Gilgamesh Analysis

Gilgamesh Analysis
Gilgamesh One of the earliest surviving works of literature is The Epic of Gilgamesh. It is a source
into understanding the Sumerians and what they believe. The Epic of Gilgamesh takes place in an
ancient Sumerian city of Uruk, which is modern day Iraq. We can take a few things away from this
poem about the Sumerians. For one, they have strong beliefs in gods and goddesses and they have a
self–consciousness of their cultivation with the natural world. The main character of this poem is
Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk. Gilgamesh is 1/3rd human and 2/3rds god, incredibly handsome, and
is one of the strongest humans. Ultimately Gilgamesh is the most powerful man of his time, which
allows him to exploit women and wear out the city. Gilgamesh's power started to irritate the people
and they needed someone who would be able to stand up to him. Hence, the goddess, Aruru, created
Enkidu, Gilgamesh's frenemy turned loyal companion. Before Enkidu became Gilgamesh's friend
and loyal companion, he was one with the wild. Instead of being part human, part god, Enkidu was
1/3rd human and 2/3rds beast. He lived in the forest with animals only eating grass and drinking out
of water holes. He was unaware of the civilized life outside of the forest. He did not understand the
ways of civilized life. Instead he was used to his primitive ways, he did not know what losses he
was facing verses what he was going to gain. After the temple prostitute, he developed a need for
human
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The Transformation Of Enkidu And Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh starts out as an immature, cruel and emotionally stunted character. He is described as
"young" and "borne along by emotion" by the elders of the city of Uruk before embarking on a
foolhardy and dangerous mission (II 289). Enkidu was created by the gods to be "the equal of
Gilgamesh, one mighty in strength" (MB Ni, pg. 4). Both Enkidu and Gilgamesh grow as
characters; doors represent transitions and mark key points where both characters mature. At these
points they are put on the path towards discovering what they should do with their lives and how
they should approach the concept of death. These transitions come in various forms, such as Enkidu
stopping Gilgamesh's ruthlessness by physically blocking him, Enkidu coming to terms with his
certain death by disavowing a cedar door, or Gilgamesh being questioned at the gates of Mashu by
the scorpion–people guardians. However, in all cases, either one or both of the protagonists must
reflect on their current state of moral development.
One of the most significant ways that Gilgamesh matures is by becoming a "good" king. This
process begins right before the two heroes fight in Tablet II, demonstrated through the following
narrative description: "Enkidu with his foot blocked the door of the wedding house, not allowing
Gilgamesh to enter" (II 111–112). By physically preventing Gilgamesh from entering the house and
taking advantage of a bride, Enkidu shows that he is equal in strength to the king, and fulfills his
initial

Similarities and Differences between Gilgamesha dn Enkindu
Similarities and Differences between Gilgamesh and Enkindu
The Myth known today as the epic of Gilgamesh was considered in ancient times to be one of the
great masterpieces of cuneiform literature.The tale revolves around a legendary hero named
Gilgamesh, who was known said to be the king of the Sumerian city of uruk.Gilgamesh was known
to have supernatural abilities and be half human and half god similar to his best friend who was later
known known as Enkindu.This person was also blessed with supernatural abilities and was half
human–half animal.Gilgamesh and Enkindu both have similar traits such as they both use love as a
motivating force and they both clearly are half human–half supernatural.They also have differences
such ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Then on page 21 Enkindu stood watch for the shepherds against the lions so that the shepherds
could get a good night sleep, this protects the shepherds and feeds them. This shows the power that
Enkindu has by fighting of lions, capturing wolves and keeping the shepherds safe. So basically
Gilgamesh who is half human and half God, he thinks he is the most powerful person on this Earth
and thinks he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants. He takes every woman there is, even
the ones that are getting married. Since he is very ignorant and doesn't care about his people, the
people complained to the Gods who then create a double of Gilgamesh who is called Enkindu, who
was just as smart and strong as Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Enkidu also had differences it seemed
that they had their own journey within each other's journey. Enkidu's journey starts of when the
prostitutes were order by Gilgamesh to go and get Enkidu. This is because Enkidu saves his former
animal friends from cages. This to me to is the starting point of Enkidu journey towards Gilgamesh.
This journey was mentored by the prostitute who was also the tempter. As Enkidu finds his way to
Gilgamesh this starts a whole new journey.This journey was shortlived because later on as the story
goes on Gilgamesh and enkindu goes on and kills both humbaba and the bull of heaven,which the
godess Ishtar sends to punish Gilgamesh for spurring her advances.As a punishment for these
actions,the gods sentence Enkindu

