Medieval Epic Literature

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the medieval masculine and feminine ideals are very well represented in three major texts of English literature: "Beowulf", "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales". The main heroes and their female companions in these three texts share very important features, both physically and psychically, which indicates that there is a pattern in medieval literature regarding the essential characteristics of a virtuous individual. The author contends that the main necessary features for the male hero are honor, prowess, valor and purity of heart; however, the female characters, who are also very virtuous, pure and extremely beautiful, are passive characters that serve only as instruments to men's actions.

From the Paper:

"The male ideal briefly sketched above is complemented by the female ideal of such characters as Wealhtheow, King Hrothgar's wife in "Beowulf", or Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. Both are perfect beauties and virtuous, gentle persons. However, they are no more than icons, without a real importance. Although Wealhtheow seems to play a role in the poem as she makes two speeches in important moments of the action and performs ritualistic acts, she is actually just an instrument in the very masculine world of the epic. Women do no play a role as such in the medieval society, although they can have some value as emblems for purity and beauty."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Abrams, M. H. and Steven Greenblat, ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 7th Edition. New York: W.W. Norton, 1999.

More papers on Medieval Epic Literature:

• Analytical Essay # 118152 : "Females in Medieval Literature"
• Book Review # 96265 : "Early British Literature"
• Analytical Essay # 33077 : "Death and Immortality in "The Epic of Gilgamesh"

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