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Comparison Of The Hero-King In Beowulf And Sir Gawain

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In “Beowulf,” the hero-king is faced with challenges that are both physical and moral, both threatening his life. Like Sir Gawain, Beowulf has all the requisite characteristics of a hero and like Sir Gawain, he is invested in protecting his reputation. Beowulf does not know when to stop fighting; even in old age he is still waging the morally just fight against evil forces, suggesting to the reader that the struggle to maintain one’s identity is lifelong. The fight against evil never ends; however, what the author of “Beowulf” may be suggesting is that by passing the torch on to the next generation, the continuity of the fight is maintained and lessons are shared. As we mature, “Beowulf” suggests, we begin to relinquish our fight and teach

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