Heroes in literary works have often represented the values of their cultures. The hero 's success and shortcomings on the quest help to illustrate the emergence of their cultural values. While progressing through the hero 's quest, the reader obtains a better understanding of the ideology and actions of the era. In the Anglo-Saxon period, for instance, honor defined how great someone or something is . Likewise, the Middle English narrative poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight reflects this continuation in cultural values .These works embody the belief that maintaining of honor of their respective houses is of utmost importance, but the concept of honor begins to shift.
At the onset of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight both heroes heed the call to elevate and preserve the honor of their respective houses. In Beowulf, Beowulf sees the opportunity to acquire more honor for king hygelac’s realm but more importantly for himself. The speaker states, “ I have heard moreover that the monster scorns in his reckless way to use weapons; therefore, to heighten Hygelac 's fame and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad …show more content…
However, prior to accepting the Green Knight’s challenge, Gawain and his fellow knights refuse the call. The speaker states, “Therefore were the gallant knights slow to answer, and gazed astounded, and sat stone still in a deep silence through that goodly hall, as if a slumber were fallen upon them.” Gawain refuses the call by not immediately accepting the challenge and preventing the Green Knight from ridiculing Camelot. Although both heroes look to maintain the honor of their house, there is a clear divergence in how willing each hero is to take on their respective
At the onset of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight both heroes heed the call to elevate and preserve the honor of their respective houses. In Beowulf, Beowulf sees the opportunity to acquire more honor for king hygelac’s realm but more importantly for himself. The speaker states, “ I have heard moreover that the monster scorns in his reckless way to use weapons; therefore, to heighten Hygelac 's fame and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad …show more content…
However, prior to accepting the Green Knight’s challenge, Gawain and his fellow knights refuse the call. The speaker states, “Therefore were the gallant knights slow to answer, and gazed astounded, and sat stone still in a deep silence through that goodly hall, as if a slumber were fallen upon them.” Gawain refuses the call by not immediately accepting the challenge and preventing the Green Knight from ridiculing Camelot. Although both heroes look to maintain the honor of their house, there is a clear divergence in how willing each hero is to take on their respective