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Comparing Bravery In 'Sir Gawain And Beowulf'

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Throughout time there were great heroes, one’s of bravery and one’s of honor. Sir Gawain and Beowulf both resemble different aspects being great heroes and also showing the different time where there from. They show how the Middle Ages start off with violence then later falling toward honesty. Beowulf displays his bravery is many ways and also shows ways of being a great hero. Sir Gawain a noble knight shows his aspects of chivalry and loyalty. Even though they may seem light great heroes they both have been though great events to shape them to what they are. Beowulf is a great hero displaying his bravery though out the story. Even though he seems to say he does have powers throughout the story he shows his bravery later on. Unlike the Sir …show more content…

Out of all the knights around he was the only one that had the spirit to play the beheading game with the green knight. At first King Arthur took the challenge but being the loyal person he was he felt it was his duty to challenge the green knight instead of King Arthur. As stated in the story he said "the weakest, the most wanting in wisdom...And my life, if lost, would be least missed, truly". The quote only shows that what he is saying is not true and that he will be might for his chivalry. After the game was set, Gawain agreed that in one year he would go out to find the green knight. He said to King Arthur as stated in the story “Here is my oath on it, in absolute honor”. The quote expresses his devotion towards the quest. Though his journey to find the green knight he finally finds the green knight a year later. After all it was a test to check for Gawain’s loyalty even when other events occur. Even though he failed to complete the journey and he almost gets his had decapitated his honestly spares him. Unlike Beowulf, Sir Gawain learned from his mistake and he did not. The reason Beowulf had to fight Grendel was to prove himself that he was made for the task. Sir Gawain was the test of loyalty and almost loosing there king, while in Beowulf it expresses courage among

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He believed that he wasn't as smart as the other knights and that he was weaker than them. The Green Knights challenge was given to see whose virtues were true; although the whole

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B. Gawain shows much more chivalry than Beowulf, and Gawain seems to value women while Beowulf was very "macho man". C. Beowulf and Gawain both value their reputations of not being cowardly and do whatever it takes to preserve that reputation. D. Beowulf is much more pompous about his wins and Gawain seems to be much more humble about himself and has self awareness of his mistakes. E. Beowulf and Gawain both found it important to fight their battles regardless of whether or not they will survive or not. 6.

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He claimed to only owning honor, owing to the fact that he was King Arthur’s nephew. In form, the self-righteousness of this words granted him the position to take on the Green Knight’s request. Sir Gawain exhibited courage in word and deed. In result, he kept his word to once again find the Green Knight after the challenge was accepted, only this time he would get something in return.

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Medieval literature shows the change of heroes throughout centuries. For the English medieval times, two story’s heroes stand out: Le Morte d'Arthur’s Lancelot and Beowulf’s Beowulf. Lancelot, the patient, humble, and chivalrous knight, is contrasted by Beowulf, a boastful, proud, and rowdy viking. It clearly shows how stories have changed in their depiction of protagonists. Both Beowulf and Lancelot are great warriors and leaders but that is where their similarities end.

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This poem was fantastically written, and these days it is hard to find pieces of literature that readers can relate to in more ways than one. I for one prefer a hero like Gawain than a hero like Beowulf. Sir Gawain displays what all heroes should be; virtuous, noble, humble, and of course they must have humility. Humility is key, because without Sir Gawain’s humanly flaw he would not be our ideal hero that we long for so much in

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His few mistakes should not define his character because in the end he still did the honorable deed. Gawain’s clear sense of integrity gleams while he faces many challenges such as sacrifice and many tests of his honor throughout the story. Initially Gawain sacrifices himself, taking the place of King Arthur. He does this because he feels that he is the weakest of the king’s knights, and that he would be less valuable than the other knights would.

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The first quality they share is courage. The two heroes demonstrate their courage in a different way. Beowulf is a hero with a lot of courage because he fights without weapons. He does not believe in using weapons to kill people. Beowulf is described as: “Dripped with his enemies blood”.

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From all this, we know that the perception of a hero from Beowulf’s time differs from our perception today. As we feel that the intentions define a hero while in Beowulf’s time the reputation and accomplishments are what makes a

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A character name Beowulf can be characterized as an Anglo-Saxon hero more so than an epic hero because of his actions. Some criteria of the Anglo-Saxon hero is bravery and generosity. Beowulf shows bravery throughout the book Beowulf. Bravery is a very difficult thing to have because it can be very dangerous, or you could be risking your own life for the good of the people. However, the hero himself did

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Not all heroes are perfect, but some are nobler than others. In the story of Sir Gawain, we find out that even legends, such as Sir Gawain made mistakes. In today’s time, most heroes are thought of as militaristic accomplishments, such as badges, wars won, and saving lives. Sir Gawain was a hero, not because of great accomplishments but because he was driven by his bravery, nobility, and virtue.

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Christopher Reeves once said, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Although Beowulf was human, he was not an ordinary individual, hero, or king, for he was a man who displayed superhuman qualities in his efforts to protect the Danish and Geatish people. Beowulf, who was established Geatish warrior that spent his life in battle, showed these extraordinary characteristics that made him an epic hero, one who possesses superhuman, almost god-like qualities. Being constantly on a quest, risking his life for glory and the greater good of society, and being superiorly intelligent, courageous and strong are the three most important reasons why Beowulf deserves such a notable

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Beowulf possessed the poised demeanor necessary to defeat all evils by the arrogant swing of his sword. The commitment shown by lending his life to the welfare of his people was imperative in order to be called a flawless warrior. Beowulf embodied the determination that Anglo-Saxons saw as unmeasurably valuable. If nothing more than just fiction, Beowulf is the ideal hero of the people from who he originated. “They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.”

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Beowulf and King Arthur are both portrayed as heroes and someone to look up to. Some similarities are both of them are very brave. They are also both very compelling leaders in their own respective ways. Even with their similarities they  have differences in their heroic qualities such as Beowulf not really being a human in the sense that he can do superhuman things and King Arthur being a normal human being. It's also interesting to note that King Arthur was more of a hero for his character whereas Beowulf was more of a hero in the sense that he slays monsters and dragons.

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The knight from the Canterbury Tales is considered the protagonist as he serves as an honorable servant to the king. Beowulf and The Knight both compare through their loyalty and humbleness. Beowulf is considered as a protagonist as he embodies strength and courage while defeating the evil of Grendel, Grendel's Mother and the dragon. He is reluctant to back down from battle, just so he can save the people from evil. He signifies the true heroic character

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Christopher Reeve (AKA the 1978 superman) said that, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”. Both Beowulf and Modern day heroes are similar in that way in that they fight for the common good of people. That quote from Christopher Reeves on what a modern day hero is, also applies to the epic hero qualities that Beowulf has. Similarly Beowulf and a modern day hero defeat an evil so that good can prevail. Some examples are, Beowulf Slaying Grendel and Grendel's mother to save the land of the Danes, and soldiers fighting enemies that threaten the lives of a country, and police officers putting criminals behind bars.

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