Heroism In Brit Lit

Heroism in Beowulf and Gawain and the Green Knight

Heroism can be viewed in many different ways. African-Americans viewed the late Rosa Parks as a heroine for not giving up her seat on the bus that day. George W. Bush is viewed as a hero by some Iraqis and is considered the problem by others for the war and displacement of Saddam Hussein. The way person/persons are viewed in hero status depends on the person themselves and on who is doing the viewing. The situation also must be taken into account to truly decide on wither or not a person can be viewed as a hero/heroine. Growing up your dad may have been your hero or possibly a famous athlete on TV. In literature we have viewed heroes as the man who rescues the damsel in distress or who slays the fire-breathing dragon. In British literature there are a fair number of heroes, from Beowulf to Sir Gawain.

In Beowulf King Hrothgar of Denmark is enjoying a prosperous and successful reign. He is living happily until a monster named Grendal comes and terrorizes his kingdom. Grendal wreaks havoc on the Danes killing them nightly and besting all efforts to defeat him. This happens for many years. A young Geatish warrior named Beowulf hears of the situation of King Hrothgar and is intrigued by the situation. He travels with a small troop of men to Denmark to kill the beast. Beowulf immediately embodies the mantra of a hero. The Danes had been in this predicament for years yet no one had come to their rescue until Beowulf. Once Beowulf arrives in Denmark he is criticized by some as being unworthy to the reputation that precedes him. He counters these accusations by recounting stories of his accomplishments. A hero is usually prideful and does not take well to criticism and Beowulf exemplifies this right off the bat. Grendal appears later in the night to start his usual terror, but this time Beowulf is waiting. He attacks the monster unarmed and scares the monster. Grendal tries to flee but Beowulf tears his arm off in the process. The monster scurries away and dies at his lair and Beowulf is regarded as the hero we now know him as.

Beowulf places the arm of Grendal on the wall as a trophy of war; as most heroes would to the same. This would prove to bring more pain to the kingdom of Heorot. Grendal's mother who lives in a nearby swamp seeks to revenge Grendal's death. She does so by killing on of King Hrothgar's chief advisors. Beowulf charges in displaying his heroism. He fights Grendal's mother in the lake and kills her with a sword that had been forged for a giant. In using a sword much larger then himself Beowulf's hero status is upgraded. A normal man would never be bale to use a sword fitted for a giant. Beowulf also acts as the arrogant man he is when he sees the corpse of Grendal at the lake of his mother. He takes and cuts off the head and brings it back as another trophy of his battle. Beowulf is given the prototypical hero's welcome and is showered with a feast and gifts as he returns to Heorot. Beowulf goes onto to become King of the Geats once returning to his own land. His story is one that is told the world over. He proves his hero worth once more as an aged King. A dragon threatens his kingdom and he goes to slay the beast himself. He is successful in doing so but is also mortally wounded in the fight. Beowulf dies a noble death and is given the burial of a hero and is honored way past his death.

Beowulf is your typical hero of the middle Ages. He slays the beasts that were threatening his kingdom and is revered greatly for it. He becomes a King and rules in power for the duration of his life. He was viewed as a hero in everyone's eyes. Beowulf was viewed as a hero for most of his life. He was a hero as a young man for defeating he beasts that reeking havoc on kingdoms. He was a hero as an old man for being a good and reliable king.

Gawain of Gawain and the Green