What is your heroic ideal?

[Mithalwen]

Faramir has always been my beau ideal (as well as a beau sabreur who made a beau geste). In fact he is at least the second best hero in my knowledge of literature (may be pipped by Kester Woodseaves who has similarly great qualities but is of much lower birth, which seems to me he should get credit for). Faramir is a verray parfit gentil knight and loves Eowyn for her inner self rather than her beauty.

However Beleg and Felagund score highly on the laying down your life for your unworthy friends scale (maybe a reason I hate Beren and Luthien so much is that I blame them for Finrod's death?) and Elrond's personal sacrifice when he might have done otherwise always seems heroic to me.