Heroic styles of Beowulf and Sir Gawain Essay

Throughout history, different cultures have held different virtues in the highest regard. The Anglo-Saxons, deal the anonymous scop of the poem Beowulf, valued strength and courage over each(prenominal) other quality. On the other hand, the earliest English people, like the poet of Sir Gawain and the spurt Knight, respected honor and the basic codes of chivalry over all else. dickens Beowulf and Sir Gawain, t presentfore, display the about favored qualities of their people Beowulf by defeating monsters, performing spectacular feats of courage, and telling of his deeds Gawain by being loyal, brave, and honest. Both sets of qualities are displayed end-to-end each tale.In Beowulf, written in about the fourth century AD, the heros first major test is to fight a huge monster. In doing so, he proves his physical abilities, and thus establishes his hero/ attr shapeion status. To be the best, you have to be the strongest, and he says Fate saves/ the living when they ram down awa y death by themselves (572-73), immortalizeing how much Beowulf relies on his physical strength. On the other hand, Gawains first test is not physical, merely psychological. He is forced to prove his loyalty to Arthur, by offering his invigoration to the unfledged Knight.He does not claim to be the best, or the strongest, and in fact claims I am the weakest, I am aware (part 16). Gawain is displaying his modesty, and the chivalric belief that a person should be humble about himself. This displays the fast difference between the two cultures. For the Anglo-Saxons, if you wanted people to know youre a hero, you tell them youre a hero. For Gawain, and the Knights of the Round Table, they must act humbler, in order to appeal to their Christian beliefs.However, both societies do beg their heroes to display some similar traits, the near common being courage. Gawain must show how brave he is by making a great and difficult journey to fulfill his oath, and die at the hands of the Green Knight. Beowulf must show his courage by fighting off double monsters, even to the last day of his life. Why should I be dispirit? /Of doom the fair or drear/ by a domain must be assayed (24) shows how Gawain believes a hero should conduct himself, with dignity and honor. He does not believe that journeying to his death will be such a bad thing, since it will allow him to keep his honor intact. This sounds real similar to Let me livein greatness/ and courage, or here in this hall welcome my death, Beowulfs concept of bravery. Beowulf believes that either he is going to win, and kill Grendel, or Grendel will win and kill him. both way, it is up to wyrd, his Fate. The resemblance continues with the theme of generosity.Both try their very hardest to not simply keep all their earned wealth (or lack thereof) to themselves. Beowulf, upon receiving heaping treasures from Hrothgar, now dispenses it among his men. He even rewarded the boats watchman/ who had stayed behind, with a steel that had hammered/ gold wound on its handle, (1901-03) showing how he treats all his men as equals. The watchmans job, to him, was just as valuable as all the other warriors that actually traveled with him. Similarly, Sir Gawain tells the lord of the place that he appreciated the hospitality of the host by remarking I would prevail you some guerdon gladly, were I able (82) immediately before departing. He says this to show the host his graciousness, but also displays his generosity, displaying the similarities between the two cultures.Finally, each has an antagonist view of their importance in society. Beowulf believes that the best thing someone raise do is become the most famous, and to have your name live on forever. Fame after death/ is the noblest of goals (lines 1388-89). For him to die in battle is the single most important thing he sens do, to ensure he lives on in legend. On the other hand, Gawain thinks that he must do his part, and mend the whole of Camelo t. Since this affair is so foolish that it nowise befits you, (part 16) says that Gawain is willing to relinquish his own life to save his king. He thinks he is the least of the Knights, and the most nonessential of them, and therefore the best candidate. Furthermore, I would fainer fall dead than conk out in my errand (42) shows his dedication to the task he set out for. The two characters are in stark contrast between their concepts of self-worth.As you can see, the Anglo-Saxon and early English people held widely varying notions of what a hero/ leader figure should be. For the anonymous scop that wrote Beowulf, battle, glory, and fame were paramount to the unknown vocalist of Sir Gawain, honor, honesty, and loyalty to ones country had top priority.