What is noble and honorable is not an eternal principle common to every time and culture. Just as there are differences in the type of food prevalent in a culture three will likewise be differences in the qualities that make up a noble and honorable man. So that a man noble in his own culture may be considered disgraceful in another. An example of such cultural differences may be seen in the epic poem Beowulf and the Arthurian romance Sir Gawain and the Green knight. Although, there are no drastic differences in the perception of honor in the two works the values placed on certain qualities that make up a noble man such as strength and humility differ altogether.
             In the epic poem Beowulf strength is emphasized as a necessary trait while in Sir Gawain and the Green knight no mention is made to the physical abilities of any of the knights of the round table. Throughout the course of the epic poem Beowulf is praised numerous times for his ability to perform amazing physical feats of strength, proud of his talent Beowulf takes time to recall his amazing swimming match with Breka where recalling his enormous strength, endurance, and bravery on the high seas. While the epic poem is centered around the retelling of great deeds the Arthurian romance seems to favor modesty and humility, Sir Gawain instead of bragging about his bravery, acts modest and says that his death would be the smallest loss so that is why he should go. If Sir Gawain a noble knight of king Arthur's court said in the land of Hrogarth that his life was worthless and his death would be an inconsiderable loss he would not be thought of as modest, rather deemed disreputable!
             . An action of such modesty would not invoke respect among the Danes who cherished self-esteem and pride in once self and one's accomplishments, on the contrary the only feeling such modesty may invoke is pity. Beowulf on the
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