Beowulf And Sir Gawain Analysis

From epic battles to dodging women, Beowulf and Sir Gawain are classic stories that many people enjoy. Both stories are about men and their quests with their own intentions. One with the intent to help a family friend and the other for the sake of adventures and games. While both men have different personalities and character development, they are similar in their nobility, intelligence, and social status. One of the major differences between Beowulf and Gawain is their personalities. Beowulf is very arrogant in “Beowulf”. So arrogant, that he “renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield” so he could fight “hand-to-hand” with the demon Grendel (“Beowulf” lines 436-438). This shows that Beowulf was so arrogant that he fought a demon
As the story progresses in “Beowulf”, Beowulf eventually becomes a well-known king and warrior. This shows that he develops into more than a warrior who goes around killing demons and dragons, he becomes a leader who is loved by his people. While he develops a great sense of leadership, he still had not grown out of his arrogance. Mirroring his encounter with Grendel’s mother, as an old man Beowulf sets out to kill the dragon terrorizing his land by himself telling his men to “stay safe in your armor” and watch while he is fighting with the dragon (“Beowulf” line 2530). This shows that while he had become a great leader, he still acts on his hubris tendencies. Gawain shows his character development when he decides to continue the girdle he kept hidden during his game with his host to exchange any winnings that they have earned. He continued to wear the girdle not for a fashion statement, but as a “sign of [his] sin” for valuing his life more than truthfulness (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” line 2433). This shows that Gawain grows as a person and learns from his mistakes rather than brush them under the rug and move on with his