Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain

Beowulf is a classic tale of a hero who undergoes certain trials and tribulations and proves his bravery. However when one glances under the surface, it is clear that the story is about so much more. Over the course of the poem Beowulf has to learn to balance two opposing sides of his personality-his monstrous, angry, berserker-like side with more restrained and civilized character. In Germanic culture in general, a dichotomy lies between the reverence of famous berserkers, who when enraged become the most fearsome of warriors, and the values of self-restraint placed on people, specifically in the feasting setting. Beowulf is all about the navigation of that tight line of cultural tension between the two options.

In Beowulf, the heroic ideals are different from today’s society through actions, and intelligence. Heroic Ideals are seen in many different forms and actions. Take what a hero can appear to be as an example. The story Beowulf describes a hero as a strong, fearless, kind individual.

There are always going to be different views in how a society is to be presented but the question is how do these views compare and contrast between “Beowulf” and Grendel. (I Think the first thing you need to do is define how Beowulf compares to society - A Nobel hero who’s character reflects society’s ideals – performs brave acts and appears superhuman and then how Grendel compares to society – an outcast of society not capable of enjoying it only capable of destuction. What are 2 or 3 ways that I can see that I can relate to… That is the first question I have… how am I going to compare and contrast if I do not know how they are viewed.) Compare: Anglo-Saxon society is considered very harsh.

In the writings of English literature both attributes and imperfections reflect the heroes values in culture. Along the hero's journey they gain knowledge from wrong to right, where the reader also follows along the quest of reinforcing proper cultural values. In the Late Middle Ages for instance, their honorable deeds and religious beliefs, pagan and Christianity, were highly practiced as an importance to their lives. In Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight both reflect these beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons and Middle-English while others stand in firm contrast, which can be viewed clearly through an archetypal study of the heroes in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Throughout the epic of Beowulf, the main character Beowulf takes on three major battles in his lifetime. While each battle is a major event in his heroic life, each battle goes differently and teaches him different things. One of the battles is easy, almost too easy. Another battle is almost lethal, however, Beowulf’s careful preparation saves his life. His final battle is unfortunately what ends his life.

One example of a hero was Beowulf, he was generous, strong, loyal, brave, and honorable till the end. So, as Sir Gawain shared many of these qualities, it is concluded that the ones they do share, are the qualities that a hero must possess. A hero could be many things, however he has some specific qualities. First comes bravery, because a hero must not be cowardly. Second is loyalty, heros must never stab partners in the back, or abandon them when things are difficult.

The Comparison and Contrast of Medieval Heroes Many themes are consistent throughout the ancient and the classical periods to the medieval. One of these themes is the nature of the hero. These heroes typically show courage and loyalty to their people in dangerous battles which they may die to keep the heroic code. Examples of this would be the hero of Gawain to the heroes in Virgil’s Aeneid and Homer’s Iliad.

The style of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is written with extreme imagery and detail. It's the kind of story that uses imagery and details to make it so that the reader almost feels the weather, sees the sights, and feels the emotion happening in each scene. He describes things with words I don't quite understand, but still with enough detail to make it seem very vivid. 2. Symbols: His pentangle: is a sign that Solomon composed to stand for truth, because it has five points and lines, all of which interlace with the other.

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

Compare/Contrast Essay Beowulf is an epic hero, who is a strong and powerful man who comes from Sweden to Denmark to help a village that is being attacked by a man-eating monster named Grendel. Arthur, is a romantic hero who is the courageous king of Camelot who is a devoted leader and will do anything to protect his kingdom and people. Even though Beowulf and Arthur are two different heroes, they both share similar traits such as devoted followers, the use of magical weapons, and courageous traits throughout the story. Both epic and romantic heroes had devoted followers that helped them throughout battles. Beowulf was very strong, but when the people of Denmark thought he needed help.

A hero does not fight for fame and glory but for the greater good. A hero is someone who goes through adversity to help others in desperate times. A hero fights evil, and defends people. Beowulf should be considered a hero because he is a strong, brave warrior who defended his people and slayed evil monsters. Beowulf proves himself to be a strong, brave warrior by killing Grendel the monster.

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.

What qualifies a person to be called a hero? Officially a hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Most people think of a superhero, like Batman or Spiderman, or someone closer to them such as their mother or their life-saving doctor. Heroes tend to be the main character in a story. Beowulf and Odysseus are two famous epic heroes in the texts Beowulf and The Odyssey.

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.

Literature has maintained a strong influence on society and its perceptions of heroes for centuries. In consequence, the time period in which a literary work is written reveals much about that society’s ideals. For example, the Anglo-Saxon epic, Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, illustrates the deeds of a heroic knight and reflects the values of his community. Throughout the poem, Beowulf displays commendable behavior by saving another kingdom, defeating three villains, and maintaining allegiance to the lord and his people. Even though a millennium has passed since the release of this epic, heroes today display characteristics similar to those of Beowulf.