Honor in Beowulf and ParzivalThroughout literary history, authors have created and restored characters throughout time who seem to represent what is honorable and chivalrous. The two literary legends compared in this article are Beowulf and Parzival. These two characters, in their own way, find in themselves what is virtuous. At first glance, it appears that Beowulf is the warrior who contains honor within him, but as the two characters are compared in depth, it becomes apparent that Parzival's journey through manhood takes him to a place much more noble and honorable. Beowulf and Parzival's journey began on the same path, each fatherless, they strove to seek what they considered an adventure. They jumped to sharpen their desire for the unknown and the opportunity to become a hero. A young Beowulf, we learn, challenges a peer to a match of strength. Unferth tells this story of "when, in pride, they sailed the seas and, for commonplace boasting, entrusted [their] lives to the deep waters, impossible to deter by the effort of friend or foe from whatever nature it is to swim on the sea” (Beowulf, 65). Beowulf's stubborn pride led him, even at a young age, to challenge what might seem beyond his reach for glory. Later, Beowulf hearing the horrible stories of the monster Grendel who was wreaking havoc in Heorot, abruptly left his homeland to prove his bravery. “The wisest sought to dissuade him from traveling little or not at all,” but the strong-headed Beowulf refused to listen to reason. Unlike Beowulf, Parzival was actually hidden from any opportunity for adventure by his mother. She fled to a place where she believed she could escape any trace of chivalry, which she believed to be evil. She was unsuccessful, however, and as soon as Parzival laid eyes on the divine knight, he decided to leave his mother and everything he knew to go on an adventure. The absence of her son led her to an early grave. This action was one for which Parzival was later deemed "dishonorable" and which he deeply regretted. These boys both started out young and refused to listen to reason from their elders. Against the wishes of wiser and more experienced people, they allowed themselves to be overcome by their pride and ambition. It didn't turn out to be a promising start for either of them..