Similarities Between Gegosh And The Epic Of Gilgamesh
There are many shared experiences that make the journeys of Gilgamesh and Orestes similar.
Orestes and Gilgamesh reform their characters by going through a series of events; at each event,
their character is modified or strengthened in a analogous way by their communities or peers.
Although they both begin content with their situations, they become aware that something needs to
change in order for there to be peace within their societies. Following this realization, various
influences force the leading characters to go through with their personal trials that they have been
contemplating, in turn forcing them to have the strength and courage that they had not possessed
prior to this point. In order to help Gilgamesh and Orestes learn the virtue and importance in
comradery and community, each is paired with a companion to aid them in their trials. At the
conclusion of the stories, the characters fully comprehend that the wellbeing of the community is
more important than their own person gains. Both title characters from The Epic of Gilgamesh and
The Oresteia undergo parallel journeys, with the most pivotal similarity being the effect that the
community has on the shaping events that Gilgamesh and Orestes undergo.
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh begins as an inconsiderate ruler who does not respect his
people or the community. It becomes clear from early on in the novel that Gilgamesh has caused an
upset in society, and for the population to function smoothly he has to change his ways. The text
reads, "Neither the father's son nor the wife of the noble is safe in Uruk; neither the mother's
daughter nor the warrior's bride is safe" (Gilgamesh, I:i). This excerpt shows how the subjects under
Gilgamesh's rule were scared of him. Not a soul in the town was safe because of the king, and this
caused a great upset to the ways of society. Gilgamesh did not see the wrong in his doings and did
not take into account the consideration the feelings of his pupils. In order for the community to
obtain peace, their ruler will have to learn that he is the change that needs to occur.
Although he had been banished for quite some time, Orestes returns to mourn his father and
discovers the great injustice that had been

The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Ramayana
In two ancient classics, we see a clear display of an abuse of power. In both The Epic of Gilgamesh
and The Ramayana, we find protagonists who commit deeds of treachery in the name of slaying a
monster. These slayings seem justified at first; however, as we examine them further we find that
they are no more than heinous acts in the name of asserting power over the other. Both Gilgamesh
and Rama kill monsters in the name of supporting what they believe in, but their beliefs are not
always justified. When we closely examine the scenes of the monster slayings in both epics, we find
that our that protagonists appear as power hungry war mongers and not the heroes that they claim to
be. Both of these "heroes" kill in the name of supporting their own beliefs. For Rama, he kills in the
name of subduing women's sexuality while Gilgamesh kills in the name of claiming resources,
particularly cedar trees, for his own. Let's begin with one of the earliest stories ever written, The
Epic of Gilgamesh. In this story, Gilgamesh is king of Uruk; he eventually meets his partner in
crime Enkidu, who is a wild man created by the gods to keep Gilgamesh from becoming an
oppressive king. After Gilgamesh and Enkidu duke it out and, naturally, become best friends; they
decide to go on a conquest for some cedar trees –– like best all best friends do. When they reach the
forest, it does not take long until they run across Humbaba. Humbaba, being the guardian of the
Cedar forest is not pleased with

