Beowulf and the Song of Roland

 I though I'd make this post about two Medieval Works I read in high school. They were both about a noble hero, and in each story, they end with a tragic death of the hero.
 Beowulf is a work of Anglo-Saxon literature. In fact, Beowulf is one of the principle works of Old English literature.  It was written near the end of the early Middle Ages. The story is about a hero that takes on several monsters successfully. Beowulf himself though, is slain near the end of the story by a great beast.
 On the other hand, The Song of Roland is one of the eldest works of Medieval French Literature. This story, written in poetry like Beowulf, is about a knight under Emperor Charlemagne that fights the Saracens in Spain. The tragic killing of Roland by the Muslims, is considered one of the greatest in world literature. Also, this French epic would have heavy influence upon the Latin Christians in the Crusades.
 That's just a brief of these works. I'd recommend all lovers of the Middle Ages to read them. I prefer The Song of Roland of these two works. 

                                                       ''Hand to hand is how it will be,
                                                        a life and death fight against the fiend,
                                                        and he whom death bears off shall submit
                                                        to the judgement of the Lord.''
                                                                        - Beowulf




                                                     ''We must stand here for our king,
                                                      One must suffer hardship for one's lord,
                                                      And endure great heat and great cold
                                                      One must also lose hide and hair.''
                                                              -The Song of Roland