The Epic of Gilgamesh Group

Question:

ect1216
ect1216
Student
College - Sophomore

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?

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Posted by ect1216 on Friday May 29, 2009 at 10:00 AM and tagged with dreams, gilgamesh, literature.

Answers:

  1. herappleness
    herappleness Teacher
    Graduate School

    eNotes Editor

    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 that appear in the epic are cues of what will come in the story, and give shape and meaning to the actions.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/epic-gilgamesh/summary

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    Posted by herappleness on Friday May 29, 2009 at 10:13 AM