Term Papers on Gawain And Roland

Term Paper Title	Gawain And Roland
# of Words	868
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.47

Gawain and Roland

In mythological Europe, knightly heroes abounded where ever one could choose to roam.  There are hundreds of tales of knights who embodied the concept of chivalry, slew huge dragons, slew legions of foes in single combat, and still made it home in time for dinner.  Of all these tales, ballads and poems, a few have risen to the fore front of the genre as an example for the rest of the stories to follow.  I will be comparing the positive and negative personality traits of two heroes from the famous poems "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and "The Song of Roland."
On the lighter side, both Gawain and Roland had more positive attributes than they did negative.  Both men were honorable, almost to a fault.  For example in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" Gawain agreed to be on time for his own execution:
                   "Nor I know you not, knight, your name nor your court.
                    But tell me truly thereof, and teach me your name, and I
                    shall fare forth to find you, so far as I may, and this I say
                    in good certain, and swear upon oath."  (G&GK, pt.1, ln. 400-403)

Gawain’s agreement might have been honorable, but it doesn’t strike me as particularly bright.  Roland had the same type of problem.  His honor also got him to into trouble.  One perfect example of this was when Roland made his Uncle Ganelon so angry by antagonizing him that Ganelon used Roland’s concept of honor to make Roland take the rear guard and be slaughtered.  Roland antagonized Ganelon by saying:  "Quoth Roland:  ‘Ganelon my step she is the man" (SOR, ln.229)  Roland also felt honor bound not to call for reinforcements against the pagan horde until almost every single one of the knights were dead.  "Companion Roland, your Olifant now sound!  King Charles will hear and turn his armies round; hell succour us with all his kingly power.’  Roland replies:  ‘may never god allow that I should cast dishonour on my house or fair France!"  (SOR, ln.1063-1068)  To go along with that incredible sense of honor, Gawain was the best man in King Arthur’s court with weapons.  Gawain might have been fairly humble about it, but the poet emphasizes Gawain’s prowess with weapons by self deprecation.  "While so bold men about upon benches sit, that no host under heaven is hardier of will, Nor better brothers-in-arms where battle is joined;  I am the weakest, well I know" (G&GK, ln. 351-354)  Roland was eve...

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