Comparison in terms of Chivalric Romance and Knighthood Before comparing and evaluating Beowulf, Nibelungen, King Arthur, Sir Gawain and Green Night and the Song of Roland, we need to focus on what chivalric romance and knighthood are.
It is easily described that both of them are associated with each other, and so we can say that there is no way chivalric romance is formed without knighthood and bravery. Chivalric romance is a literature genre of prose or verse and also it is described as adventures of legendary knights who have some heroic qualities such as courage, loyalty, honor and humility which are civilized behaviors and also it includes courtly love. As for Knighthood, we can say that it is a term which requires these moral behaviors and it consists of chivalric codes. Beowulf shows bravery which is one of the chivalric codes by accepting to fight with Grendel to help Hrotgar and he keeps his promise.
This is a good example of chivalry and knighthood. In Beowulf, the monsters can be described as figures which have a symbolic meaning. For example, Grendel may seem to be Cain, a biblical figure, who killed his own brother so Grendel may be represented the evil torturing and killing others. Beowulf sacrifices himself for people by fighting with a dragon.
The dragon which is a common Christian figure of sin may represent a malignancy that proves Beowulf’s courage and goodness.