Beowulf and Gawain

Beowulf and Gawain

Beowulf and Sir Gawain: Two Heroes for Two Times
The works of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight offer insights into their respective cultures through the actions of their champions; for instance while the two heroes treat women differently, and agree that cowardice makes a man unworthy, but not on what traits make him worthy, and while each undergo many tests meant of their worthiness, but the nature of the tests are different.
Beowulf is the single surviving work of its genre, in which the hero is imbued with super-human strength, and tested three times. The number three is significant in Anglo-Saxon culture, and associated with all things mystical. It introduces the ideals of courage, and strength, as those things which all great warriors should posses.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was written during the alliterative revival. Gawain is offered a chance to take one swing at the Green Knight, in return for his promise that he will allow the Green Knight to reciprocate in exactly one year and a day. His honor and courage are tested three times. This work introduces a hero that is heroic not only for his physical prowess but also for his mental and moral fortitude.
The characters’ treatment and opinion of women are different, but not radically so. Beowulf believes that women should be hospitable homemakers. He praises the women such as Wealhtheow “A noble woman who knew what was right” (Beowulf line 214), and Hygd, both benevolent queens. And uses women such as Grendel’s mother, and Modthryth (an evil queen contrasted with Hygd) to reinforce the idea that women should be led by men. However Gawain treats women with nothing but utmost respect and reverence. The Virgin Mary appears on the inside of his shield, and throughout the poem he prays to her. Even when he is being tested by Lady Bertilak he is painstakingly courteous as to avoid offending her, as shown by him saying “To offend like a boor/ Was bad enough; to fall into sin/ Would be...