Miller 1
Brock Miller
Mrs. Gissel/Period 6
Literary Analysis
2 October 2017
A Hero’s Journey
Between the two different battles of two different heros, both stories and heroes have similar characteristics. One man by the name Beowulf saved the kingdom and land by successfully conquering three monsters. Sir Gawain another hero from another story stepped up to the Green Knights game and held his promise to return his end of the deal. Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain did heroic duties throughout both stories which exposed their similarities.
Beowulf an epic hero, had many characteristics to make him a heroic archetype. “The man whose name was known for courage, the Geat leader” (“Beowulf” 340-43). Beowulf is simply known as a leader by everyone. An epic archetype is well known as a great leader and instructor. “Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing” (“Beowulf” 244-51). Beowulf shows he has immense strength throughout the whole story. An epic archetype has intense strength and proves his strength every time Beowulf steps on the battlefield. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are both heroes and both very similar.
Miller 2
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Sir Gawain is very kind while welcoming the Green Knight to his table (33). Gawain invites the Green Knight to his table with no hesitation. Heroes are brave and kind for the most part, as long as they don’t go against their code of chivalry. “My life would be least missed” (“Sir Gawain” 132). Gawain is a selfless and modest man throughout the whole story. Whether Gawain is brave or not, he still kept his deal with the Green Knight which shows that he is not a coward. Beowulf and Gawain are both very different but the heroic characteristics they are given makes them
Beowulf is extraordinary. The name sake and hero archetype of the epic poem Beowulf, transcends what it means to be a king reaching the title of hero and champion of the people. When he first is described in line 196 of the epic, the writer says,“There was no one else like him alive. In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, high-born and powerful.” Beowulf will always be the time’s mightiest hero, whether he is king or not.
Chivalry has many features that shape a knight, however the virtues that Sir Gawain presents the most are courage and honesty. One time when Gawain showed honesty and courage is when he went to fulfill his deal with the Green Knight. The guide leading Gawain to the Green Chapel told Gawain that he should run and that no one would know about his Failure to keep his promise. But Gawain said he must fulfill his deal: “But however heedfully thou hid it, if I here departed,/ faith in fear now to flee, in fashion thou speakest,/ I should a knight coward be, I Could not be excused./ Noy, I’ll fare to the chapel, whatever chance may befall” (85.13-16).
Sir Gawain is an extremely humble man, one that is in complete submission to his lord King Arthur in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. While many characters in literature, such as Achilles, are a fireball of rage and testosterone, Sir Gawain is calm, cool, and always in complete control of himself. Gawain is humble as well, describing himself as the “weakest of [King Arthur’s] warriors”, one that is barely fit to sit at the King’s royal table (Armitage: Fitt 1: 734). Sir Gawain, according to Confucius in Analects, would be considered a gentleman, “straight as an arrow” in the noble’s court and on the battlefield (Confucius: Book XV: 15.7). He is extremely courteous, a man of his word, and performs the role of a knight adamantly.
Beowulf showed bravery when he had heard that king Hrothgar was in trouble and went to help the king immediately. Beowulf came to help the king on his own free will. He knew that he was going to be fighting a monster. So that made him brave because everyone else was scared of the monster Grendel. Grendel had taken over Herot for 12 long years, so this was bewoulf time to show his bravery and defeat him.
Sir Gawain In the story Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain displays his good conduct, like bravery and courage. Gawain proved he was brave because he overcame several obstacles, like the temptation of the host’s wife, who was very attractive. Another obstacle was the Green Knight.
The Anglo-Saxon era is the beginning of modern English literature. The story of Beowulf was passed down orally for hundreds of years before it was written down by a Christian monk in 700 A.D. The story of Excalibur is a chivalric epic written in the Medieval era that shares some values with Beowulf. The characters in these stories have both similar and dissimilar traits. Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and King Arthur all show the qualities of heroism and honor, but Sir Gawain and King Arthur do not have the superhuman strength of Beowulf.
Later he met the Green Knight and plans for his death by decapitation. The Green Knight knows of the Green scarf and what his wife asked of him. The knight barley scraps Gawain and then he confronts him about the scarf. Sir Gawain learns that the husband was actually the Green Knight, and he was taught the importance of integrity and
The main theme of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the journey to maturity of Gawain, the hero. During the passage, Gawain goes through three tests on his development. First, Gawain shows courage and resourcefulness when he volunteers to take the Green Knight’s challenge instead of Arthur doing so. Second, Gawain shows authority, self-restraint, and integrity when he denies the sexual endeavours of the lady of the house. Lastly, Gawain shows bravery when he faces death by keeping his meeting with the Green
An Epic Hero is the main character of an Epic Poem who is far greater than the average man. Epic Hero's differ from ordinary warriors by their immense strength, unwavering bravery, and prominent battles with vile creatures. Beowulf is a great warrior who possesses all of the traits of an Epic Hero. Similar to all other Epic Heroes, Beowulf hold superhuman strength.
Throughout his entire journey, Gawain tried to remain courageous and brave. In fact, Gawain demonstrated his bravery when he accepted the challenge that no one else dared to do. Following that he then showed his braveness by cutting off the Green Knights head and keeping his word to return in one year and one day. He even had enough courage to go on a journey by himself rather than having the other knights go along. Although Gawain is seen to be fearful of death because instead of giving away the girdle he kept it in secret so its magical powers would protect him from the Green Knight.
Take what I leave, Wiglaf, lead my people, help them; my time is gone.” Sir Gawain shows that he has loyalty by stepping in for King Arthur in the Green Knight’s challenge, instead of Arthur risking his life. This is stated when Sir Gawain says “ I beseech you, sire, let this game be mine…… and let it fall to me.” This is just one of the two heroic qualities that Beowulf and Sir Gawain share. The other trait that they both share is courage.
.This makes Sir Gawain as a relatable hero, opposed to the heroes that are portrayed as godly and infallible. Sir Gawain was not a military warrior with badges, he did not swing a weapon but one at the Christmas games in the beginning. Sir Gawain is considered a literary hero because he was brave for stepping forward to protect King Arthur, his king and uncle. He had faith that led him through his journey into the enchanted forest and into the castle and he did not abandon it. He was noble in being a guest at Lord Bertilak’s, or the Green Knights, castle by offering his services to Lord Bertilak and, resisting temptations, and not sleeping with Lady Bertilak, Lord Bertilak’s
Beowulf doesn’t fit the archetype of a hero because of his inclinations, egotistical ways and glorification. Beowulf’s inclinations show that he is not a person that fits the hero archetype. When Beowulf fought the monster that was terrorizing
In response to the taunting of the Green Knight, Sir Gawain says, "I shied once: no more. You have my word," (272-273). Gawain, like all natural man, shied away once from the Knight's sword as a defensive reflex, but he quickly shakes off any cowardice and announces to the Green Knight that he was caught in a moment of doubt. From there he goes to say that he ultimately is no coward, but rather a noble and courageous knight of the roundtable who is devoted and loyal to King Arthur. He is more than willing and prepared to take what is coming and preserve the honor of his people, as well as his own.
Beowulf is one of the oldest and most well-known epic stories throughout the world. The main character in this story is Beowulf himself. Beowulf is a true and epic hero, who ultimately loses his life while trying to protect the he cared for. Beowulf was a man of great strength, which allowed him to defeat monster and make him the hero that he was. He did not have this strength on his own accord, but was assisted with some divine intervention.