Sir Gawain and the Green Knight vs. Beowulf
Sarah Pathammavong
October 15, 2002
Brit. Lit. 3b
“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” vs. “Beowulf”
Many of the characters of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are similar. Both stories have the same basic concept of a hero and a monster a type of good vs. evil plot. And each character has in each story has a side by side character. Such as the main characters of both stories.
Sir Gawain, in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, and Beowulf, in “Beowulf, are the heroes of their stories. They were the ones that came out on top. Even though both are heroes their heroic traits are different at times. They are both loyal to their lord and both of them are brave enough to take the any challenge. Beowulf shows the trueness of a perfect hero, a knight that shows no fear. Sir Gawain on the other hand has faults he does not have the whole of being a perfect hero. He does not have a glorious background as to Beowulf who defeats seas full of monsters to save others. Though Sir Gawain does prove that he has some courage, for he takes up the challenge against the Green Knight. Beowulf has unlimited courage, he takes up any challenge and shows no sign of being frightened at anytime. Yet when Sir Gawain is put up to his challenge he flinches with fright, but then after calming down he realizes his position and takes on what he has vowed he would do. His flinching shows how he fails to be a true hero like Beowulf, but then again it shows that Sir Gawain is only human.