A Comparison of Perfection in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and...

Perfection in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The heroes of both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are fighters. However, the traits they have in common are far less numerous than those that set them apart. As each of the two is dubbed perfect by his contemporaries, it should be possible to draw the picture of both the model warrior and the paragon knight by comparing Beowulf and Gawain. The first question to arise is that of leadership. In Beowulf, the hero is referred to as prince*, the helmet-of-Weders**, or master-friend***. This is not without reason: in the times of the epic, might did literally make right. Therefore, he who was to be an accomplished warrior had to display a leadernbsp;s qualities as†¦show more content†¦While this is not a general rule for romances, it is the mark of a clear tendency according to which brutal strength becomes less important than other qualities. One such quality is faith. Gawain is perfectly pious, and his belief in the Lord and Our Lady is well-rewarded, as in his begging for shelter in the unknown woods: No sooner had Gawain signed himself thrice Than he was ware, in the woods, of a wondrous dwellingnbsp;** Such direct divine intervention is not uncommon in the world of knights, and Christian elements abound in the romance. These can also be found in Beowulf, but somehow seem out of place in the harsh reality of the Danes. It is true that in the epic magic such as that of the giant-forged sword, or the spell protecting Grendel and his kin, seems to have much more significance than anything related to the Christian religion. When the ideal knight is expected to dutifully fulfil the will of God, the warrior should be able to make use of ancient, heathen spells and artifacts. The question of pride and humility is another contrast between the two kinds of fighters. Let us consider the way each of them depicts himself in order to define it with more precision. Sir Gawain thus speaks of himself: I am the weakest, well I know, and of wit feeblest; And the loss of my life would be least of any; That I have [Arthur] for uncle is my only praise; MyShow MoreRelatedPaganism In Beowulf1683 Words   |  7 Pageswithin the epic poem Beowulf is the continuous, underlying theme of good versus evil – the shift from paganism to Christianity. Although this epic consists of the battle between the hero, Beowulf, and the monster, Grendel (and Grendel’s mother, as well), the main overture of the story is that of the new Christian belief triumphing over evil and the old pagan beliefs. This value is but one of many that contrast the pagan and Christian principles in Anglo-Saxon and in Beowulf. The blending and cultivationRead More Essay Comparing the Role Models in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight2261 Words   |  10 PagesRole Models in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Excellence has always been a virtue revered by society. Writers throughout the ages have tried to capture the essence of excellence in their works, often in the form of a title character, who is the embodiment of perfection, encapsulating all the ideal traits necessary for one to be considered an excellent member of society. However, the standards for excellence are not universally agreed upon. On the contrary, one mans idea ofRead MoreThe Separate Journeys Of Beowulf And Sir Gawain1761 Words   |  8 Pagesof Beowulf and Sir Gawain The purpose of the hero in literature has evolved through time, and there is no denying the differences of two medieval heroic archetypes, Beowulf, and Sir Gawain. In both poems, the hero is faced with several different tests, each with proposed solutions and goals. Anglo-Saxon epic and romantic stories focus on the central hero who stands alone as the ideal example of perfected chivalry. Even though there are countless similarities that both manuscripts share, Sir Gawain