Beowulf Vs. Sir Gawain

“My body, but for your blood, is barren of worth; And tis I have asked for this folly not fit

for a King.” These are the words of a true hero. One who is willing to sacrifice his own

existence for the life of another. These are the words and actions of Sir Gawain, a

character from the beloved British tale, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Beowulf,

another character from an ancient British epic entitled, Beowulf, is also portrayed as a

“hero.” But Beowulf’s heroism factor does not even compare to Sir Gawain’s. The

difference between Beowulf and Sir Gawain, is that Sir Gawain is a real hero, and

Beowulf just thinks he is.

The two heroes can be compared in many ways. A major comparison would be

their physical characteristics. Beowulf is “mighty, the strongest man ever.” Sir Gawain is

“honorable, a brave and true knight.” Beowulf only happens to be strong on the outside.

But Sir Gawain, along with his muscular build, contains a strong and stable heart.

Sir Gawain and Beowulf’s morals and values can not be compared so easily,

though. The two heroes’ ethics contrast each other greatly. Beowulf seems to have little

morals that he lives by. His pride in himself and loyalty to his country are surely

characteristics of a hero, but it seems throughout the whole epic poem he boasts about

how wonderful he is, which was one of the main reasons I did not like him. Sir Gawain

never shows a sign of arrogance, only selflessness, honesty, and his loyalty to the code of

Chivalry. Beowulf almost seems barbaric, going out to conquer the monster so he can add

to his list of over-exaggerated achievements. Sir Gawain sticks to his word, and seeks out

the Green Knight