Beowulf and Sir Gawain – Real Heroes Heroes come in many forms. The construction of the "heroic" has taken many forms, but traits such as courage, honor, and loyalty reappear as themes throughout the "hero" personality. The characters of Beowulf and Sir Gawain each represent a version of a hero, but each shows up quite differently in their story. It can be said that a hero truly wins if he remains constant in his noble values when faced with any situation that comes his way. When measured by this criterion, Sir Gawain stands out from Beowulf as a true hero, due to his mastery of both personal and spiritual power through the use of thought, as well as valorous deeds. The character Beowulf is a hero to the ancient Danes because of his actions. He is constantly cited as a "war chief" and a "giver of gold" (61). Beowulf achieved fame thanks to what he did with his own hands. His identity as a leader is based on Danish society's emphasis on personal action, as opposed to delegating responsibility through conscious thought. It is precisely this sense that drives Beowulf to fight the dragon: "In my youth I engaged in many wars. Old guardian of the people, I will seek battle again, I will perform a deed of fame, if the wicked come to me." ..." (59). Beowulf draws his power from a strong connection to the past. Without his history of glorious deeds, he would be deprived of the very power that qualifies him as a good king. Beowulf's courage never fails challenged, he faces every challenge head on, with deadly focus. The society that labels Beowulf as a legendary hero, recognizes his actions and courage as integral to his definition of a hero ... middle of the card... or a chivalrous knight embodies the battle of the righteous self against corruption Gawain's strength comes from discovering his own flaws Beowulf's ideals regarding honor and nobility exist only in the context of his society. Remove him from other people and his life would be meaningless. This is Beowulf's real flaw, which the character of Gawain, at the end of his story, comes to realize every moment to the personality of the chivalrous Knight. The battlefield becomes the mind, which is separated from the realm of reality. Beowulf does not have the ability to win without the recognition of his fellow warriors. All kinds of battles are fought in the mind. The true winner is the person who can learn from that struggle and who is able to apply that knowledge in both solitary and social contexts..
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