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Similarities Between Beowulf And Sir Gawain

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Heroic literary characters are often an idealistic representation of what is valued in a civilization. These characters allow insight on the standards of the time in which the works were written. By exploring such roles, one is able to reach a deeper understanding of what heroism meant to those in the past. Beowulf, a medieval epic, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a poem emerging from the mid to late 14th century, exhibit protagonists that mirror the idealistic persona of their respective ages. Beowulf, in his namesake epic, steps up to face every challenge he is presented and performs a flawless display bravery and strength. Sir Gawain is a flawed, more human character, yet continues to strive for glory and the greater good. As a reflection of the ideal hero of their periods, Beowulf and Sir Gawain differ in their values, noble qualities, and the motivations behind their achievements. Beowulf establishes a clear-cut vision of the Anglo-Saxon heroic ideals- devotion to bloodlines, demonstrating one’s valor in battle, and accepting the spoils of war with …show more content…
Courtly love is a philosophy based on pleasure between a knight and a married noblewoman. A courtly lover is devoted to pleasing his woman, through extraneous acts of courage and might, or more personal pleasures. While seeking out the Green Knight a year after their first meeting to fulfill the promise he made, Sir Gawain comes across a castle, with “towers trim between, crenellated full thick, / fair finials that fused, and fancifully long, / with carven copes, cunningly worked (34.11-13).” The structure is an illustration of wealth that serves as an indication for the luxury inside its walls. Inside the castle, he is welcomed by the lord and lady, who treat the weary knight with hospitality. During his stay at the castle, Sir Gawain is tempted by the lady with the

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