Archetypes In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Throughout history, every work of fiction that has been constructed has contained a hero that reflected the cultural values of the time. Whether it be Shakespeare or J. R. R. Tolkien, the hero of the tale has not only epitomized these values, but served as a paradigm for heroes in other works of fiction. Beowulf and Sir Gawain exemplify the cultural values of the Anglo-Saxons and the Middle English. Some of these values, such as honor and valor, are reflected throughout the evolution of the Early to Late Middle Ages, although some are replaced, and there is a slight paradigm shift with regard to the nature of the two heroes; this can be clearly viewed when one analyzes the archetypes in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in terms

Rather than assemble an army to defeat the dragon, Beowulf gives in to his pride and faces it alone, dying shortly after defeating the beast. This makes it clear that Beowulf does not experience an apotheosis, because his prideful nature serves as a weakness, and ultimately leads to his downfall. This reflects the Anglo-Saxon value of pride, because the hero possesses pride to the point where it stunts the growth of his character, and he exhibits this fault to the end. The Anglo-Saxon value of fate also explains his lack of apotheosis, because his changing as a person would in no way affect the outcome of his

Gawain did not save the community per se, but rather saved them from dishonor. Upon Gawain’s return to Camelot he sports the symbolic girdle, and explains to the court its significance; it is clear that they don’t understand the girdle’s symbolism of his wrongdoing, as they only regard him with reverence, and even sport their own girdles to match him. This further reinforces the value of chivalry, and religious morality, due to the fact that Gawain honors the kingdom by upholding its reputation, and continues to wear the girdle as a reminder of his