gawain balances these twin pledges adequately; he finds a way to satisfy both the wife and his host without affronting either of them directly” (Cornelius). It is only the third day in which he falters, but not in courtesy, rather, he falters in honesty, namely the honesty with the lord concerning the girdle.
Beowulf at no point in the book confronted by any conflict concerning courtesy, showing once again how examples of his chivalric qualities are quite limited. Though he is shown being kind to his people, he is at no point kind nor courteous with those working against his interests, as Sir Gawain is with the lord’s wife.
Sir Gawain shows a great deal of humility throughout the text. In the beginning of the text, when asking to confront the Green Knight, he says, “I am the weakest, I know, and of wit feeblest. Least worth the loss of my life, who’d learn the truth.” (1. 16). The quote highlights Gawain’s understanding of his place in the court and the world, showing his humility. At the end, Sir Gawain, instead of forgetting his mistakes concerning the girdle, is humble enough to understand that he must improve himself if he is to ever call himself a knight, saying,
“This is the belt of blame I bear at my neck, this is the hurt and harm I have learned, through the cowardice and covetousness I caught there. This is the token of the untruth I am taken in and I must needs it wear while may last.”
Sir Gawain realizes that he must wear the girdle to remind himself of the dangers of not abiding by those laws of chivalry he violated.
It is on the grounds of humility that the case can truly be made for Beowulf’s non-chivalric nature.