Sir Gawain and Beowulf Essays - 743 Words

What makes a person a hero? The definition of a hero is â€Å"a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength.† Every society has a hero. There are the stereo typical heroes such as Superman and Hercules with supernatural powers and there are other heroes that help our societies, such as firemen, soldiers, or doctors. Two main heroes in ancient Greece are Beowulf and Sir Gawain. Beowulf and Sir Gawain have very similar characteristics; however there styles of heroism and moral codes are very different from each other. Another assessment of these two heroes is their compassion and courtesy towards others. Beowulf is fairly courteous to others. However, once someone is rude to him, he immediately gets very infuriated†¦show more content†¦Another aspect on this is†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Beowulf is known for his bravery. Although his boasting may seem unheroic, he rightfully earned the title of bravery. The two main examples of Beowulf’s bravery are the killing of Grendel’s mother with his bare hands and fighting with the robust dragon. On the other hand, Sir Gawain is known for his honor. The main example of his honor is his search for the Green Night. All through the story of Sir Gawain, he is essentially scouting out his own death because of his covenant to the Green Night. Both of these men have made an incredible amount of achievements that add even more prestige to them as heroes. These two men described above are unquestionably heroes. However, these great heroic traits are also some of their greatest downfalls. For Beowulf, his bravery leads him to fighting the dragon which resulted in his own death. As for Sir Gawain, his honor leads him to the encounter with the Green Night. His honor then forced him into the agreement with Green Night which was going to lead to his death. Although this should not discredit there heroic achievements, this is meant to show that all heroes have moral blemishes. Because of this, the re is no perfect hero and †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Sir Gawain is a very noble hero. One major difference between Beowulf and Sir Gawain is that Sir Gawain is an actual hero and Beowulf just believes he is. They are both similar in the sense thatShow MoreRelatedComparing Beowulf And Sir Gawain Essay1388 Words   |  6 Pagesdefined as a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character. This character is often seen in a variety of modern and ancient literary works and is commonly painted to be an optimal version of what that particular society values. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are examples of two different types of literature which were written at different times during ages where certain ideals were upheld. These ideals, which were popular in their corresponding eras, in some ways contrast and in other ways resembleRead MoreBeowulf Vs. Sir Gawain879 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf vs. Sir Gawain: An Ever Shifting Heroic Ideal The epic tale of Beowulf, formed during a remarkable tradition of Old English oral poetry, illuminates the epitome of true heroism. Though the precise date of Beowulf’s origin remains a mystery, the great long poem was later written down in the early eighth century by an unknown Anglo-Saxon author. The character of Beowulf the Geat is depicted as extraordinary unmatched in strength and valor as well as exceedingly boastful and proud. Like manyRead MoreBeowulf 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 MoreCompare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain1358 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf and Sir Gawain are both heroes, one is a warrior who becomes a King and the other a Knight in King Arthur’s Court. Beowulf takes place in 6th century Denmark and Sweden, it was written during the Anglo-Saxon Literary Time Period. Beowulf’s journey takes place over many years. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian romance believed to have been written in the late fourteenth century by an anonymous author (Baker). Sir Gawain’s journey takes place over one year’s time, from ChristmasRead MoreCompare And Contrast Sir Gawain And Beowulf930 Words   |  4 Pagesdone by anyone else. Sir Gawain and Beowulf are heroes in literature who have done something important and have come to the rescue of others. Sir Gawain and Beowulf from these different pieces of literature both have heroic qualities that categorize them as heroes, ways in which they are similar and ways in which they are not alike at all. In both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the main characters are seen heroes to someone one way or another. For example, Beowulf is a great hero to hisRead MoreEpic Heroes: Sir Gawain and Beowulf1204 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the Middle Ages, both â€Å"Beowulf† and â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† were epic stories that were chanted aloud to the public. Each story told about epic heroes who went on a long journey to face or conqueror someone or something. â€Å"Beowulf† is a poem about a young man, Beowulf, who slays a monster and his mother with his bare hands to protect the people he loves. As the years go by Beowulf becomes king and a dragon begins to stir. In response to this, Beowulf fights the dragon with a swordRead MoreThe Separate Journeys Of Beowulf And Sir Gawain1761 Words   |  8 Pagesof Beowulf and Sir Gawain The purpose of the hero in literature has evolved through time, and there is no denying the differences of two medieval heroic archetypes, Beowulf, and Sir Gawain. In both poems, the hero is faced with several different tests, each with proposed solutions and goals. Anglo-Saxon epic and romantic stories focus on the central hero who stands alone as the ideal example of perfected chivalry. Even though there are countless similarities that both manuscripts share, Sir GawainRead MoreCompare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain796 Words   |  4 Pagesabilities to face their greatest fear. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are great examples of heroism who defend their honor and their people. Unlike Beowulf who is a king and the Sir Gawain is King Arthur’s nephew. Both characters defeat their obstacle to prove their loyalty to society no matter if it’s costing their lives. The character of Beowulf can be seen, with great simplicity, as a man of bravery. Beowulf’s dealings with the monster rooming around and Beowulf without so much as a pause for a plan continuesRead 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 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"Si r 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 confronting