Sir Gawain As A Hero Essay
Sir Gawain is a knight of the Round Table. Sir Gawain, in Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte d’Arthur, is one of King Arthur’s most loyal followers. Sir Gawain has many strengths and weaknesses that make him an interesting hero. One strength Sir Gawain displays throughout the tales is his bravery. He enters perilous situations without hesitation even when he knows he may die or be wounded because of it. This trait makes Sir Gawain’s a shining example to all knights that follow in his footsteps after him, for this shows how they should always act according to their honor and not fear death or injury.”
Essay 1
A hero is defined as someone who has outstanding and admirable qualities, especially when others have considered a failure or given up. To put it another way, a hero is someone who performs an incredible act that few individuals would be courageous enough to attempt. Gawain might be regarded as a hero in this poem because of his remarkable displays of tenacity, self-restraint, and humility throughout the poem’s story (Thomas 7).
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Gawain finds himself in dangerous situations that might cost him his life, yet his bold personality keeps him on track to keep his promise. He has his own flaws similar to other heroes, but the exceptional performance and tenacity overshadow them. He is subsequently known throughout the whole city of Camelot, and he exposes hidden facts about the state’s history.
All the knights at the round table are terrified as the immortal Green Knight appears at Arthur’s Christmas party. The challenge’s ultimate reward is unknown, adding to the terror, which is further enhanced by the Green Knight’s pause and whose nature no one knows. None of the knights who are considered to be among history’s mightiest soldiers will take up the challenge, “and none of them dares answer swiftly” (Stone line 437).
To everyone’s surprise, Gawain volunteers to accept the challenge to save Arthur’s face. This clearly displays his courageous nature. When everyone else is scared away, he is ready to take on a huge opponent, even if there is danger ahead: “I beseech you of your grace, give this endeavor to me!” (Alfred & James line 519).
Gawain also demonstrates his courage when he cuts off the Green Knight’s head in a single swipe. He balances his life on a scale, hoping that the Green Knight would perish during this bout.
Nonetheless, he is prepared to keep his word and accept whatever was done to him by the Green Knight at an agreed time and place, “That stroke for counter-stroke with me exchange” (Alfred & James line 582). Gawain is not only unique because of this; it makes him a genuine hero.
Gawain is immediately taken to his chamber by a page. It’s obvious that he’s fortunate enough to find Bertilak, who allows him to stay at the castle while he waits for the fateful meeting with the immortal knight. However, it is at the Bertilak castle where Gawain truly challenges himself. Gawain’s wife, Bertilak’s wife freely gives herself up to him: “Do though in bed abide and take thy ease I pray” (Alfred & James line 1026).
The lady at the end of episode four is a virtuous woman, who does all she can while her husband is away to spend the night with Gawain, which becomes apparent later when it was a planned trap to verify Gawain’s lustful power. Gawain is unaware of the plan but clever enough to escape and demonstrate his mettle by avoiding this woman’s temptations and not betraying his host, who has treated him so well.
Gawain is finally undone by Bertilak’s request for a daily kiss. Gawain wraps himself around and only receives a kiss from the lady every day. When Bertilak suggests they offer each other their daily spoils, he prevents himself from being trapped ahead of him.
Every morning, Gawain gets a kiss from his wife in exchange for all the game meat he brings her: “Whate’er I gain in wood, thine shall be the profit; though what cheer may achieve, halt give me” (Alfred & James line 1058).
What would Gawain have given back had he succumbed to Bertilak’s wife’s sexual enticements? Here, he is recognized as a hero not only for controlling his desire but also for taking the greatest feasible option that saved him from being taken in by Bertilak.
The Green Knight’s ultimate encounter is frightening and chilling. In fact, as Gawain approaches the knight, his guide promises not to disclose the secret if Gawain changes his mind and refuses the previous promise made to the Knight of which Gawain refuses: “whereof , Gawain good, let this person alone” (Alfred & James line 1088).
On the first encounter, Gawain is so terrified until the Knight is forced to back away and ask for more bravery from him. On the second attempt, when the knight tries a hit on him, Gawain does not budge. It is Gawain who urges the knight to carry out his word and keep his promise in a surprising turn of events. It’s fascinating how Gawain has developed confidence in order to face off against the Green Knight and fulfill his vow.
Gawain’s tale is considered a hero narrative in which he is depicted as a man of great bravery and tenacity, who accepts the Knight’s challenge. His journey to the meeting place was made while he was hungry, cold, and desperate. Anyone else might have given up, but Gawain did not waver in his pursuit. Above all, he remained positive that nothing terrible would happen to him and that he would be able to tell the tale in Camelot. It takes a real hero to do what must be done here.
