Herois Tradition Throughout British Literature Essay Research

Herois Tradition Throughout British Literature Essay, Research Paper

Throughout British Literature, there are many instances of heroism. To be considered a hero by others in the time period of 449 to 1625, you must be, “noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose: especially, one who has risked or sacrificed his life” (Morris 618). Four characters in British Literature that portray heroic traits are Beowulf, Sir Gawain, Macbeth, and the Knight of The Canterbury Tales. Beowulf shows himself worthy of the title of being a hero when he leaves his country to help a neighboring country, Denmark and rid them of the long lasting fear of a malicious monster known as Grendel. Sir Gawain is considered a hero by many because of his loyalty to King Arthur. He even risks his life so that King Arthur would live and participates in the Green Knights challenge. Although Macbeth has got a few more faults than other heroes have in British Literature, his name is still synonymous with “hero”. Aristotle says “the tragic hero has to fall from grace … after being on top” (Chui 1). Before the three witches tell Macbeth the false prophecies, Macbeth is in held is high accord, yet afterwards, his ambition tears him down and he does anything it takes gain the role of King. The Knight, from The Canterbury Tales, excels beyond all others when it comes to being a hero. He is the most loyal and is admired by the other characters for his courage, bravery in battle and his exploits in war. He is on a religious pilgrimage not to make money or any other avaricious deed that the other characters are on the pilgrimage for, he is on the pilgrimage to worship God, which is also honored by his peers as being heroic. All four characters mentioned have heroic traits and they all are considered heroes. Although they might gain their title in different ways and for the wrong reasons, they are truly heroes. In British Literature, many stories have been influenced by the heroic traditions of their time period. The characters, although in different stories, all portray the heroic tradition in British Literature.

The character Beowulf, “a man of great strength and bravery” (Magill 388), is a hero in the way he defends his neighboring country, Denmark. When the word that a hostile creature, known as Grendel, was killing tons in Denmark, Beowulf set sail to help defend the people and rid them of the hideous monster. When he arrives, he is taken to Hrothgar, King of Denmark, and presents his proposal of assisting them in killing the monster. Hrothgar agrees and they feast in honor of the deed Beowulf has proposed the do. Beowulf, with neither sword nor shield, destroys Grendel. He goes without using these tools to exaggerate to others how great of a hero he is. The next night Grendel’s mother terrorizes the kingdom and forces Beowulf to also kill her. He swims to the bottom of her home in the marsh and destroys her with a magical sword hung on the wall. Many people now look up to him. Many years later, he is called back to battle yet again, although this time is his last. He has to kill a dragon that is terrorizing his kingdom. After killing the dragon, his warriors discover treasures form the dragon’s home but his people have him in such high regards, they bury him with the gold. Although Beowulf does his many heroic deeds for the reason of fame and glory, he is overall a hero because he does do them and his people are safe from any harm.

Sir Gawain is also a major heroic role in British Literature. He “begins his rise to greatness when, he takes a challenge given by an ominous figure known as the Green Knight”(Sera 1). Sir Gawain is at King Arthur’s hall dining when the Green Knight approaches and presents a challenge. The challenge consists of any one in the dining hall chopping of the Green Knights head only then to return in one year for the Green Knight to do the same upon the first player. When none of King Arthur’s men agree to participate, King Arthur, himself, agrees. Only then does Sir Gawain’s character get revealed. Sir Gawain stands up and “asks Arthur to allow him to take the challenge” (Sera 2). Sir Gawain does not allow his king to take the challenge because of his chivalry and knighthood. He does not think it is right for King Arthur to have to do it and he goes through with the challenge although he really does not want to.

“His takening of the challenge is seen as a deed of selflessness and not one of pride. This combined with fact that none of the other knights are willing to take the challenge causes Gawain to be seen as the greatest of all knights”( Sera 2).

After he swings his blade at the Green Knight, the knight merely picks up his head and reminds him of the bargain and that he must show up in one year. When it is time for Gawain to face his destiny he “travels on horseback in his armor and never turns back. This, in itself, [shows] his perseverance and dedication”(Sera 2).

“The character of Macbeth is a classic example of a Shakespearean tragic hero”(Macbeth- tragic hero 1). Macbeth’s personality is one of much ambition, “which drove his desire to be king” (Macbeth-tragic hero 1). Other than his faulty ambition, Macbeth is “a noble man, a man admired by all who knew him – and destroy him,

not only physically and emotionally … but also morally and intellectually” (Scott 276). Through Macbeth’s downfall, he “degenerates from a noble man to a v