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The Theme Courtly Love in Beowulf, The Romance Tristan, Troilus Criseyde, Sir Gawain the Green Knight
tales where women held the upper hand and men fought gallantly for the privilege of female companionship. The extent to which the patriarchal pattern was all but abandoned in
a feast and demands that someone prove how wonderful King Arthurs knights truly are. Sir Gawain, not wanting to risk the life or person of the king takes the challenge.
has no truly light moments for it is a warriors tale. The following paper examines the presence and lack of lightheartedness in the stories. Beowulf and Gawain and
the "somber grandeur of Beowulf is still capable of stirring the hearts of readers" (31). Although the poem is English in its language and origin, the characters in the
to serve himself. Beowulf seeks fame, glory, treasure, and the immortality of a death in combat to secure his legacy. The Anglo-Saxon poem "Beowulf," which is believed to
in defending his people. It is a story that has its origins in pagan culture, but it was recorded by a Christian scribe (Saupe 97). Therefore there are "overlays" that
pagan elements. The world pictured in Beowulf is dominated by warriors, men who placed their faith primarily in two things -- their leader (their "thane") and in "wyrd" (a
bravery and loyalty in Anglo-Saxon culture, will become the primary focus of the entire work. To understand the mechanism of this change, it is first necessary to understand the role
"Hrothgar O sovran Hrothgar, to seek thee here" possessed of his "nerve and...might" (VI). He tells Hrothgar that he will do whatever is necessary even if "if death must take
also showing caution, at least at first, concerning Beowulf. The first excerpt to be examined shows Hrothgar speaking to Beowulf: "For fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf, to succor and save,
offers a rather broader depiction of the society of his time: society has become more diverse, since Chaucers pilgrims represent numerous different lifestyles and degrees of social standing. The warrior
chronicle their initial assessment of one another. The Queen also has her say on the matter. Historically speaking, what these sections serve to do is show the importance of
through numerous means, especially contrast and comparions. Grendel is shown to be totally without honor and is wild. "Grendel, who haunted the moors, the wild marshes, and made his
was the devil incarnate: "At the dawning, as day was breaking, / the might of Grendel to men was known; / then after wassail was wail uplifted, /
is strongly influenced by "nostalgic feelings," or ideologies that seek to link local regional literature with high culture that immortalizes the value systems that were in place during a particular