Heroes come in many ways. Some are grand, recognizable people or fictional superheroes; others are the quiet, simple types who live their lives under the radar. In either case, it is the accomplishments of these individuals that label them heroic. Such is the case of the protagonists in the primary epic Beowulf and in the romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Although Beowulf and Gawain hail from two different cultural periods, each man conducts his life under the umbrella of heroism and leadership. From the selfless approach to protecting their kingdoms to their ability to gain loyalty and trust, it is evident that Beowulf and Gawain have earned a hero’s status.

Peter J. Tomasi, famed comic book author, one wrote, “There are no heroes and there are no villains. There are just opposing points of view. That's all history is...the viciously long battle between world views.” Not straying too far from his view of the shades of gray that make up villains, classic literature offers it’s antagonists to be judged. From the epic to the romance, literature offers an evolving view of the bad guy. Gredel, the fearsome monster in Beowulf, and The Green Knight from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, through their epic and romantic tendencies prove to readers that villains come in all shapes and sizes and evolve with the times.

Thesis? There are many similarities and differences between Beowulf and Gawain.

Thesis? By analyzing the differences in the storyline, the hero’s adventure and the battle scenes, the protagonists Beowulf and Gawain prove themselves as worthy of the title hero.

Thesis? The antagonist, The Green Knight, has evolved from the antagonist Grendel in Beowulf.

Thesis? Through the fighting scenarios, the challenging of morals and the inclusion of love, it is clear that Beowulf’s Grendel fails as a fully developed character to Gawain’s Green Knight.