Excellence has always been a virtue revered by society. Writers throughout the ages have attempted to capture the essence of excellence in their works, often in the form of a main character, who embodies perfection, encapsulating all the ideal traits necessary to be considered an excellent member of the company. However, there is no universal consensus on standards of excellence. On the contrary, one man's idea of ​​excellence may very well be another man's idea of ​​mediocrity. Yet human nature is constant enough that by analyzing different literary “heroes” one can discover the standards of excellence common to different peoples. The main characters of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight were both considered models of excellence by their people. Yet upon careful examination of the specific actions of these characters, clear differences emerge. While Gawain is virtuous and embodies selflessness, Beowulf's heroism is marred by his quest for glory and wealth, which seems to dominate his every action. The discrepancy can be explained by a contextual analysis of the two heroes. Gawain's code of chivalry emphasized perfection and is therefore perfect. Beowulf, in contrast, adheres to the code of heroism, which is much less strict on man's actions and much more open to interpretation. Gawain's actions reflect the social mores of 14th century England, where a good knight was expected to adhere firmly to the code. of chivalry. Gawain is the model knight, valiant and valorous, not to mention a devout Christian. Gawain's superb character traits are enhanced by his status as a member of King Arthur's court. The poet Gawain writes of Camelot: "With all the pleasures of earth they lived there together, / ...... middle of paper ...... perfect models of excellence for the young citizens of the 21st century. They both showed enormous courage. , leadership, determination and above all, honor. Both characters respected a code of honor that they were prepared to protect at the cost of their lives. Today, this trait is rare to say the least, if not completely absent from our increasingly materialistic society. and egocentric. Gawain and Beowulf saw themselves as a means by which the glory of their society could be achieved. They did not tap into society and drain valuable resources like many of today's corrupt leaders do. rather, they gave back to their people and lived up to the ancient notion of the “good citizen” first put forward by Plato. Today's society would be better off if more people like Gawain and Beowulf were born. They were truly excellent members. of the company.