Beowulf and King Arthur
... Such is the case between the great hero, Beowulf, from the epic poem Beowulf and King Arthur from the story of Morte d’Arthur. ... Once their similarities have been compared and then dismissed it is evident that Beowulf is the greater hero of the two. ... Such is the case in Beowulf, Beowulf leaves his homeland to help the Danish people rid themselves of the human eating monster, Grendel. This heroic quality is also evident in Morte dArthur, as Arthur consciously rides into a battle in order to rid his people of an evil knight who would not allow others to pass. ... In order to obtain maximum respect per battle, both Beowulf and Arthur enter into battle somewhat alone. Beowulf specifically asks, “That , alone and with the help of men, / May purge all evil from hall” (Beowulf, line 165-166). His request is granted by Hrothgar, King of the Danes, so he and his man enter into the battle themselves and when Grendel is defeated, the glory, love and respect belong solely to Beowulf and his men. Arthur does the same, “he met with his man and his horse, and so mounted up and dressed his shield and took his spear, and bade his chamberlain tarry there till he came again” (Morte d’Arthur paragraph 20).