Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain

What are the Characteristics of a Hero? The answer to this question has evolved in different cultures with different technology and morals. In British Literature the archetype of a hero has changed many times throughout history. Perhaps the earliest iteration of ´the hero´ myth was the story of Beowulf. A strong brutish man from Geatland who conquers monsters and demons to save his people. Later in English Literature comes the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Sir Gawain-a chivalrous and truly good man- sticks up for his king and promises to fight the monstrous man on his behalf. Sir Gawain and Beowulf are used as the ultimate heroic characters in their times and symbolize what is to be looked up to and most highly honored. These characters

Beowulf and Sir Gawain differ in their respective battles and the manner in which they approach those battles. Beowulf's story begins with a demonic monstrous creature who was descended from Cain himself and resembled evil in the purest forms ¨The God-cursed brute was creating havoc: Greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men from their resting places and rushed to his lair, flushed up and inflamed from the raid, blundering back with the butchered corpses.¨(lines 121-125) In opposition to evil itself Beowulf ¨The Geat captain had boldly fulfilled his boast to the Danes: he had healed and relieved a huge distress¨(Lines 819-820). The text describes Beowulf as a hero who relieves the Danes of the tyrannical and evil Grendel who seeks to destroy everything they know. Differently, Sir Gawain's fight is with the Green Knight who seeks to defeat the King of England in battle and earn honor and glory for himself. The initial description of the Green knight was¨ Huge he was, a head taller than any of them, He looked as if he were made of green enamel¨ and ¨A great green man, ungracefully tall, with massive limbs and mighty joints¨(145-146)(242-243) The green knight seems to be described as like Beowulf: larger than life, giant, and seeking glory for himself. The great knight would go on to say ¨I challenge any man here to exchange blows with me, to stand up, bare and take what he gives.¨(284-285) The differences

Despite their glaring differences Sir Gawain and Beowulf have some similarities. First; Beowulf and Sir Gawain show loyalty to their Kings.¨I have heard, too, that the monster´s scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none¨(Lines 433-434). Similarly, Sir Gawain said¨ I shall bind myself willingly, and answer his call, come death or discouragement¨(Lines 343-344). Additionally, Beowulf and Sir Gawain were both described as brave in the highest proportion¨But Beowulf longed only for fame, leaped into battle¨(Lines 2610-2611). Beowulf shows absolute bravery by leaping into battle. Closely, Sir Gawain was described as¨He bears the bough in his hand as a token comes to claim a blow in return¨(2235-2236). Sir Gawain and Beowulf both appear to have values that are in common; Loyalty and Bravery. Though their stories come hundreds of years apart, the people who created them and wrote them down value loyalty and bravery as supreme and high