In literature, heroes or protagonists frequently indicate society’s values through their culture. Beowulf and Sir Gawain’s characters are revealed through their decisions and actions. Ultimately, their decisions and actions define the concerns and ideals of their corresponding time period. As these heroes face many tribulations in their folk epic, the reader actively follows alongside them, learning more about their culture ideals, societal norms, and their duties to their people. The Middle Ages, for instance, contain various cultural identities that differ from the Anglo-Saxon Period. As both heroes follow a detailed archetypal analysis as outlined by Joseph Campbell in his Hero with a Thousand Faces, each hero’s values shift after enduring
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The first one is the the archetype Departure. The Departure, as described before, calls the hero to the adventure. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the call could be when the Green Knight enters King Arthur’s hall and announces that he’s come to test the honor of King Arthur’s vikings by challenging his vikings to smite his head off. However, Sir Gawain steps up to take King Arthur’s place because he doesn’t want his people to appear fearful. The one challenged must go a year and a day later and find the Green Knight for he must return the blow. In response to Gawain’s nobility, the Green Knight says, “See, Gawain, that you carry out your promise exactly, And search for me truly, sir, until I am found, As you have sworn in the hall in the hearing of these knights." (448 - 450) This starts the departure from his everyday life for Sir Gawain, and his noble action of taking his king’s place demonstrates how he’s a product of his …show more content…
A god-like change occurs within Gawain because he understands the lesson taught by the Green Knight which is to recognize the sins of temptation early on and not fall into the cracks of life. In addition, he faces the fact that lied to the Bertilak of Hautdesert, or the Green Knight, thus receiving a knick on his neck that serves as a reminder to Sir Gawain. Therefore, this lesson he wishes to spread to his people. This God-like change within Gawain also causes a shift in his character, in his
The first one is the the archetype Departure. The Departure, as described before, calls the hero to the adventure. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the call could be when the Green Knight enters King Arthur’s hall and announces that he’s come to test the honor of King Arthur’s vikings by challenging his vikings to smite his head off. However, Sir Gawain steps up to take King Arthur’s place because he doesn’t want his people to appear fearful. The one challenged must go a year and a day later and find the Green Knight for he must return the blow. In response to Gawain’s nobility, the Green Knight says, “See, Gawain, that you carry out your promise exactly, And search for me truly, sir, until I am found, As you have sworn in the hall in the hearing of these knights." (448 - 450) This starts the departure from his everyday life for Sir Gawain, and his noble action of taking his king’s place demonstrates how he’s a product of his …show more content…
A god-like change occurs within Gawain because he understands the lesson taught by the Green Knight which is to recognize the sins of temptation early on and not fall into the cracks of life. In addition, he faces the fact that lied to the Bertilak of Hautdesert, or the Green Knight, thus receiving a knick on his neck that serves as a reminder to Sir Gawain. Therefore, this lesson he wishes to spread to his people. This God-like change within Gawain also causes a shift in his character, in his