Beowulf & Sir Gawain: The More Modern Hero

In both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the stories center around heroic characters, brave men held with the highest regard in their own land and respected by people of foreign lands. Each story presents an ideal hero who embodies all that is good and honorable. While the notions of heroism in each story share many similarities, there are also key differences.

In Beowulf, a man of great strength is described, a superhero of the Middle Ages who overcomes sea-monsters, devils, and dragons. He is heroic because he faces every conflict with the same bold determination, fearless of his enemy and never shaken by the threat of another whether it be man, ghost, or beast. He is aware of his own mortality and the potential for death with each conflict, but he always moves on, undaunted.

Much of what makes Beowulf such a great hero rests on his physical prowess and his un-human strength. He is so confident in his strength that he fights Grendel, a ‘fiend’ who rips average men in half, without any weapon (unaware of the fact that no weapon would make a difference anyway). It is given that he is a tremendous fighter, but Beowulf does show compassionate and more sophisticated qualities at times, both in speech and in action.         

“He was formidable in battle yet behaved with honor and took no advantage; never cut down a comrade who was drunk, kept his temper and, warrior that he was, watched and controlled his God-sent strength and his outstanding natural powers.” (2178-2183)

We can perceive that there is more to Beowulf than sheer power, that there is a righteous side to him as well. However, though we see that Beowulf is not just a warrior but also an honorable man of integrity, it does seem that his great strength and his ability to defend and protect are what define him as such a distinguished hero.

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a different perspective is taken with regard to the heroic ideal. It would be unfair to say that Sir Gawain is any less a hero than Beowulf, but the characteristics that make him a hero seem to be more mental than physical.

At the beginning of Sir Gawain’s story the Green Knight is introduced and he offers a game to Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur’s company responds to his proposition with silence, intimidated by the Green Knight’s size and shade and respectful of their lord Arthur. It is only after Arthur himself responds to the knight that Gawain gathers the courage to meet the green man’s request. Because of his great love and respect for his lord, Gawain overcomes his initial dread and asks that Arthur allow him to take the task. This is key to the ideals presented in this tale, and representative of what makes Sir Gawain a hero.

In Beowulf we see a great, powerful hero who sends fear into the hearts of his enemies. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, we see what is in some ways an average man rise up, face his own fear, and fulfill his pledge. On the day that he is to leave for his quest to find the Green Knight, all of Gawain’s comrades silently mourn for him, thinking that that would probably be the last time they laid eyes on their friend. Gawain himself does not seem to believe he will ever return to his lord and friends as can be seen when he says,

“Now, sovereign lord of my life, I ask your leave to go. You know the nature of this affair, and I do not care to speak to you further about the difficulties involved, it would only be a waste of breath; but I am to set out for the return blow tomorrow without fail, to seek the Green Knight, as God shall guide me.” (545-549)

There is a sense of despair in Gawain’s words but he is determined to meet his fate and honor his promise, regardless of the fact that his journey seems to be a suicide mission. This is largely what makes Sir Gawain a more relatable character and the more modern hero. While Beowulf marches towards his fate, somewhat cocky, always appearing to be sure of victory, Gawain rides towards his unknowing of what is to come, but resolute in completing his task.

 “What should I shrink from? What can one do but plumb to the depths that Fate holds in store, painful and pleasant alike?” (563-565)

Other heroic ideals are described in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as Gawain is decorated with his armor before venturing off. The author makes note of the pentangle, which is painted on Gawain’s shield, its five points, and its association with imperfection. It is said that no symbol could finer represent Gawain, a good knight possessing five faultless senses, fingers, and trust in the five wounds which Christ received on the cross. Gawain is shown to be the most well rounded and virtuous of men.

 “The fifth group of five which I find the man displayed was generosity and love of his fellow man above all else, his purity and his courtesy were never at fault, and compassion, which surpasses all other qualities, these five virtues were more firmly attached to that man than to any other.” (651-655)

Gawain’s graceful manner and social skills are further supported when he mingles with the lord and his people who welcome him for their Christmas festivities. The people seem to be in awe of Gawain’s masterly display of manners and conversation.

In Beowulf and Sir Gawain we can see two contrasting heroic ideals. While both are shown to be courageous and prominent men, Beowulf is a warrior and Gawain is a knight. I think that the heroic ideals presented in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are more modern because there are more dimensions to Gawain’s heroic character than there are to Beowulf’s. With Gawain the emphasis is not a colossal man with mammoth strength, but a brave and cultured man, who exceeds others in every aspect. Gawain seems to have great wisdom, strong faith, honesty and courtly manners that others look to learn from while Beowulf is somewhat of an uncouth character, with the bulk of his heroic qualities being attributed to his strength and abilities in the face of danger. Though Beowulf would certainly take Sir Gawain in head-to-head combat, Gawain has a larger arsenal of heroic qualities and is the more modern hero.