The Epic of Gilgamesh

Who Is Gilgamesh?Like most epics, The Epic of Gilgamesh is based to some degree on fact.Scholars believe that Gilgamesh was a Sumerian king who ruled over the city-state of Uruk around 2700 B.C.In the centuries following his death, stories about him grew.Through this oral tradition of storytelling, Gilgamesh developed over time into a figure of legendary proportions.

What Is The Epic of Gilgamesh?The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest works of literature in existence.The earliest versions of the story date back over 4,000 years (more than 1,000 years before the Illiad and the Odyssey or the first books of the Bible).The text deals with modern themes, such as: friendship, heroism, mortality, and the desire to control ones destiny.

The Story:The Epic of Gilgamesh is told in two parts:Part One:In the tale, Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, is two parts god and one part human.In the first part of the story, Gilgamesh explores his godlike sideusing superhuman powers, he performs amazing feats and even defies the gods.At this point, Gilgameshs flaws include: he is arrogant, boastful, selfish, and destructiverepresenting both the best and worst that a person can be.

The Story Continued:Part Two:Gilgamesh explores the human side of his character as he faces unexpected limitations of his power.These limitations not only show his human weaknesses, but they also give him the opportunity to develop human strengths.(Note: this part of the epic also contains a flood story remarkably like the one in the Bible).

What Literary Forms Are in Gilgamesh?Obviously, from looking at the title, Gilgamesh is an epic (it is celebrating the exploits of Gilgamesh); however, it is also one of the oldest quest stories in existence.We already know that in a quest story, a hero goes on a journey and tries to achieve a goal, such as bringing back a valuable object or attaining knowledge.The main character of a quest story, a quest hero, has special powers or special friends that help (or hinder) him or her on the journey.

Discussion Questions:Please copy down the following questions and answer them, in complete sentences, as you come across them in the reading:

Discussion Questions:Enkidu has a dream before he dies. What does he learn in this dream?

Why does Gilgamesh feel both sad and frightened when Enkidu dies?

Who is Utnapishtim and why does Gilgamesh want to find him?

Discussion Questions Continued:

How does Utnapishtim help Gilgamesh?

What does Gilgamesh lose on his way home at the end of the selection?

Why do you think the story ends with Gilgamesh proudly showing Urshanabi the city of Uruk?