epic of gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh Writing Style
Simple, Poetic, Repetitive
The Epic of Gilgamesh Style
In A Glossary of Literary Terms, literary scholar M. H. Abrams lists five essential characteristics of epic literature: (1) ' "The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance;" (2) "The setting of the poem is ample in scale, and may be worldwide, or even larger;" (3) "The action involves superhuman deeds in battle;" (4) "In these great actions the gods and other supernatural beings take an interest or even an active part;" and (5) "An epic poem is a ceremonial performance, and is narrated in a ceremonial style which is deliberately distanced from ordinary speech and proportioned to the grandeur and formality of the heroic subject and epic architecture" (p. 52). The Epic of Gilgamesh fulfills each of these characteristics in its own distinct way.
The Epithet
Another key technique of the epic style is the use of "epithets," usually adjectives or persistent adjective phrases that reveal..
Foreshadowing
Definition:
The literary device foreshadowing refers to the use of indicative words/phrases and hints that set the stage for a story to unfold and give the reader a hint of something that is going to happen without revealing the story or spoiling the suspense. Foreshadowing is used to suggest an upcoming outcome to the story.
I see that dreams are recurrent in Gilgamesh. What narrative function do they serve? Why is it useful to know what is going to happen before it does?
Since the story is an epic, that is, a combination of different tales, the dreams serve as foreshadowing (the name of this narrative element) because the thematic value of each of the stories and the lesson each story wants to teach are more easy to accept, understand, and expect once a dream or a premonition, or a prophecy are added as part of the supernatural substance of the tale. Not only do you see dreams as foreshadowing, but also the doorways, journeys and religious symbols
Simple, Poetic, Repetitive
The Epic of Gilgamesh Style
In A Glossary of Literary Terms, literary scholar M. H. Abrams lists five essential characteristics of epic literature: (1) ' "The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance;" (2) "The setting of the poem is ample in scale, and may be worldwide, or even larger;" (3) "The action involves superhuman deeds in battle;" (4) "In these great actions the gods and other supernatural beings take an interest or even an active part;" and (5) "An epic poem is a ceremonial performance, and is narrated in a ceremonial style which is deliberately distanced from ordinary speech and proportioned to the grandeur and formality of the heroic subject and epic architecture" (p. 52). The Epic of Gilgamesh fulfills each of these characteristics in its own distinct way.
The Epithet
Another key technique of the epic style is the use of "epithets," usually adjectives or persistent adjective phrases that reveal..
Foreshadowing
Definition:
The literary device foreshadowing refers to the use of indicative words/phrases and hints that set the stage for a story to unfold and give the reader a hint of something that is going to happen without revealing the story or spoiling the suspense. Foreshadowing is used to suggest an upcoming outcome to the story.
I see that dreams are recurrent in Gilgamesh. What narrative function do they serve? Why is it useful to know what is going to happen before it does?
Since the story is an epic, that is, a combination of different tales, the dreams serve as foreshadowing (the name of this narrative element) because the thematic value of each of the stories and the lesson each story wants to teach are more easy to accept, understand, and expect once a dream or a premonition, or a prophecy are added as part of the supernatural substance of the tale. Not only do you see dreams as foreshadowing, but also the doorways, journeys and religious symbols