Trouthe vs Strength:The Differences Between Two Heroic Ideal
The epic story of Beowulf was composed over 1200 years ago when beliefs and ideals were much different than that of today. The heroes of this time sought out fame and glory and would acts that brought them the most fame and glory. The more battles you won and the more you showed your generosity to your people for supporting you, the more fame and glory you would achieve. Beowulf was a man of great power who was known for his massive strength, "in a handgrip harder than anything/he had ever encountered in any man/on the face of the earth" (750-751). Beowulf's encounter with Grendel would be the beginning of a long reign of fame among the Danes. He had saved them from "a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark," (86-87) that would attack Heorot out of envy after being condemned to a life of solitude. Beowulf further proved his strength in the fight with Grendel's mother who came to avenge the death of her son, as he had to travel to the unknown and assured his people that he did not fear death. He told his people, "when a warrior is gone,/that will be his best and only bulwark" (1388-1389). Beowulf shows that there is no shame in dying and that you will live on after
As the Green Knight simply nicks the neck of Sir Gawain he reminds him "Yet you lacked, sir, a little loyalty there,/but the cause was not cunning, nor courtship either,/but that you loved your own life; the less, then, to blame" (2366-2368). His heroism was based on a principle that was held very sacred during this time period. the head was hewn off and fell to the floor" (423-427). The first morning, Gawain earns a kiss from the lady and so delivers it to the Green Knight that evening. The Green Knight offers up yet another challenge to Sir Gawain, a challenge of winnings, for three days whatever one gets throughout the day; he will give it to the other. Beowulf embodies the ideals of life, that one can make life greater by giving it away to others rather than hording it to yourself. During this time, a man's word was his true test of strength. He further puts his life into the hands of fate: "what occurs on the wall/between the two of us will turn out as fate,/overseer of men, decides" (2525-2527). Once again, Beowulf is victorious in the battle with Grendel's mother and returns to his people for many years until he faces his final foe, a fire-breathing dragon. [The epic of] Sir Gawain and the Green Knight takes place about 400 years after the time of Beowulf. Although he let his love of life break his trouthe to the Green Knight, he rectifies it by admitting to his faults and asking for forgiveness. By losing one's life, you are in fact gaining life.
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