Sand Mountain And Beowulf Comparison Essay

Similarities and Differences of Two Questors There are always five qualities that must be relevant in order to have a quest. First of all, there has to be a questor, which is the one that is going on the quest. Next, there must be a place they are trying to go to, literally or figuratively. The quester also must provide a stated reason on why they are going on the quest. Like any story, there has to be obstacles that the quester encounters along the way. This obstacle could be a person, a physical obstacle, or even a fictional obstacle, such as a monster or dragon. Finally, the quester must give his actual reason for going on the quest. The real reason is most often to seek self-knowledge. Dennis Covington from Salvation on Sand Mountain …show more content…
In both quests, males play a prominent role. In Salvation on Sand Mountain, the people that most often handle the snakes were male. One of the main characters in Salvation on Sand Mountain even preaches a sermon on how women are not as important as men, and how they should not be allowed to preach or lead the church. Carl Porter states, “It’s not godly for a woman to do a man’s job! To wear a man’s pants! Or cut her hair like a man does his! It doesn’t please God to go on like that, acting like Adam was made out of Eve’s rib instead of the other way around! (Covington 227-228). In Beowulf, the men are the warriors, and the most important figures. While Beowulf, the Danes, and Beowulf’s men were eating in the mead hall, it mentions that Hrothgar’s (king of the Danes), wife was the server for the gathering. Wealhtheow, Hrothgar’s wife, states, “Enjoy this drink, my most generous lord; raise up your goblet, entertain the Geats dult and gently, discourse with them, be open-handed, happy and fond. Relish their company but recollect as well all of the boons that have been bestowed on you” (Beowulf 168-173). In both stories, the characters encounter serpents and have to overcome their fears. Dennis Covington was always nervous about handling the snakes even though it was something he wanted to try for the glory of doing it. Covington states, “I turned to face the congregation and lifted the rattlesnake toward the light. It was moving like it wanted to go up higher, to climb right out of the church into the air…” (Covington 169). Also, Beowulf faced a serpent to gain recognition and fame also. “So the king of the Geats raised his hand and struck hard at the enamelled scales, but scarcely cut through: the blade flashed and slashed yet the blow was far less powerful than the hard-pressed king had need of at that moment. The mound-keeper went into a spasm and spouted