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Kate Curless
Ms. Winter
British Literature, period 2
26 October 2015
Heroes: Good vs. Evil
The world is full of heroes. These heroes can vary in certain ways, but they usually tend
to be brave, handsome, and strong. Geoffry Chaucer, the author of the poem Beowulf, and the
anonymous author who wrote the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight both have unique hero
archetypes within their respected texts, and similarities and differences can be seen in both,
which reflect the different time periods. Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tell
the tale of a great hero who goes off to fight against an evil force for the sake of a friend or
superior. The biggest characteristic that is seen within these two tales is how the hero fights
against an evil force, and how this certain characteristic might be affected by the cultural time
period.
Beowulf is a perfect epic hero archetype because he fights against an evil force. Not only
does Beowulf fit the other characteristics of an epic hero, such as being glorified and being very
ethical, he is also obviously the good man fighting against an undeniable evil. Beowulf fights
and defeats many monsters; one of the most notable monsters Beowulf fights is Grendel, who is
a powerful monster, living down/ In the darkness (Beowulf 1-2). Grendel is obviously evil and
is stated numerous times to be so, which makes Beowulf an even greater hero as he is the only
one who could defeat such an evil as Grendel after so many other heroes had tried: how many
times have [Hrothgars] men, glowing/ With courage drawn from too many cups/ Of ale, sworn
to stay after dark/ And stem that horror with a sweep of their swords./ And then, in the morning,

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[Heorot] glittering/ With new light would be drenched in blood (Beowulf 214-219). Arguably,
the most evil monster that Beowulf faces against is the great dragon, an obvious reference to the
Devil, who is regarded by many as the epitome of evil. The dragon is described as very snakelike: the dragon/ Coiled and uncoiled, its heart urging it/ Into battle (Beowulf 710-712). In the
Bible, it was a serpent that tempted Eve into eating an apple from the apple tree she was told not
to eat from, and the dragon is described as very serpentine. In a poem that has Christian
influences, this reference cannot be taken lightly. As he is able to defeat the dragon even though
that famous prince/ Fought with fate against him, with glory/ Denied him (Beowulf 723-725),
Beowulf is now regarded by the reader as the hero that can defeat the epitome of evil itself.
Because they were a strong, more nomadic tribe of people, the Anglo-Saxons valued
loyalty, honesty, and integrity. Beowulf exhibits great loyalty when he comes to help Hrothgars
kingdom and Hrothgar says Beowulf, youve come to us in friendship, and because/ Of the
reception your father found at our court (Beowulf 191-192). Beowulfs loyalty is proven when
he is willing to die in order to help a friend. Along with loyalty, Beowulf proves himself to have
great honesty when he swears to fight Grendel with only his hands, for [Beowulfs lord] Higlac/
Might think less of [him] if [he] let [his] sword/ Go where [his] feet were afraid to, if [he] hid/
Behind some broad linden shield; [Beowulfs] hands/ Alone shall fight for [him] (Beowulf 169173). Knowing that it would not be a fair fight should he have a sword, Beowulf chooses to fight
honestly and exhibits true honesty and strength, which is something else that the Anglo-Saxons
highly treasured. Lastly, Beowulf proves that he is also a character of integrity as he stays with
his friend Brecca while they swim the sea together and [Beowulf] had chosen to remain close to
his side (Beowulf 276). Even though Beowulf could have easily won the competition between
him and Brecca, he chose to stay close to his friend, even if it meant losing the bet between them.

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Beowulf, by embracing these traits, is able to become a great hero, even moments before his
death before his soul/ Left his flesh, [and] flew to glory (Beowulf 827-828).
Even though Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was written in the late fourteenth century,
hundreds of years after Beowulf was written, the hero Sir Gawain also faces against an evil force;
however, it can be argued that the evil force Sir Gawain faces is within himself. Though the
Green Knight can be viewed as the evil character, the green knight also has some redeeming
features. The Green Knight consider[s] [Gawain] polished as white and as perfectly clean/ As if
[he] had never fallen(Sir Gawain 234-235) after Sir Gawain returns the sash; the Green Knight
even pardons Sir Gawain for stealing his green sash; yet Sir Gawain is not as pure as he may
appear. Though Sir Gawain is willing to die for his king, which is seen when Gawain accepts
the challenge--no other knight except Arthur himself has dared to, and Gawain refuses to let the
king give up his life (Sir Gawain background), Sir Gawain also steals the Green Knights sash.
Though he knew that he should have given it to the Green Knight, he kept it for himself so that
he would have an unfair advantage against the Green Knight in their final battle. Along with
stealing the sash, Sir Gawain accepts numerous kisses from the Green Knights young, beautiful
wife: [Sir Gawain] kissed [the Green Knights] pretty wife twice (Sir Gawain 192). In a time
of chivalry and integrity among knights, kissing a married woman should be highly frowned
upon, yet Sir Gawain is not condemned for these actions. Both of the two main characters, Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight, have faults and redeeming features. Sir Gawain did steal the sash,
though he knew not to do so, yet he also redeemed himself by returning it. The green knight gave
Sir Gawain shelter and also spared his life, but he also heavily mocked Sir Gawain for flinching.
This mixture of good and evil within the characters is a noticeable trait within romantic tales.

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The medieval age was the time of romanticism and the common man, and both of these
are seen in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. During the medieval era, literature took a darker,
more realistic turn and started incorporating romantic writing. Romantic writing is generally
styled as more emotional and intricate than the straightforward good-and-evil in works such as
Beowulf. This idea of a more complex character is what most likely lead to the complexity of Sir
Gawain. Though Sir Gawain is supposed to be a kind and chivalrous knight, he steals the Green
Knights sash, even though he knew not to and leaves the castle with the green sash wrapped
around his armor (Sir Gawain background). Along with having less strict lines between good
and evil, medieval writing was centered more towards the common man. The idea of a knight
that could be corrupted and feel remorse took that epitome of knighthood and brought it to the
common man level: cursed be cowardice and covetousness both,/ Villainy and vice that destroy
all virtue (215-216). Though it was the time of the common man, it was also a time of
knighthood, and with that came the rules of being a knight. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,
there is a side of knighthood that would most likely not have been seen during the medieval ages.
Throughout history, the idea of the hero has changed, yet the fight between good and evil
continues. From the epic hero in Beowulf, to the to the romantic hero of Sir Gawain and the
Green Knight, to the more anti-hero that seems to be popular today. The hero has stayed and
weathered through time, with a few differences found along the way. These numerous different
archetypes do stand to prove something very important; anyone can be a hero.

Works Cited
Beowulf. Trans. Burton Raffel. Literature of Britain with World Classics. Ed. Richard
Sime et al. Sixth Course ed. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2000. 21-46. Print.

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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Trans. John Gardner. Literature of Britain with World
Classics. Ed. Richard Sime et al. Sixth Course ed. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston,
2000. 159-65. Print.