Finally, Gawain meets his prize and takes back the good news. King Arthur is surprised by the revelations from Gawain’s journey and encounter. When Gawain sets out for the encounter he had nothing for his protection, unlike the Knight who seemed to possess supernatural skills.
Since the Green Knight is already dead, Gawain will not be able to challenge him in order to fulfill his promise. As a result, there is a high potential that he may survive the experience and return to Camelot (Greenblatt 2006). The Green Knight had promised to repay whatever difficulty was presented with equal passion, so little was expected of him after he chopped off the Knight’s head because he lacked the ability to send back the head like the previous one.
When Gawain returns, the entire court is taken aback, and he also brings news of King Arthur’s kinsmen. This is unquestionably excellent news for the king, which explains why all of the military knights wear girdles around their wrists in his honor. Though they are unaware of Gawain’s actions that led him to wear the girdle, they readily accept to don it as a sign of respect and gratitude.
Gawain’s rescue from the Grail by the knights, which depicts their heroic concern for his daring spirit to go there, fight, and reveal secrets of the king’s lineage, demonstrates that he qualifies to be a hero for his achievement. He certainly deserves to be praised as a hero for what he has done (Greenblatt 2006).
Everyone is curious as to what Gawain’s next move will be. His ambition and tenacity astonish everyone. Why, for example, should he put his life on the line to preserve King Arthur? He sets out to face the Green Knight with only a vague understanding of him, and yet he remains resolute in his mission until he knows that the conclusion may result in his death.
It is obvious that he is doing this for attention and establishing a name for himself. When he opens up to the Knight and agrees to not have offered everything he took from Bertilak’s wife, he qualifies to be called a hero in society.
Gawain also admits and repents his crime, requesting the Knight’s forgiveness. “Thy plea I beseech” (Alfred & James line 2034). Furthermore, the Knight points out that Gawain values his life more than being honest, suggesting that he is worried about his reputation and the public view of him (Burrow 2005).
Gawain is concerned with the public image, which makes him a hero. Gawain pays attention to his reputation and this is why he repents of his sins and asks forgiveness since he knows the Knight may reveal the same in Camelot.
Gawain is regarded as a hero in this tale since he acknowledges his limitations and tries to make something of himself. Given that only the Green Knight and Gawain were aware of this trap, few people can make such a choice as Gawain’s.
Essay 2
What is it that distinguishes a hero from other men? What’s the line that transforms a mortal man into a legend when crossed? World leaders of today are more like Pilates than Thomas Moris, in terms of real men. “What makes a man a hero?” The definition of an epic hero is clearly stated in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight poem. Gawain faces challenges and difficulties throughout the work, but what precisely sets him apart as an epic hero?
Tests and decisions abound in every man’s life, like as the beats of his heart. But what distinguishes a hero from a man is what he learns from life’s experiences. ” True men can but try,” says Gawain. It informs the reader that whether or not a person fails or succeeds in their life, all comes down to how much they put their full energy into it.
The entire realm of Arthurian England was in danger thanks to Gawain’s stand against the challenge to save King Arthur. Not only did his pride and reputation depend on it, but so did his life. He was the only one among Arthur’s court who stood up.
He had every opportunity to simply sit back and let Arthur have his turn; instead, he demonstrated such vigor and bravery by stepping forward. (King Arthur had to do so because he was the king, and if he didn’t defend his court, he would be dishonored.)
Gawain was forced to make difficult decisions as the poem kept urging him on. Gawain could have just left Camelot and avoided completing his quest to find the Green Knight. He knew he’d be decapitated when he arrived, but as a man of his word, he went forward. When he approached the mysterious castle for the third time, the queen put him through three more examinations. Though he did not pass the last test by keeping the green girdle, who wouldn’t?
When Gawain exposes his neck to the Green Knight’s ax, he truly exemplifies bravery. The Green Knight is aware that Gawain has the green girdle, so he decides to play with him for a while. However, he knew that Gawain wasn’t a coward; rather, he was human.
Essay 3
Since the dawn of history, there have always been people who personified the ideal superhero. It’s not difficult to argue that every generation since the Old Testament has produced someone who was elevated to that level. There are real-life examples of Jesus, Joan of Arc, and Saint Augustine of Hippo as heroes.
The heroes in this category include the legendary Achilles, the chivalrous Sir Gawain, and King Arthur, all of whom have been enshrined in history through literature.
This list may also be divided into spiritual heroes and heroes whose accomplishments on the battlefield or during life-threatening quests make them contemporary. Saint Augustine and Sir Gawain are two of the most prominent figures in Western literature who represent those two categories.
However, the time gap between their debut (1,000 years) raises the question: Do people have preconceived notions about what constitutes a hero? Do these ideas persist from generation to generation? This essay will look for an answer to these questions in comparing Sir Gawain and the Green Knight with Saint Augustine’s Confessions.
