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Madeline Bell

Ms. Winter

British Lit/ period 1

21 October 2016

Heroes Through the Ages

NA NA NA NA..BATMAN! Now that you are listening we shall discuss heroes back in

the anglo saxon period and middle ages, not the overplayed heroes in our comics, this is about

true heroes with human qualities and faults. Two key heroes come to mind from each of these

time periods, Beowulf and Sir Gawain. In the epic poem Beowulf, the charm, super strong, and

boastful undefeated hero faces more than he hopes in his battles. The other hero is Sir Gawain

from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the reader sees the difference that a few ages makes on

some of the morals upheld by the heroes, in this case the knight. Sir Gawain is humble, human

level strong (change to: strength of a mortal or use different wording), and chivalrous in the

poem. A reader can see that the time periods both embody heroes but they put their own spin on

the characteristics and morals as they battle enemies and compadres.

Beowulf is from the Anglo Saxon time period which takes during the viking invasion era

through Denmark and Sweden. These invasions made fighting and battles second nature to the

brutal warriors. In battle Beowulf is eye for eye and engages in fights that he gets rewards in

return for his services. Beowulf passes the treasures he earns, I sold my life for this treasure,

and I sold it well (Beowulf 806-807). Beowulf risks his life coming to the danes rescue battling

Grendel and his mother, dying a tragic hero. Beowulf was born a fighter and always kills his

enemies on equal terms with weaponry.

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The Anglo Saxon time period brought a crude awakening to women and everyday life.

Women were always seen and not heard for the most part, unless they were married to higher

class such as kings. Men stayed in the mead halls and drank until they passed out, which could

be a reason why the danes were terrorized by Grendel, he saw their weakness. Although the men

were usually drunk they still fought well and when they fought they always followed their wyrd.

Wyrd refers to the fate of a fighter and person, this has a major impact on the ways Beowulf

fought in battle. It was always proper to fight equally with weapons. This may sound pleasant

and grand but no matter what way this era is viewed it is easily said that the warrior of the

medieval time fought for blood and wanted to reap the benefits of any rewards.

Whereas Sir Gawain is a trained knight who has morals on and off the battlefield. When

presented with a challenge Gawain valiantly steps up. The green knight sends Gawain on an

adventure filled with tests that only a human can fall for, [Gawain] puts his spurs to Gringolet,

plunged down the path (Sir Gawain 1) Gawain holds honor to his name while he fights but

when it comes to luck he relies on selfishness to get him through the battle. As all men do

Gawain lets a woman decide his fate when the Green Knight speaks, I know too, of your kisses

And all your words and my wifes advances, for I myself arranged them (Sir Gawain 201-202).

This is all apart of the quest and the test that the Green Knight gives to our Knight.

Sir Gawain comes from the Middle Ages, with this time period many brave and valiant

knights arose to fight under the royal classes. Along with that men treated women better, often

times they married for stability or status and found love outside marriage. This was normal so it

wasnt frowned upon, The men in this time wanted women around and actually needed them. To
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be a knight in this men needed to follow a code of conduct or a knights code. This included the

qualifications needed to be a knight, how men should treat people, and how to act. It is easy to

see that the men of this time fought for honor and for whats right.

In all great stories the hero is the one who fight for glory, honor, safety of people, and

duty of fighting fairly. Heroes come in all forms throughout history. Both men reflected are

heroic in their own ways and show the differences in beliefs in battle, women, and life. Both

Beowulf and Sir Gawain show honor on and off the battlefield in their own morals and ways.