The Epic of Gilgamesh | Essays and Criticism

  • Gilgamesh as a Character

    In the following essay, Kline traces the action of the epic and the development of Gilgamesh as a character. Kline concludes that by the end of the tale, Gilgamesh has changed considerably; he has gained an understanding of himself and of the importance of relationships with others.

  • Second Millennium Metaphors

    In the following excerpt, Jacobsen traces the course of Gilgamesh's quest for immortality.

  • Some Literary Motifs in the Composition of the Gilgamesh Epic

    In the following excerpt, Sasson discusses the five separate, original Sumerian legends that were eventually combined into the unified Gilgamesh epic.