Heroism in Old English Epic Poem:beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

What is hero? If we go for a simple dictionary definition its “A person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.”. Beowulf and Sir Gawain, in their respective epic poems, exemplifies heroism. While on the other hand Grendel’s mother and the Green Knight would not be given the same titles. Their stories are written as the villians who the hero must overcome to achieve their hero status. But that's only at face value. Grendel’s mom and the Green Knight depict heroism in their own way, challenging the nature of what it takes to be considered a hero.

Beowulf is the epitome of an epic hero:slaying Grendel and Grendel’s mother and sacrificing his life to slay the dragon that threatens his kingdom. When Beowulf is first introduced, right of the bat, he’s described as someone capable of being an epic hero, “he was the mightiest man on earth, high-born and powerful...whilst he moved about like the leader he was” (196-206). Beowulf is going to another Kingdom, on his own free will, to create an identity for himself as a mighty warrior. Beowulf does not make anything easy for himself, "To heighten Hygelac's fame and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield….hand-to-hand is how it will be” (433-440). With barely no armor on he's able to defeat Grendel, Grendel’s mother and a dragon, proving his bravery, fearlessness, and his the trust in his own ability to get the job done. Beowulf finally proof of him being a hero is his death. When Beowulf died a warrior's death, the way people treated Beowulf after death verified the heroism he earned throughout the poem, “so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf's Barrow, as they steer ships across the wide and shrouded waters...considering that his pyre is supposed to be "the hugest of all / funeral fires" (2802-2808,(3143-3144)). Beowulf is the hero. When people think of heroes in literature, he's one of the first people think about. Beowulf is the textbook definition of what is traditional hero is supposed to be.

While Beowulf is seen as the textbook definition of a hero, Grendel’s mom is seen as the textbook version of a antagonist. She is described as a hideous monster who is a descended from Cain, coming to disrupt the hero's lives. Her intentions are made clear from the beginning, she wants to avenge her son Grendel death,”now his mother had sallied forth on a savage journey, grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge.” That in itself should be consider an heroic act. Grendel's mother is simply a mother who is avenging her son, who was brutally killed. The whole poem has examples of warriors avenging peoples death, from the deaths Grendel caused to Beowulf avenging King Hygel death. Beowulf himself avenged Aeschere and talks about it is better to avenge then sit in self-pity“ Wise sir, do not grieve.