Introduction: A hero is an individual who is willing to risk his or her life for the greater good. Background: In the poem Beowulf, the main protagonist Beowulf himself demonstrated the qualities of what makes a great epic hero. On the other hand, Sir Gawain, the main protagonist of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, displays traits that hail a chivalrous hero. These poems reflect the character's heroism through the rich culture their society possesses, as shown throughout their respective stories. Thesis Statement: Both poems begin with the need to face an opponent who is very strong and powerful and with their virtues they are able to defeat him in both extraordinary ways. Although “Beowulf” and “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” have different notions of the hero, both Beowulf and Sir Gawain possess multiple similarities in their virtues that sharpen and encourage their characters to pursue the challenges they encounter. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Topic Sentence: Beowulf is presented with respect and high regard. Evidence and Citations: The narrator presents Beowulf as a “noble and mighty” warrior (Beowulf 198), which indicates that his legacy is worth praise. As a hero, loyalty is one of the virtues that affirms that of an individual. This is a trait that Beowulf certainly displays in correspondence with his first meeting with Hrothgar and therefore demonstrates that such virtue cannot be measured even by blood relations. Beowulf assures Hrothgar that "he will grapple with the demon and fight for his life, enemy against enemy" (Beowulf 439-40). Comment: His promise shows a commitment as deep as claiming someone else's enemy as his own. This loyalty becomes moral support between him and Hrothgar, strengthened by a loyalty as indestructible and strong as kinship itself. Swearing allegiance to the king shows that Beowulf displays selflessness to fulfill the promised task. Theme Sentence: Like Beowulf, Sir Gawain shows that it takes sincere loyalty to be able to put his life on the line to protect his king. As a knight from the respectable Round Table, Sir Gawain is proud to be part of it and lives by the code of a chivalric hero. His loyalty is tested when the Green Knight visited their feast and provoked Arthur's house to strike a blow against him (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 309-15). As king, it is Arthur's duty to protect his people. Evidence and Quotations: Sir Gawain recognizes the immediate danger their kingdom is in because if Arthur's life is put at risk, so are the lives of his people. Sir Gawain offers his life for Arthur saying that “many brave men sit around you in their place. . . peerless in character and unmatched as warriors on the battlefield. I am the weakest of them, I know, and the dullest of mind, so my death would be the least loss” (Beowulf 343-61). Commentary: In his speech, he states that since his life is not as important as the king's and he welcomes the consequence of being able to face him while taking on the responsibility of facing the Green Knight. His speech also shows his humility, a trait also evident throughout the poem. He recognizes that he does not deserve any special attention just because he is related to the king; therefore be considered a knight willing to sacrifice his life for the good of his people. Topic Sentence: The loyalty of both of these heroes guided them and set a moral standard for their characters. A promise is a contract made as a guarantee of the performance of a certain act that must be performed. In Beowulf, the hero boasts about his ownsuccesses and swears by his ability to fight his opponents. In his time when oral contracts were considered as important as the reputation of the man himself, Beowulf never disappoints his followers, no matter when he declares his intentions. Evidence and Quotes: Before fighting Grendel with his loyalty to Hrothgar, he promised that he would "fully fulfill the desires of thy [Hrothgar's] people, or fall slain" (Beowulf 634-35). He declares himself ready to give his all in this battle even at the risk of his own life. This promise, if not kept, will nevertheless tarnish his name and honor even if he manages to live, such as Unferth's attempt to humiliate and discourage him by recounting Beowulf's "loss" in the competition with Breca (Beowulf 449-528). Despite this, Beowulf proves his loyalty and trustworthiness by killing the enemies who terrorize the Danes. Commentary: Although it may seem like Beowulf is boasting, he is really creating an oral contract between himself and his followers. He is reassuring them that he has the strength and battle experience to keep his promise. Evidence and Citations: Sir Gawain also emphasizes the importance of honoring verbal contracts. After the fateful meeting with the Green Knight, the rest of the year passed quickly, especially for him. Tension grows not only within him but also among the people around him as the match grows closer day by day. Despite the pressure, he showed the other knights that the promise he made is something he must face “why gentle or harsh/A man's fate must be tested” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 564-65). Comment: Recognizes that even when facing death, it is a knight's duty to keep his promise. He is committed to representing the Round Table, affirming its reputation, and serving as a model to showcase the ideal qualities of a courageous knight. Topic Sentence: Courage is persistent in all stories. It gives heroes the strength to face challenges in all forms. Beowulf's adventures begin with a willingness to face uncertainty with great faith that he will have a chance. Evidence and Quotes: Without courage, Beowulf would not be considered a hero because being a hero means being selfless, regardless of the consequences. Toward the end of Beowulf, the hero's abilities are once again put to the test. As their king, Beowulf promises that he will "seek a feud and do a glorious deed" (Beowulf 2513-14) to his people. Comment: He shows courage despite his old age and willingly went to fight the dragon himself. Thus, always pursuing the best for its people. When Sir Gawain steps forward for Arthur, he is already showing great courage. Tests and Quotes: Throughout the poem, Sir Gawain's virtues are tested, especially his courage. As a result of his giving in to the temptation to use his belt to protect himself from the blow of the axe, his courage and courage are put to the test. Ultimately, what got him through the loss was the courage to admit his mistakes and confess his deception. He admitted that “the fear of your shot taught me cowardice. . . now I am false and unworthy. . . let me regain your trust” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 2379-88). He demonstrates remorse for his action and cowardice which led to him losing his faith and honor. Comment: His ability to gather strength despite his situation is inspiring in such a way that courage motivates an individual to find honesty and humility within themselves to overcome the challenges they are facing, no matter how scary they are. Of course, courage is one of the most defining characteristics of a hero. Please note: this is just an example. Get a personalized document from us now.