The Separate Journeys Of Beowulf And Sir Gawain - 1761 Words

The Separate Journeys of 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 and Beowulf are pitted against vastly different obstacles by the poet to preach different messages to the intended audience. As a renowned epic warrior of the Geats, Beowulf faces challenges that test his physical capabilities since the traditional Epic was concerned with pondering grand questions about life and giving the hero abilities that separated him from ordinary humans. On the contrary, due to the nature of the romance hero, Sir Gawain’s two main tasks revolve around maintaining a reputation that is marked by qualities of what was thought to be the complete human at the time. As we will come to realize, neither one is without sin. In the case of one Gawain, it is a slight imperfection that solidifies his status as a hero for the people of Camelot. For a medieval warrior to be worthy of a place in an epic story, several characteristics were essential for consideration. Just like any hero, the most prominent of traits is the display of immenseShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Women In Literature1587 Words   |  7 Pagesare expressed through literature. An example is the archetypes that can be found throughout literature. In the British Middle Ages, the people were grouped into different social classes using the feudal system. Society was mainly broken into two separate groups, the nobles, and the peasants. However, there was also a subset group, which maintained the women. Women were the lowest of the low because they were considered to be evil because of what happened with Adam and Eve in the Bible. It is saidRead More Comparing the Hero in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight921 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf and Sir Gawain – True Heroes Heroes come in many forms. The construction of the heroic has taken many forms, yet traits such as: courage, honor, and loyalty, reappear as themes throughout the hero personality. The characters of Beowulf and Sir Gawain each represent a version of a hero, yet each comes across quite differently in their story. A hero can be said to truly win if he remains constant to his noble values when put in any situation that crosses his way. When measured by thatRead More17th Century Literature Throughout Europe1973 Words   |  8 Pagesand The Aeneid—were continuously mentioned, which shows their significance and inspiration to the literature of the time. In fact, several stories, including Sir Orfeo, can be considered â€Å"mock epics:† stories that follow the structure of ancient epics, typically parodies or retellings of older stories (â€Å"Mock Epic†). Although, admittedly, Sir Orfeo lacks the satire of traditional mock epics, and more so embraces the retelling asp ect. Royalty The Royal Family throughout the 14th century influencedRead MoreThe Sonnet Form: William Shakespeare6305 Words   |  26 Pagessonnets were written—the sonnet was the form of choice for lyric poets, particularly lyric poets seeking to engage with traditional themes of love and romance. (In addition to Shakespeare’s monumental sequence, the Astrophel and Stella sequence by Sir Philip Sydney stands as one of the most important sonnet sequences of this period.) Sonnets were also written during the height of classical English verse, by Dryden and Pope, among others, and written again during the heyday of English Romanticism