A Comparison of Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and the Green Knight - Essay Sample

Introduction

A hero is an individual recognized for perforating outstanding achievements. Heroes are defined by their noble qualities which, are far from the average man in society. They experience severe risks and win the battle with the aim of protecting the people. In this poem, Sir Gawain and Beowulf are dramatized heroic characters. They both have similar traits because they share a lot in common despite the few differences that explicitly illuminate from their actions. The qualities of these warriors are a representation of heroes for the fact that both characters are considered brave, courageous, gallant, and skilled. They are the perfect leaders for their people who are remembered as a result of their roles. The heroic qualities of Beowulf and Sir Gawain are thus, far beyond perfection.

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Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain are a representation of good people in society. The poet points out that both characters demonstrate their bravery by fighting the monsters to restore safety conditions for their people (Greenblatt& Christ,2012). For instance, Beowulf fights the monster, which according to the author is terrible, and an evil creature. Beowulf wins the battle after the warriors and men fear and pull out of the fight. The fight is tough, but with determination, he struggles with the creature to restore safety for his people. The poet demonstrates that the good Beowulf defeats the evil although he dies at the end.

On the other hand, Sir Gawain explicitly demonstrates the same qualities where he fights his monster 'the Green Knight.' He also engages in the battle with the Green Knight although messy, and he defeats the monster. This demonstrates the good qualities of a leader who is dedicated to the wellness of his people. According to the poet, both characters are good as they show their bravery to the terrible monsters with the aim of defeating evil.

Sir Gawain and Beowulf are both bestowed heroes in the poem because of their actions (Greenblatt& Christ,2012). Sir Gawain is an Arthurian legend and the main character who although he is reluctant in the first time to enter into the challenge; he confidently decides to approach the knights. He goes on a journey to meet the green knights even though he understands their scary state and consequences that will follow his actions. He is asked questions where he fails in one of them by admitting to kissing the wife of the knight. To the knights, he must participate in the fight to earn his honor. He, however, defeats the knights hence considered a hero. Beowulf is also not left behind for the fact that he journeyed around the land to meet and fight the evil monster after all men and warriors had withdrawn from the fight. He does engage in the battle to protect his people something with earns him fame. He is considered a hero, a courageous and confident king who values the interests of his people.

Christianity and culture in the poem illuminate the differences between the two leaders. The poet points out that Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a narrative technique that represents nature, women, and the heroic ideal whereas Beowulf illustrates the conception of these changing ideas (Greenblatt& Christ,2012). For example, a clear difference is demonstrated from the results of the two heroes. The ultimate concern of Beowulf according to the Christian view is glory while Sir Gawain is concerned with the immortal soul. Beowulf's influence with Christianity makes him believe in moral life and other physical life. He understands that although physical challenges are persistent, he has to prove that the heroic nature of any human being has to be concerned with things like morality to ascertain higher power. In the same parallel, Gawain deals with monsters who in his case include women. According to him, women are placid as justified with their prior experience. He perforates his knowledge and his main concern is the immortal soul including everything he considers a monster.

The ethical codes of conduct illuminate the second comparison. The ethics of the two heroes are different for the fact that one portrays moral constraints whereas the other one does not. For instance, according to Greenblatt& Christ (2012), he says that Beowulf appears to have little morals and believe with either the immoral soul or the Christian life. He has small values, but for the fact that he is a hero, he lives by his pride and attains the loyalty of his people. Beowulf shows strength from his heart and decides to approach the toughest situation and scenes to peace the security of his people. Sir Gawain, on the other hand, portrays the quest of arrogance, selflessness, and honesty especially when he shows his loyalty to Chivalry. He stays loyal to his king and also the Green Knights. To him, he demonstrates respect for women, and this gives him a perplexity to learn and understand them. The two leaders are thus different in their behaviors, but their interests meet at a point where they focus on protecting the people.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the heroic characteristics illustrated in the stories depict an entertaining scene in the poem. The author of the poem illustrates the adventure and the representation Gawain and Beowulf portray good leaders in society through the behavior and action disposition. Even though people have different faiths, people will develop trust for leaders who care about their needs and safety as a whole.

References

Greenblatt, S., & Christ, C. T. (Eds.). (2012). The Norton anthology of English literature (Vol. 1). WW Norton & Company.