Humanity In Gilgamesh
"I have understanding that you have not": Constructing Humanity in Gilgamesh
In Tablet VII of The Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu's last days on Earth are marked by anguish and
self–pity. This outburst of anger is a uniquely human response to trauma, acting as a bookend for
Enkidu's transformation from wild to civilized through his relationship to humanity. In his rage,
Enkidu "lifted [his eyes as though to the door,] / he talked with the door as if [with a man:]" (p55).
The cedar doors that he and Gilgamesh fastened on the exterior gates of Uruk taunt Enkidu,
reminded him of how he is responsible for his own fate, and his mistakes are his alone to make. The
cedar doors had been constructed to serve two purposes for Enkidu and Gilgamesh: as a trophy of
war celebrating their defeat of Humbaba, and as a means of securing their legacy by contributing to
the safety and grandeur of Uruk. Enkidu's spiteful tone towards these doors, then, symbolizes dual
aspects of humanity: the desire to dominate nature in order to facilitate creation, and the eternal
conflict between creators and their creations.
This first aspect of humanity revealed through Enkidu's interactions with the cedar door is the
process of dominating nature in order to create something grander. Enkidu's background is that of a
wild creature that became civilized in order to be Gilgamesh's equal. At different points in the epic,
Enkidu both civilizes Gilgamesh and encourages him towards restlessness and adventure.

Analysis Of Enkidu 's ' The Epic '
Enkidu's role in the epic explores the idea that humans cultivation of the earth to suit their own
needs will lead to their demise. Enkidu was depicted as androgynous to allow the reader to see
themselves in the journey and allows the narrator more flexibility. Enkidu was described as "lush
with head hair like a woman". Gilgamesh recounted a dream to his mother saying, "I fell in love
with it like a woman I caressed it". The use of the word "it" can imply gender is disregarded and
allows the narrator the ability to play with the idea of "it" being a woman but still leaving room for
the masculine interpretation. In contrast Enkidu was also described as a strong, fearless and great
warrior. He was said to have "the strength of heaven, and mighty will be his strength" he was also
said to be "valiant in the steppe" which signifies that he is fearless in the wild, and he would have
the force of the hero Ninurta, god of war. Enkidu's character is androgynous and his journey
symbolizes that of man's. The story of Enkidu is similar to the creation myth of the Bible. According
to TheTorah.com part 1 The Midrash Adam like Enkidu was created from clay and was
Androgynous. According to Genesis 5:2 of the King James Version "Male and female created he
them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created" This
supports the theory that man was created androgynous. Since the epic was written during the
Babylonian era and their belief was that God and

Analysis Of ' The Epic Of Gilgamesh '
Baily Broussard
Mr. Guidry
World History
4 December 2015
The Epic of Gilgamesh
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh terrorizes the people or Uruk. Because of this, they call out to
the sky god Anu for help. Anu decides to turn to the goddess of creation, Aruru whom makes an
equal for Gilgamesh. Aruru created Enkidu to be just like Gilgamesh and for them to contend
together and leave Uruk in quiet. When Gilgamesh got up and went to the house of a bride waiting
for the bridegroom, Enkidu stepped out and stood in the street blocking the way. They met at the
gate and Enkidu put his foot to prevent Gilgamesh entering the house. This began a fight between
the two and they broke the doorposts, the walls shook, and snorted like bulls together. Enkidu was
thrown and his fury died. Enkidu then admitted "there is not another like you in the world"
(Gilgamesh, 4). Enkidu and Gilgamesh then became good friends that went on an adventure
together. This adventure entails cutting down a cedar forest to build a great monument for the gods
To accomplish they must kill the Guardian of the Cedar Forest, the great demon, and Humbaba the
Terrible. Enkidu dreamed that someone should be punished for the killing of Humbaba and the Bull
of Heavens and he soon becomes sick and suffers for twelve days before he dies. Gilgamesh wept
and then goes on the search for an everlasting life. He then finds Utnapisthim who gives him the
secret to everlasting life, which is staying awake for six days and seven

