Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Comparison

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A hero is a person, who is admired for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. A character cannot be considered a hero unless they overcome some form of opposition. For Sir Gawain this opposition comes in the form of the Green Knight who challenges him. For Lanval this opposition is in the form of his trial. While both types of heroes have some similarities they are also very different. The similarities include, being the main protagonist and having a quest or an obstacle they must overcome. Romance heroes are not as traditional as the epic hero. Many Romantic heroes have been turned away by society, their family, or their friends because of how they live their lives or because of things they have done. In most stories, romance …show more content…

Epic heroes most often possess seven main qualities or characteristics which include: a noble birth, capable of deeds of great strength and courage, great warrior, travels over a vast setting, humility, and he/she faces supernatural foes and/or receives supernatural help. According to Jill Mann, “The romance hero, is 'like a man fighting ghosts in a mist ... he is involved in a mystery; he is on a quest but does not know what he has to look for; he is engaged in a struggle but does not know who his adversary is.' The mysteriousness of the romance world means that even when the romance hero has a specific aim in view, he is denied understanding both of the mechanics of his adventure and of its …show more content…

It also mentions his noble birth, which is a characteristic of an epic hero, since he is King Arthur’s nephew. The main part of his journey is when he stumbles upon a castle in the wilderness while searching for the Green Chapel. During his stay is when Gawain makes his mistake. The lord and Sir Gawain make an agreement, while Gawain stays at the castle the lord will hunt, and at the end of the day the men will exchange what they have gained. On the third day during the exchange he does not mention receiving the belt which will protect his life. When Sir Gawain finally faces The Green Knight, he never beheads him. The Green Knight reveals that he was the lord of the castle and that the first two missed blows were for the first two days of their agreement, when Gawain held up his end of the bargain and repaid him his wife's kisses. The third blow, in which Gawain received a small cut was for accepting the belt and not sharing it. Gawain acknowledges his fault and wears the belt as a consequence of his

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