From Beowulf who fights against Grendel to achieve fame and glory; to Sir Gawain fighting the Green Knight for his king and honor. Both men are considered a hero for the Anglo Saxons. “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something better than oneself.” Joseph Campbell. Even today with firefighters putting their lives at risk to save someone from burning buildings, or police officers defending innocent people against others that put them at risk are considered heros. These characteristics were still present in both epic stories. In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf proves his brave qualities by defeating Grendel; he symbolizes the perfect hero. Sir Gawain honors the code of chivalry, he fights for his king and honor; showing that
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He fights courageous battles against unthinkable monsters. Beowulf would like to live a heroic life by battling these creatures. Beowulf even goes on to say that he will kill Grendel with his bare hands, not using one weapon to help him fight against the monster, “‘...my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster.’” You can see the difference between how important strength was in a hero for the Anglo Saxons. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain says, ‘“I myself am the weakest, of course, and in wit the most feeble.’” Sir Gawain never goes on to talk about his strength and the power he has to destroy the green knight. Whereas in the epic poem Beowulf whenever Beowulf is first introduced into the story it states, “In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats-greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world-...” Beowulf portrays this strong hero that can defeat any monster that walks his path. Beowulf is described as the strongest of all men in the world. Through this you can see how the progression from Beowulf to Sir Gawain that the Anglo Saxons didn’t need a strong hero to save them. During the time when Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was brought into the Anglo Saxon literature they wanted a noble knight that fought for honor and the
He fights courageous battles against unthinkable monsters. Beowulf would like to live a heroic life by battling these creatures. Beowulf even goes on to say that he will kill Grendel with his bare hands, not using one weapon to help him fight against the monster, “‘...my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster.’” You can see the difference between how important strength was in a hero for the Anglo Saxons. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain says, ‘“I myself am the weakest, of course, and in wit the most feeble.’” Sir Gawain never goes on to talk about his strength and the power he has to destroy the green knight. Whereas in the epic poem Beowulf whenever Beowulf is first introduced into the story it states, “In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats-greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world-...” Beowulf portrays this strong hero that can defeat any monster that walks his path. Beowulf is described as the strongest of all men in the world. Through this you can see how the progression from Beowulf to Sir Gawain that the Anglo Saxons didn’t need a strong hero to save them. During the time when Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was brought into the Anglo Saxon literature they wanted a noble knight that fought for honor and the