Heroic styles of Beowulf and Sir Gawain Essay

through bulge history, different cultures have held different virtues in the highest regard. The Anglo-Saxons, like the anonymous scop of the poem Beowulf, cherished strength and courage everyplace any other quality. On the other hand, the so integrityst English commonwealth, like the poet of Sir Gawain and the leafy vegetable Knight, prise honor and the basic codes of chivalry over each(prenominal) else. Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain, therefore, uncover the more or less favored qualities of their people Beowulf by defeating monsters, execute great feats of courage, and telling of his deeds Gawain by being loyal, bold, and honest. Both sets of qualities are displayed throughout each tale.In Beowulf, written in about the fourth century AD, the whizzs first major adjudicate is to fight a huge monster. In doing so, he proves his physical abilities, and thus establishes his shooter/ leader status. To be the best, you have to be the strongest, and he says Fate saves/ the livi ng when they conduct away death by themselves (572-73), viewing how much Beowulf relies on his physical strength. On the other hand, Gawains first examination is non physical, but psychological. He is hale to prove his loyalty to Arthur, by oblation his life to the Green Knight.He does not claim to be the best, or the strongest, and in f comport claims I am the weakest, I am aware (part 16). Gawain is displaying his modesty, and the medieval flavor that a person should be sink about himself. This displays the immediate difference surrounded by the ii cultures. For the Anglo-Saxons, if you wanted people to deal youre a belligerent, 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 require their heroes to display some similar traits, the most earthy being courage. Gawain must show how brave he is by making a long and difficult journey to fit his oath , and die at the hands of the Green Knight. Beowulf must show his courage by fighting off large monsters, plain to the last day of his life. Why should I be dismayed? /Of doom the evenhandedly or drear/ by a man 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 cover his honor intact. This sounds very similar to let me live in greatness/ and courage, or here in this hall accept 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. Either way, it is up to wyrd, his Fate. The resemblance continues with the theme of generosity.Both study their very hardest to not simply concur all their earned wealth (or need thereof) to themselves. Beowulf, upon receiving heaping treasures from Hrothgar, promptly dispenses it among his work force. He even rewarded the boats watchman/ who had stayed behind, with a brand 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 further as essential as all the other warriors that actually traveled with him. Similarly, Sir Gawain tells the ennoble of the house that he appreciated the cordial reception of the forces by remarking I would micturate you some guerdon gladly, were I able (82) straight 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 opposite view of their immenseness in society. Beowulf believes that the best thing person ass 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 can do, to ascertain he lives on in legend. On the other hand, Gawain thinks that he must do his part, and better the whole of Camelot. Since this affair is so foolish that it nowise befits you, (part 16) says that Gawain is willing to founder his own life to save his king. He thinks he is the least of the Knights, and the most accompanying of them, and therefore the best candidate. Furthermore, I would fainer blood dead than fail in my errand (42) shows his commitment to the task he set out for. The two characters are in grim 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 preponderating to the unknown singer of Sir Gawain, honor, honesty, and loyalty to ones country had top priority.