Conflict And Internal Conflicts In The Epic Of Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh tells a story of a powerful demigod whose internal conflicts prevent him
from becoming the great ruler he is meant to be. The story takes place in ancient Mesopotamia in
the most important city, Uruk. Gilgamesh was an impulsive king with much power who had no
moral limits on how he ruled his people. "Gilgamesh lets no girl go free to her bridegroom" (George
4) he ruled heavily with an iron fist and his sexual desires brought fear to the women in the city. His
unquestionable and unchallenged power forced the people of Uruk to plead to the gods to end the
torment of horrid ruling and wish to live in peace. The God's solution was to create an equal being
to balance the storm of Gilgamesh's heart. Thus, Enkidu is created with a general purpose to
complement Gilgamesh. As these opposite characters cross paths, Gilgamesh is challenged and his
authority is threatened. Their agreement to fight lead them to figure out their differences and join to
become the perfect duo. Slowly Gilgamesh is exposed to situations, that force him to address his
internal conflicts and mature to become a better ruler.
Self–expression can be viewed as weakness in a king. Under these circumstances Gilgamesh cannot
truly express himself due to his position of high power. Gilgamesh goes on a search of triumph to
give meaning to his life. He sets out with Enkidu on a conquest in search of Humbaba, the ogre who
guards of the Forest of Cedar, with the goal to slay him and bring back his

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Beowulf
The strengths of heroes in epic poems has been written on a countless amount of times. Why?
Because the heroes' strengths are plainly displayed in the literature and the weaknesses are not.
However, the weaknesses can be found where the heroes turn to for strength. In the Epic of
Beowulf, the journey begins with the terrorization of the Mead Hall by an awful monster named
Grendel. Beowulf comes in and saves the day by killing Grendel and he receives riches and fame for
doing so. Then, stricken with grief, Grendel's mother comes to the mead hall to avenge the death of
her son. Beowulf goes and fights Grendel's mother in her home in the swamp and manages to kill
her with a sword forged by giants. After this battle, he is more beloved than the one before and is
endlessness praised and rewarded. Then, fifty years later, Beowulf is the king of Geat and a thief
angers the dragon. Beowulf then decides to kill the dragon himself. He manages to kill the dragon
with the help of a Geat named Wiglaf, but loses his life in the process. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, our
hero has a rough beginning with actions that resemble a villain more than a hero. Then the God's
create Enkidu to tame Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Enkidu become best friends after their first
tumultuous meeting and go on many adventures together. After one adventure, Gilgamesh and
Enkidu return and Gilgamesh is propositioned by the goddess of love who he refuses. Then she is
angered and demands her father send the bull of heaven

Theme Of Hero In The Epic Of Gilgamesh
Various heroic characteristics emerges within the plot and the journey of Gilgamesh in The Epic of
Gilgamesh. Hero is defined as a person who goes out and achieves great deeds on behalf of the
group, tribe, civilization (Hero's Journey, 1). In the tablets, Gilgamesh was just "the tall, magnificent
and terrible", who had superpowers such as opening passes in the mountains or crossing the ocean
(Gilgamesh, 2), but he is known to be a hero among many people in the past until today. Every
heroes that exist in myths or epics had similar life patterns, and Joseph Campbell illustrates one of
the hero's journey cycle that supports why Gilgamesh is a hero, even though it cannot be applied to
The Epic of Gilgamesh word by word. Not only Gilgamesh is ... Show more content on
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Mentors often give training, equipment or advice that will help with the hero's journey and make
sure he or she is a "sensored traveler of the world" (Hero's Journey, 5). According to the tablets, not
only Enkidu was Gilgamesh's partner, but also he was a mentor. Since Enkidu lived around the
Cedar Forest and knew how to survive in the wild, Gilgamesh could rely on him while going
through the journey (Gilgamesh Meeting the Mentor, 1). The other main mentor was Ninsun, his
mother, who was "clever and wise, well versed in everything," (The Epic of Gilgamesh, 23). She
interpreted dreams for Gilgamesh and guided him into the right direction. This was the real start of
Gilgamesh's adventure in becoming a