To see whether the Confessions and Green Knight have a pattern of continuity, it’s necessary to establish the characteristics and qualities of a typical, western civilization hero. Piety is essential for a hero. He must follow the commands of God and comply with his or her principles.
Second, a hero must be willing to sacrifice, either in the interest of pleasing the gods or for something he values (time, a loved one, his own life, etc.). Thirdly, he must have hamartia or a fatal flaw. Because he must overcome it in order to achieve his objective, a true hero is formed via this tragic flaw. Excellent work! Furthermore, because he is imperfect, his mortality is made all the more evident.
Essay 4
A romantic hero is unusual yet meets all of the requirements for being considered a hero. This hero might have been shunned by society or have defied social norms. A romantic hero, like other forms of heroes, is frequently on a quest to achieve a specific aim. The protagonist, Sir Gawain, in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight shows all of the qualities of a romantic hero through his personality traits, background, and general attitude.
Sir Gawain is the youngest of King Arthur’s warriors. He is not the most conventional of heroes, which makes him a romantic hero. He states that he is the weakest and dullest-minded of your knights, so his death would be the least loss if truth be told; only because you are my uncle am I to be praised for this (Raffel 354 – 357). Because he thinks his self-worth is lower than that of King Arthur, when the Green Knight challenged the king, Sir Gawain stepped forward boldly.
After learning that the king and kingdom were in need of assistance, he was ready to fight for them. Gawain surmised that the man who possesses all excellence and valor, whose exquisite behavior is praised everywhere, is a human being (Raffel 912). He thinks that people should be loyal to one another and have a polite demeanor. Nonetheless, Gawain remains a human being with his own set of flaws; his personality ultimately leads him to selfishness.
Essay 5
Heroes are the subjects of many tales in today’s culture, with many individuals praising and loving stories about a hero saving the day and always doing the right thing. Certain stories, such as Sir Gawain and Beowulf, reflect certain characteristics of these so-called heroes. He is a knight of King Arthur’s famous court in Sir Gawain’s story, where he accepts the duty to defend his king by going on wild and hazardous adventures (Bulfinch). He botches his mission by attempting to save his own life, but Arthur pardons him.
Beowulf is the masculine figure we all envision. In his narrative, a monster named Grendel is attacking and murdering his people. He takes up the responsibility of defending those he cares about and goes to face and destroy Grendel in order to save them.
While Sir Gawain appears to be a flawless hero and knight, Beowulf is a better true hero since he gives his life for others and sacrifices it for what is moral and right, whereas Sir Gawain merely follows the norms for his own gain.
Beowulf becomes increasingly concerned after discovering that people are being murdered every night by this strange creature. He understands that Grendel is an untamed beast who must be stopped and devotes all of his efforts to doing so. He recognizes that Grendel is a merciless killer who enjoys causing suffering, thus he must be stopped.
Beowulf is an excellent illustration of a hero regardless of when he lives. Beowulf is still looked upon as a magnificent hero today, and if he were alive today, he would be seen as a significant and influential figure.
Essay 6
During the Middle Ages, both “Beowulf” and “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” two epic tales that were recited to the general public, were written down. Each narrative concerned a great warrior who set out on a long trip in order to confront or conquer someone or something. To protect those he loved, Beowulf slew a monster with his bare hands and his mother. Beowulf became king over time, and a dragon began to stir as years passed.
Beowulf fights the dragon with a sword and one loyal companion, and his life comes to an end. The dragons’ lives also come to an end in this narrative poem. You may observe that good overpowering evil is the theme of this epic poem, but it does so at a cost. Along with “Beowulf,” “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” was another famous poem. This ballad tells about Sir Gawain, a squire who prefers to play a game proposed by the Green Knight rather than his uncle, King Arthur.
Sir Gawain took up the game because he thought King Arthur’s life was more important than his own, and that King Arthur should not put himself in danger. As a result, because of his devotion and bravery, Sir Gawain became a knight. Both Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are courageous; both desire to safeguard people; and both include supernatural beings in their stories.
Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain have bravery in their legends. When Beowulf chooses to face Grendel unarmed and unprotected, he demonstrates his courage. “Grant me, Lord and protector of this great hall, a song request! I have come so far, oh shelterer of warriors and our people’s loved friend.”
Both of these poems focus on two distinct tales and many diverse characters, but this does not make the individuals any more distinct. Beowulf and Sir Gawain demonstrated their bravery by battling a monster or engaging in a deadly game, as illustrated in these stanzas.
Both heroes were willing to put their lives on the line in order to help and save those they care about, as shown by what they did. Despite the different roads traveled and people encountered by Beowulf and Sir Gawain, both characters have bravery, a desire to rescue those they love, and overcoming the supernatural talents that distinguish them as epic heroes.