Compare and contrast Beowulf's speech with Gawain's speech in terms of topic, audience, and tone.

Lines 365-428 of Beowulf contain three different speeches (or dialogues) by three different men (Wulfgar, Hrothgar, and Beowulf). Lines 365 through 370 are Wulfgar's. Here, he is imploring Hrothgar to welcome Beowulf into Heorot so that he can defeat Grendel. Lines 371 through 389 belong to Hrothgar. Here, he tells of his knowledge of Beowulf and his father. In the end of his speech, Hrothgar decides top welcome Beowulf into Heorot. Lines 392 through 399 return to the voice of Wulfgar. Here, he welcomes Beowulf and his men into Heorot. After a few lines of action described by the narrator, Beowulf speaks (408-428, and his dialogue actually extends through line 456). In these lines, Beowulf declares his loyalty to Hrothgar, announces his fame, tells of his previous battle with five monsters, and declares his determination to destroy Grendel. The topic is Beowulf's intent in the Danelands. The audience is Hrothgar, his men, and Beowulf's men. The tone is prideful and positive. 

As for the lines from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (lines 343-361), Sir Gawain is stating that he will be the one to take the challenge of the Green Knight. He, very different from Beowulf, believes that he is not a hero (that his life would not be missed). He is far from the confidant man Beowulf is, yet Gawain speaks very eloquently (like Beowulf). Gawain takes the challenge, like Beowulf, yet does not feel as if he is the best man (regarding his ability). He only states that he is the best one for the job because his "life is little enough to lose." Gawain's honor comes in the fact that King Arthur is his uncle (not that he is a hero like Beowulf). His audience in Arthur, Arthur's Queen, Arthur's knights and guests, and the Green Knight. The topic of the speech is the acceptance and reasoning behind his taking of the challenge. The tone is one of courage. 

How do the authors of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf differ?

As with many authors from this period, we have limited knowledge about the authors of these poems. One very key distinction is that the author of Beowulf is far, far younger than the story he tells. The old Nordic story of the man from Geats is especially affected by its distance in time from the author, since while Beowulf is a pagan hero, the author is a Christian. This creates a strange thematic tension in the play, where the author honors the hero as a cultural icon while also adding Christian themes into the story.

While the Arthurian legends absolutely predate the Pearl Poet, Gawain's place in cultural memory is undoubtably linked to both Christianity and romantic chivalry. This creates less distance between the story and historical context of the composition. I should note, though, that certain parts of the poem (the Green Knight for instance) do have a great deal of pagan influence.

A little more is known about the Pearl Poet than the author of Beowulf. For instance, there are a few well-regarded theories about this person's identity. This was most likely a man of the noble class, in roughly around the same time as Chaucer. Many speculate that the Beowulf poet did not so much as compose the poem as write it down upon hearing it from oral tradition. Some suggest that the Beowulf poet might have been a clergyman.

How do the speech styles and attitudes of Beowulf and Sir Gawain compare and contrast?

For one thing, Beowulf is more verbose than Gawain; Gawain says far less at any one time. For instance, in an early speech Beowulf goes on for 46 poetic lines )"Hygelac's, we, / fellows at board; I am Beowulf named") whereas Gawain talks in prose for the equivalent of 33 poetic lines ("I beseech ye, my lord, let this venture be mine"). Beowulf is self-vaunting, bragging ("Truth I claim it, / that I had more of might in the sea / than any man else"), whereas Gawain is modest and humble (" I am the weakest, I wot, and the feeblest of wit"). When Beowulf speaks to the woman Wealhtheow, he speaks of two things: (1) he would fight till victory or death were won ("or fighting fall in death,") and (2) he would do the will of Wealhtheow's people ("I would work the will of your people / fully"). When Gawain speaks to Lady Bertilak, he reiterates that he is unworthy of his task ("unworthy am I")--which is decidedly unlike Beowulf--and tells her that he will do her will ("I wot I will do even as it may please ye").

In this brief overview, it is clear that Beowulf and Gawain differ in their styles of speech in point of personal assessment and self-description. While Beowulf speaks in glowing terms of his prowess and his accomplishments and his expectations of accomplishment, Gawain speaks in humble phrases about his prowess and abilities and discounts the value of his service to his king and his host. It is also clear that both Beowulf and Gawain have a code of doing the will of the person they deem to be in a higher position than themselves, kings and women both. This presupposes that they have no suspicion or fear that such a person will attempt to use them for dishonorable ends or will seek in any way to mistreat them: It presupposes a mutually understood and acted upon code of honor and trustworthiness.