Exercise 1: Gilgamesh (Tablets I through VIII) 1. In the “Prologue” to the epic‚ note the narrative-perspective shifts from 1st-person to 3rd-person to 2nd-person (imperative). What is the intent of these narrative-perspective shifts and how do these shifts affect the readers’/audience’s response? The intent is the shift in narrative-perspectives is to help build the character of Gilgamesh into this larger than life‚ godlike‚ person. It also affects the reader as it makes it seem that the life
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In the beginning Gilgamesh is said to be two-thirds god and one-third man. He was the king of Uruk. He was physically beautiful as well as strong. Gilgamesh was a brutal ruler to his kingdom though. Gilgamesh enjoyed proving he was worthy any chance he got. He also wanted to be immortal so he could defeat death and live forever. He would force himself on women and was said to have raped several women. Gilgamesh’s affection had no specific type either. He went after many different types of women
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The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a legendary king of Uruk in South Baby-lonia (van Reeth 1994). He was the fifth ruler of Uruk after the deluge and possibly ruled Uruk around 2800 BCE (van Reeth 1994). The Epic itself was originally conveyed in oral form‚ but was written down in Sumerian using cuneiform writing on clay tablets around 2000 BCE (Hooker 1996). Many fragments of the epic also survive in other languages such as Hurrian and Hittite (Hooker 1996). The most
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A Hero-King’s Revelation In the ancient but exhilarating world of the Epic of Gilgamesh‚ we find ourselves enveloped in the heart of Mesopotamian mythology and culture. This story tells of a special‚ god-like man‚ named Gilgamesh‚ who undergoes an extensive journey of complex and unique encounters. Through the many experiences he has endured throughout his quest‚ Gilgamesh transforms his whole outlook on life and immortality through the eyes of at least three key events: the death of Enkidu
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exposition is Enkidu’s death. A tombstone is often used as a symbol of death‚ which is the main event. Tombstones can also be used to show sorrow‚ which is a feeling Gilgamesh is shown to have as his friend lays dying. Gilgamesh is left with the memory of his fallen friend‚ just as tombstones often do. The exposition of the epic of Gilgamesh had a deeply sorrowful moment when Enkidu dies. The gods decided to kill him‚ as they were displeased with his and Gilgamesh’s actions. The punishment of an incurable
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of Beowulf and the short story of Gilgamesh‚ both writings have very many similarities but also include several differences. The characters seem to place the same title role as well as the outstanding heroic actions. Comparing these two stories is a great way to look at different traits in each individual in my opinion. Many of the characters have a reputation and they seem to continue maintaining it whether it is good or evil. During both Beowulf and Gilgamesh‚ the settings are recognizable because
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evade death. The Epic of Gilgamesh also addresses the meaning of life and the desire to cheat death while also coming to a considerable outcome with Gilgamesh dealing with the reality of his own mortality. At first Gilgamesh is unstoppable and there was no denying it. He ruled and terrorized over the city of Uruk. He was rude‚ greedy‚ and a neglectful king. Gilgamesh never sought out what was the best interests for his subjects instead he only worried
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The Epic of Gilgamesh dates back to as early as Bronze Age Mesopotamia‚ to the people of Sumer that told poems and legends of a great hero-king called Gilgamesh‚ the demigod ruler of Uruk (around 2500 BCE). The legends and poems were later gathered into a longer epic and written on clay tablets C. 1900 BCE. They were found in the mid nineteenth century and were later deciphered‚ and eventually published. The story is important not only to the people of the time or historians‚ but to everyday modern
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Gilgamesh is a prideful and uncaring ruler when first presented to the reader. The citizens of Uruk consider Gilgamesh a tyrant at the beginning of the story because he regularly harasses and harms them. His worries lie more in satisfying his own desires for excitement and power at the cost of his subjects‚ than in ruling them with care and patience. However‚ with the help of Enkidu and the gods‚ Gilgamesh transforms into a great ruler. Gilgamesh’s relationship with Enkidu helps reduce Gilgamesh’s
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The Epic of Gilgamesh is a poem written on stone tablets between 2700 B.C. and around 600 B.C. The Author is an ancient authors of stories that compose poems that are anonymous. This poem is epic and the genre is heroic. All languages were written in cuneiform script. Tablet XI of Gilgamesh was translated and published in 1872.The point of view of this story is third person .Most of the story is told from Gilgamesh and Utnapishtim narrates the flood story in tablet XI. The major conflict of the story
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