After reading and analyzing both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, I received multiple perspectives of a “hero” and what that word meant during these time periods. Therefore, in both stories, it was evident that in order to be considered a hero during this time one had to be selfless and loyal to the king/crown by sacrificing oneself to maintain the tranquility within their kingdom. Nonetheless, in terms of Beowulf, I considered both the protagonist, Beowulf, and one of his warriors, Wiglaf, to be heroic individuals who portrayed all the necessary characteristics one must acquire to be considered a hero during this century. This was because Beowulf numerously sacrificed himself to protect King Hrothgar’s kingdom, when he battled
A humble knight is an honest and just knight. “He restored all the stolen land to its rightful owners, and set about building castles to defend all the coasts and borders of the kingdom,” (Excalibur pp 13). This displays Arthur’s humility because he was selfless and put other’s needs before his own. Another example of when Arthur showed humility was when sir Ector kneeled before him once realizing Arthur was the new king. At once Arthur got down on his knees as well because he was too humble and did not like the feeling of being superlative to anyone.
No matter what period in history, treasure and weaponry plays a role and its importance is ever changing. Throughout the Anglo-Saxon period, treasure and weaponry were highly valued among the kingdom and its people. Only those worthy enough to the King or Queen would receive treasure. Treasure was typically given to high-ranking warriors and loyal civilians that had accomplished some great deed. Beowulf shows that these men were so attached to those treasures and weapons that they buried them along with their dead to show their eternal loyalty.
In this passage, this is the first time the Green Knight expresses his thoughts about Sir Gawain with great detail. The other times he speaks, he only says a few words. As the Green Knight condemns Sir Gawain 's for his bravery, he also draws attention to his wrongdoing. Despite Sir Gawain 's wrongdoing (Code of Chivalry), the Green Knight still considers him a brave man and explains his reasoning. The Green Knight 's responses to each of them shows he would be concerned with his own life just as Sir Gawain, if he was in the same situation.
Throughout The Song of Roland Oliver and Roland prove themselves to be honorable and valorous Knights. Roland and Oliver are very different knights and have vastly different characteristics. The author comes right out and says, “Roland is valiant. Oliver is wise / Both are marvelously noble knights.” (p. 32) To be a marvelously noble Knight one needs to be honorable and as a knight honor is obtained by those who show outstanding valor. Thus, as a knight, valor means that one is honorable and noble.
The Anglo-Saxon society and our modern society, although thousands of years apart these two periods have characteristics in areas that are alike and different in more ways than one. Let us talk about the values and the code of conduct of these two societies. First of all, during the Anglo-Saxon period, fighting is the main solution for them to solve problems and with fighting comes power. Power, power over people, power over land, power over resource and treasures. To them, power is everything and for one person to attain so much power, one must become a hero and perform heroic deeds.
Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic about a great warrior who values the Anglo-Saxon ideas of loyalty, personal indebtedness, fame, fate, and heroism. The epic is named after, and centered on, Beowulf and his quests; however, several other characters also reflect Anglo-Saxon values throughout the story. For example, King Hrothgar built “the best/ Of all mead-halls” (ll.145-146) so that his “men lived happy” (l. 15). Hrothgar built the mead-hall because he was indebted to his men who served and protected him. Meanwhile, Beowulf was indebted to Hrothgar because Hrothgar once defended Beowulf’s family.
unlike Lancelot, The Knight of the Cart, Beowulf was not full of a want for the love of somebody else, but is instead an epic poem of a man with amazing strength, and power. With battles fought against monsters, and dragons for glory. Although the theme may have been different for these stories. The main characters shared a lot of the same heroic traits. For instance, Lancelot who was the most legendary of the round table for his strength in combat, and courageous determination.
Will Wagner Weis Period 4 9/16/2017 Sir Gawain and his Journey In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the hero, that is a knight of the round table under the name of Sir Gawain is challenged, accepts the challenge, and then gains the honor and clout that he set out to gain. Sir Gawain is one of Arthur's most well known and liked Knights because of his uncanny ability to do the right thing. As the start of Gawain’s journey, he is called to action by the Green Knight. While at King Arthur’s round table, Arthur says that he will not eat until something interesting happened. Here is where the the Green Knight exclaiming “Where is the lord of this company?”.
Upon discovering the sin committed between his wife and best friend, he nevertheless values his kingship before love. Arthur states, “And much more I am sorrier for my good knights’ loss than for the loss of my fair queen; for queens I might have enough, but such a fellowship of good knights shall never be together in no company” (Malory 336). For the king, brotherhood, loyalty, and the knightly code are more important than emotional entanglements. Lancelot and his knights are more of a liability to Arthur than the enchanting