Illustration of Gilgamesh's face

The Epic of Gilgamesh

by John Gardner, translator

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh teaches several moral lessons, including the value of friendship, the inevitability of death, and the importance of wisdom and humility. These lessons are significant as they...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is portrayed as an epic hero due to his divine ancestry, extraordinary strength, and remarkable achievements. As the king of Uruk, he embodies the qualities...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Killing Humbaba in The Epic of Gilgamesh serves multiple purposes. For Gilgamesh and Enkidu, it represents a pursuit of glory and immortality through heroic deeds, as Gilgamesh seeks to cement his...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh's arrogance leads to several negative consequences. His initial tyranny over Uruk causes his people to suffer, prompting the gods to create Enkidu to challenge...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh and Enkidu fought because Gilgamesh was a ruthless tyrant who oppressed his subjects, and Enkidu sought to challenge him. Enkidu, created by the gods to humble Gilgamesh, learned of his...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh is a tyrant at the beginning of The Epic of Gilgamesh in that he works his citizens to death, forcibly conscripts young men into his army, and rapes women.

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The battle between good and evil in "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is portrayed through the struggles and transformations of its characters. Gilgamesh's journey from tyranny to wisdom, aided by Enkidu,...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

In "The Epic of Gilgamesh," Gilgamesh and Enkidu are not depicted as a gay couple. Instead, their relationship is a deep, homosocial bond, akin to brotherhood, common in ancient heroic traditions....

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Gender roles in "The Epic of Gilgamesh" reflect ancient patriarchal values, with male characters like Gilgamesh and Enkidu depicted as dominant, warlike, and central to the plot. Female characters,...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

In "The Epic of Gilgamesh," the gods are deeply involved in human affairs, exemplified by their creation of Gilgamesh as a leader. They endowed him with beauty and courage, making him two-thirds god...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays a complex relationship between humans and gods, marked by mutual dependency and transactional exchanges. While gods are powerful, they are depicted as fallible and...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

In the Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh experiences several spiritually significant dreams that are frightening, but Enkidu interprets them as good omens, assuring Gilgamesh of his safety. Traveling with...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The New English version of Gilgamesh illustrates courage through the bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Their shared bravery is evident when they defeat Humbaba together. Initially, Enkidu fears the...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Odysseus and Gilgamesh are iconic heroes from Ancient Greece and Mesopotamia, respectively. Both kings display superhuman abilities and brashness, but differ in their interactions with deities....

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The major theme of Gilgamesh is the search for immortality. The epic begins with a description of Gilgamesh, who is two-thirds god and one-third man. It then moves to Enkidu, the wild man created by...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Wisdom is depicted as acceptance of change, in particular death. Gilgamesh is distraught by his friend Enkidu's sudden death, which leads to a greater terror of his own mortality. He tries to find a...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Scorpion Men in "The Epic of Gilgamesh" are impressed by Gilgamesh's courage and determination. Despite their terrifying presence, Gilgamesh composes himself and approaches them with confidence....

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh's status as two-thirds god and one-third man creates a conflict of alienation and mortality. His divine power makes him tyrannical and isolates him from both humans and gods, as he lacks...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The main purpose of the prologue in The Epic of Gilgamesh is to introduce readers to the character of Gilgamesh, emphasizing his status as a demi-god and superior being. It provides essential...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

The prologue of The Epic of Gilgamesh is the first section of the epic, and is written in third person; it gives us a brief history of Gilgamesh, and tells us that he will be speaking to us as we go...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

In the "Epic of Gilgamesh," journey motifs include both physical and psychological transformations. Enkidu's journey from wild to civilized man is marked by key experiences. Gilgamesh and Enkidu's...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Enkidu was not created to be Gilgamesh's friend; he was created by the goddess Aruru to challenge Gilgamesh due to his tyrannical rule over Uruk. Enkidu was meant to be strong enough to confront...

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The Epic of Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh's quest for eternal life is not an impossible quest. However, it is a quest that must be undertaken with humility and respect for the natural order. Gilgamesh does not demonstrate these...

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