Heroism in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Not unlike our own culture, the culture in medieval and Anglo-Saxon times celebrated the hero. A hero was (and is) a man who exemplified the attributes treasured by his culture, such as honor, valor, and other characteristics. Two solid examples of heroes are Beowulf and Sir Gawain, perhaps the epitomes of heroism during their respected times. Each man displayed his own "style" of heroism, and both endured separate quests and challenges. A universal definition of the word hero is nearly impossible to establish, because of its flexibility; every culture and period has its own idea of what a hero truly is. Behind every brave and honored hero is a reason. A quest or endeavor of some type is this driving force in most all hero stories, and the journey that is embarked upon can often tell us about the hero himself and of the culture that celebrates him. In Beowulf, the hero has heard of the horrible Grendel in Hrothgar's kingdom, so he quickly gathers his best men and journeys forth, eager to fight the beast. Although completing this f
Greed and material things have roles in the era as well; gold and jewels were the best things a man could own. Basically, Anglo-Saxons were taught to seek treasures of gold, diamonds, jewelry, and coins, while the more reflective Medievil beings (mostly portrayed by knights and members of the Feudal System) were taught to look for knowledge, morals, and the "correct" things to do in life. Again, emphasis must be placed on the influence of each story's time period. Sir Gawain has a quest that proves to the reader his honesty and loyalty. Medieval times, however, encouraged their heroes to value the moral lesson gained after your feat. Beowulf materialistically asks Wiglaf to bring him the treasure (a physical treasure of gold and jewels) as he is dying, believing that this is a hero's right and perhaps even his responsibility. He is witnessed demolishing Grendel, slaughtering that beast's mother, and slaying a ferocious (and, within the realm of hero tales, cliche) dragon. Outstanding physical ability is not even necessary for the story, albeit the swinging of an ax; Gawain is even portrayed as a "bad" knight, not as fast, strong, or brave as the others, and he admits this. He has made a promise to his King and his fellow knights, and even though he knew (or thought that he knew, at least) that he would ultimately sacrifice his life because of it, he took the long, lonely journey as a noble man. The Anglo-Saxon era is one where your worth is determined solely by strength and the attributes that accompany it. The medieval era, on the other hand, was dominated by the idea that we must be morally correct and emotionally mature. As witnessed after the wounded Beowulf slays the treacherous dragon, Anglo-Saxon culture believed that if you had fought and triumphed in battle, it was your right to take the treasure and/or material goods that were previously inaccessible because of your journey. Beowulf's story is one of brawn, muscle, and the edge of a sharp sword. They were rewarded with lessons and presented with new values and emotional maturity as they gained their prestige. Heroes in Medievil and Anglo-Saxon times are very similar, and yet very different at the same time; they share the same general traits, but if they are more carefully studied, they are seen as having sets of values that are nearly opposite in nature.
Common topics in this essay:
Sir Gawain,
Medievil Anglo-Saxon,
Grendel Hrothgar's,
,
Basically Anglo-Saxons,
Green Knight,
Feudal System,
sir gawain,
medieval times,
anglo-saxon times,
gawain hand,
gold jewels,
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Acceptance Essays
