Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf Essay - 499 Words

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf â€Å"My body, but for your blood, is barren of worth; And tis I have asked for this folly not fit for a King.† These are the words of a true hero. One who is willing to sacrifice his own existence for the life of another. These are the words and actions of Sir Gawain, a character from the beloved British tale, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Beowulf, another character from an ancient British epic entitled, Beowulf, is also portrayed as a â€Å"hero.† But Beowulf’s heroism factor does not even compare to Sir Gawain’s. The difference between Beowulf and Sir Gawain, is that Sir Gawain is a real hero, and Beowulf just thinks he is. The two heroes can be compared in many ways. A major†¦show more content†¦But Sir Gawain, along with his muscular build, contains a strong and stable heart. Sir Gawain and Beowulf’s morals and values can not be compared so easily, though. The two heroes’ ethics contrast each other greatly. Beowulf seems to have little morals that he lives by. His pride in himself and loyalty to his country are surely characteristics of a hero, but it seems throughout the whole epic poem he boasts about how wonderful he is, which was one of the main reasons I did not like him. Sir Gawain never shows a sign of arrogance, only selflessness, honesty, and his loyalty to the code of Chivalry. Beowulf almost seems barbaric, going out to conquer the monster so he can add to his list of over-exaggerated achievements. Sir Gawain sticks to his word, and seeks out the Green Knight as promised, like a true hero would. There is no doubt that Beowulf has the history and accomplishments of a hero. He â€Å"drove five giants into chains,† and defeated the man-eating swamp creature, Grendel. But in Beowulf’s story there is not one line in which he shows the strengths of his own heart. Of course we can argue this against Sir Gawain, saying that he did not give the green girdle to his host as he promised. But Sir Gawain did refuse to accept the host’s wife, and he does give the dagger to his host also. Sir Gawain also kept true to his vow to find the Green Knight and receive his beheading. Both Sir Gawain andShow MoreRelatedBeowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay2373 Words   |  10 Pagesjeopardized community. In addition, the courageous hero often becomes the symbolic figure by representing the esteemed cultural ideals of the community. Such is the case in the works Beowulf from the Anglo-Saxon period and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight from the Late Middle Ages. Both heroes Beowulf and Sir Gawain represent certain customs for their respective communities; however, the three hundred and fifty years between these two works contribute to the contrasting views in the definition ofRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight And Beowulf1471 Words   |  6 PagesThe Merriam-Webster Dictionary states a hero is â€Å"a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.† A hero is looked up to for the brave and noble things he or she has done. Although the characters and plots of â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† and â€Å"Beowulf† differ greatly from each other, the key themes of each of these works are quite similar. In both tales, the reader meets a hero who is endowed with mental, physical, and spiritual gifts that equip him for the task of confrontingRead MoreBeowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight897 Words   |  4 Pagestwo poems, Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight embody heroic figures. Beowulf, who demonstrates all the characteristics of an ideal hero, is faced with physical and moral challenges that no other man could face during his existence. Beowulf was not only looking to become a hero, he wanted to reveal the importance of establishing identity. However, Beowulf was not the only hero during this time period. Sir Gawain also participates in challenges that define his character. Sir Gawain was indeedRead MoreBeowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight1499 Words   |  6 PagesIn Beowulf, and Sir Gawain, and the Green Knight, we can appreciate the significance of Beowulf and Gawain s reputations because they establish their identities in society. Reputation can be defined as an â€Å"overall quality or character as seen or judged by people† (Merriam-Webster). First, we will discuss how reputations can be interpreted according to the individual. Then we consider what if they were to fail to uphold the expectations of others, and if so, what aspects of their lives would be affectedRead MoreAnalysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf955 Words   |  4 Pages According to Sir Gawain and Beowulf heroic adventures, Sir Gawain has to leave his place by himself to meet the Green Knight and takes a risk on his own way as same as Beowulf who went out from his palace to beat the dragon by himself. However, their calls to the adventures contrast Sir Gawain and Beowulf heroic stories. The first decision is the most significant part of the heroic story that the protagonist has to choose either go out following the call or step away. Expectedly, every protagonistRead MoreComparing Sir Gawain And The Green Knight And Beowulf733 Words   |  3 Pages â€Å"Faith, valor, loyalty, truth...† one can expect these virtues that comprise the Chivalric Code from an orthodox knight in the Middle Ages. The Germanic Warrior Code, on the other hand, governs the warring tribes of Norsemen. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf as translated by Simon Armitage and Seamus Heaney, the core values of the two codes are respectively personified as the two protagonists. Despite the numerous similarities between these two disciplines, they differ over the existenceRead MoreThe Supernatural in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight863 Words   |  4 PagesIn Beowulf the supernatural presents instelf in it’s monsters. Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and the Dragon, all mythical creatures that only exist in tales of fiction. Beowulf also possess another element of the supernatural. The juxstapositon of a strong christian world view against those from the past who were well known pagans. In turn Beowulf positions the monsters in the work as biblical descendants of Cain. In Sir Gawain and Green Knight, supernatural plays a simlar role. The Green Knight isRead MoreComparing Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1762 Words   |  8 Pagesultimately tying in with the theme of the work. Beowulf and Sir Gawain both exhibit what the Anglo-Saxons and the Middle-English viewed as both proper and improper conduct. What the reader encount ers through these two characters, however, involves a paradigm shift between the two cultures, with values, fate and pride leading to demise , reflected in Beowulf contrasting with those, the knight’s code of honor and chivalry, expressed in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. These dissimilar worldviews become apparentRead MoreComparing Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1555 Words   |  7 Pagesideology is, does one value loyalty? Among the many values of the Anglo-Saxons, such as bravery, truth, and honor, above them all stands loyalty. Through an archetypal analysis, one may view how two major works of the Middle Ages, Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, both reflect attributes of loyalty, specifically the testing of one’s loyalty and the consequences of disloyalty, which reflect the behavior and values shared by the Anglo-Saxons and the people of the Late Medieval era. When analyzingRead MoreThe Heroes Of Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay2116 Words   |  9 Pageswork The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Such narrative poems as Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight represent what the Anglo-Saxons and the Middle English saw as both acceptable and non-acceptable demeanor. Both works possess the same values and beliefs while others, distinctly oppose, something that can be clearly observed through the careful archetypal study of the heroes of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In Beowulf, the hero first embarks on his journey when he goes to the