Two Warriors: A Comparison And Contrast Of Beowulf And The Knight From The Canterbury Tales Essay, Research Paper

The Canterbury Tales

CharacterKnightBeowulf

Quest- fights religious wars

- fights for god

- fights for the good of others- kills evil things

- fights in order to have bragging right

- fights for the good of others

Society?s View- most admired person of all the tales

- seen as a hero- seen as boastful and overconfident

- seen as a hero

Religious Beliefs- believes in God

- goes to church in his torn war clothes- believes in God and pagan gods

- it is never mentioned of him going to church

**Compare and/or contrast the Knight to Beowulf**

All throughout literature there are characters that can be compared to each other. Two examples are the Knight from the Canterbury Tales and Beowulf from Beowulf. These two fictional characters exhibit both similar and diverse qualities. Their quest, society?s opinion, and religious beliefs show both of these qualities.

Victory is the quest of any great warrior. The reasons for war between the Knight and Beowulf are to be disputed. The Knight fights in religious wars. This means that he fights for God. On the other hand, Beowulf fights only to kill. Beowulf fights to obtain bragging rights. Both of these men fight for the good of others. Although Beowulf wants bragging rights, he dies to save his people. ?I sold my life for this treasure, and I sold it well. Take what I leave, Wiglaf, lead my people, help them; my time is gone.?

In society, the public?s view of a man means everything. Both are seen as heroes, but the Knight?s reputation shows better than that of Beowulf. The Knight, the most admired of all the characters in the Canterbury Tales, is very humble and modest. ?And in his bearing modest as a maid?? The Knight resists any temptation to boast. Beowulf boasts of all his victories and amazing feats. Though ridiculed by many, Beowulf thinks that popularity means everything. He enjoys hearing people talk of his greatness, and he especially likes compliments.

In the Canterbury Tales, religion is the main topic of discussion. The characters in the story are satirically described as moral or immoral. The Knight is moral. He believes in God and goes to church in his battle clothes just to be near God. While in church he asks for forgiveness for the slaying that goes on in the wars in which he participates.

Beowulf is also moral. He not only believes in God, but also pagan gods. In this age in time it is accepted to believe in God and other gods. Opposed to Beowulf?s society, in the Knights age in time the worship of pagan gods was unacceptable and unheard of. They are both heroes because of the things that were acceptable in their time. Beowulf is a hero for slaying horrible beasts. The Knight is a Christian man who spends his life fighting in the name of God. The writer never mentions of Beowulf going to church. It also does not mention of Beowulf asking for forgiveness for the slaying of others.

The Knight and Beowulf are two fictional characters that spend most of their time fighting. They both are moral, but some of their qualities are quite different. The Knight, humble and virtuous, loves God and does anything for Him. Beowulf, boastful and arrogant, loves attention but dies to save his people. Both men are heroes in their time.