Home > Q&A by Experts > Literature >
Q

What Are Three Characteristics of Sir Gawain That Make Him an Ideal Hero?

A

The main character of the Arthurian poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a worthy knight. He lives by the code of Chivalry. He made a mistake on his path; he managed to admit it and repent, remaining an honest, brave man.

Detailed answer:

The poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the best works of Middle English romance. It tells the reader the story of the Arthurian Knight named Sir Gawain. He accepted the terrible challenge from the mysterious Green Knight. Throughout events, Gawain experiences great suffering and overcomes obstacles.

The poem depicts Sir Gawain as a perfect hero who possesses enough courage to accept the challenge. He made it until the end. Throughout the journey, he suffers from hunger and cold. He is tempted by the wife of the man who offered him shelter. He is brave enough even to go on this adventure, knowing that he will die.

The second heroic trait that Sir Gawain has is loyalty. He lives by the chivalry code, which dictates him to be the man of honor. He steps in when King Arthur is challenged by the mysterious stranger. Sir Gawain takes the place as a worthy knight. His loyalty to Chivalry is admirable and deserves recognition as much as the knight himself. The last heroic attribute of Sir Gawain is his trustworthiness. When the wife of the castle’s host tries to seduce him, he does not give in to the temptation.

Sir Gawain is shown by the author as a brave, trustworthy, and loyal man. He knows his duty. He does not hesitate before the challenge, and is able to fight temptation on his way to his purpose. Sir Gawain made a mistake, he demonstrated his strong will and the ability to change. After all, he is a true hero of his time.

Answer's rating:
Updated:
Ask your Question
(We won’t publish it)
Cite This page
You're welcome to use this expert's answer in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2024, August 21). What Are Three Characteristics of Sir Gawain That Make Him an Ideal Hero? https://ivypanda.com/q/what-are-three-characteristics-of-sir-gawain-that-make-him-an-ideal-hero/

Work Cited

"What Are Three Characteristics of Sir Gawain That Make Him an Ideal Hero?" IvyPanda, 21 Aug. 2024, ivypanda.com/q/what-are-three-characteristics-of-sir-gawain-that-make-him-an-ideal-hero/.

References

IvyPanda. (2024) 'What Are Three Characteristics of Sir Gawain That Make Him an Ideal Hero'. 21 August.

References

IvyPanda. 2024. "What Are Three Characteristics of Sir Gawain That Make Him an Ideal Hero?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/what-are-three-characteristics-of-sir-gawain-that-make-him-an-ideal-hero/.

1. IvyPanda. "What Are Three Characteristics of Sir Gawain That Make Him an Ideal Hero?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/what-are-three-characteristics-of-sir-gawain-that-make-him-an-ideal-hero/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "What Are Three Characteristics of Sir Gawain That Make Him an Ideal Hero?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/what-are-three-characteristics-of-sir-gawain-that-make-him-an-ideal-hero/.

Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.