Comparing Heroes In Beowulf And Sir Gawain

Steve Wilkos once stated that “It's hard to describe yourself as a hero - I just like to think of myself as a policeman. People can look to you like that, as a good guy who can help people.” Throughout Beowulf and Sir Gawain’s poems they never thought they were heros either, just a guy who was either helping a friend, their nation, or their king. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are both heroes in their own right because of different traits that they have shown in many different forms in their journeys. They both share heroic traits, but they both possess qualities that the other does not as well. Although there are other qualities that they lack which could be used in an argument saying that they aren’t heroes, they are human. To start off both Beowulf

Beowulf showed courage when he decided to fight Grendel with his bare hands, and stated that god would decide who the victor would be.This shows that Beowulf is brave enough to fight a monster with his bare hands because the monster doesn't use weapons and to go into battle not knowing what the outcome would be. Beowulf exhibited this courage by saying “ That I alone with the help of my men may purge all evil from this hall. ……..god must decide who will be given to death’s cold grip”(Pg 44 L. 165-174). Sir Gawain showed courage by following through with the challenge with the Green knight not knowing what he had in store for him when he got there. This also shows that Gawain is true to his word. This is shown in the poem where it says “As the end of the year approaches, Gawain leaves on his quest to find the Green Chapel and fulfill his pledge” ( Pg. 233). Although Beowulf and Sir Gawain share heroic characteristics, they both have other heroic characteristic that they have individually that the other doesn’t as

Beowulf saved the nation of the Danes from both Grendel and Grendel’s mother.Not only did he save the Danish kingdom, but he later went on to protect his own people from a monstrous dragon.This shows how willing that Beowulf is to help people in need of his help no matter what the danger is. This is quote depicts this trait, “Bound fast, Higlac’s follower tearing at his hands…...His miserable hole at the bottom of the marsh, Only to die, to wait for the end” ( Pg.49 L. 335-344). Another trait that Beowulf has been that he acts for the good of the people rather than for what’s best for him. This is shown in the quote “ Take what I leave, Wiglaf lead my people. Help them, my time is done” ( Pg. 64 L. 810-812). It takes a true hero to protect his country knowing he will die in the process of doing it. Now Sir Gawain has some heroic traits that Beowulf