Epic Of Gilgamesh Book Report
The Epic of Gilgamesh begins with a very vivid description of Gilgamesh and his strength. It tells of
how Anu, the sky god, tells Aruru, the mother goddess, to create something that was equal to
Gilgamesh in power. Aruru makes this man out of clay and calls him Enkidu. Enkidu was a mixture
between a man and some type of animal; therefore, he was able to live in the forest alongside of
animals. A trapper who hunted in that same forest became angry that Enkidu was setting traps free.
After going to his father, the trapper travels to Gilgamesh for help. Gilgamesh gives the trapper a
harlot named Shamhat to take back with him who will seduce Enkidu and turn him into a man.
When Shamhat reaches Enkidu, she beguiles him and he turns human. Now, Enkidu is not able to
roam with animals, instead he scares them. Shamhat reveals to Enkidu that Gilgamesh has had
dreams about him coming. Enkidu and Shamhat make a journey to Uruk so Enkidu can battle
Gilgamesh.
Following a fight between them, Enkidu and Gilgamesh resolve their problems and become friends.
Gilgamesh persuades Enkidu to go with him to fight Humbaba, the guard of the Cedar Forest so that
they can gain recognition for the defeat. The elders of Uruk and Gilgamesh's mother pray over them
and designate Enkidu as Gilgamesh's servant. Then the two start their journey to Cedar Forest. Each
time they stopped for rest, Gilgamesh ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
96). Shamash is telling Enkidu this when he is very ill and cursing the harlot. This quote displays
the bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. They were destined to battle each other, but after a little
spat between the two, they became like brothers who cherished each other. Shamash said this to
Enkidu to give him comfort during his suffering and to make known that Gilgamesh would not
forget about him. Gilgamesh and his people would mourn over

What Is The Myth Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh
The myth known as the Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem that took place in Mesopotamia about
2700 B.C. The journey of this epic hero revolves around Gilgamesh who is a legendary hero and the
king of Urak. This myth contains the departure, initiation, and return of Gilgamesh' which is what
makes this piece of literature so exciting. The departure and call of adventure Gilgamesh receives in
Mesopotamia is the beginning of a journey. Gilgamesh purposes that him and Enkidu "travel to the
great Cedar Forest and slay the giant Humbaba, who guards the forest for the harsh god Enlil"
(Gilgamesh, 96). Gilgamesh also refuses the quest to Cedar Forest when he begins battling
Humbaba. Gilgamesh's suggests simply kill Humbaba based on what Enkidu says. On this
adventure, Gilgamesh accepts supernatural aid from the Gods so that they can help him in his
quests. Even after hearing the warnings and blessing Gilgamesh and Enkidu ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
He listens and learns from his father figure which is new for Gilgamesh. The ultimate boon occurs
in an unexpected way, although the journey did not end how Gilgamesh expected it to instead he left
with much insight. He learns much. One lesson he learns is that no matter how much someone
works towards something there is never a guarantee that the individual achieves that goal. In the end
Gilgamesh got stronger, which is what a hero should do. I think it is crucial that a hero encounters
the things that Gilgamesh encountered, that is what makes a hero a hero. I personally believe this
specific journey adds insight to what a hero really looks like; someone who tries but doesn't
necessarily always succeed. Gilgamesh crosses the return threshold safe from his pursuit to Cedar
Forest. Although he didn't gain treasure, and Urak did not change Gilgamesh now sees the city
differently than he did before. This causes Gilgamesh to become a better

##du And Sharidu : The Creation Of Gilgamesh And Enkidu
Gilgamesh is the King of the world and the ruler of Uruk. He was an arrogant king and he took at
his leisure anybody's woman for his own pleasure. The God's of Uruk decided they needed to tame
him by having an equal made of him so they spoke to the goddess of creation who was a lady named
Aruru. The creation that Aruru had was Enkidu. Enkidu and Gilgamesh because very good friends,
more like brothers, they were inseparable. Later on in their friendship the two traveled to Cedar's
Forest which was the forest of where the God's lived. They ended up getting into a fight with
Humbaba who was the guardian of the forest. Gilgamesh decided that Humbaba must die so he took
an axe from Enkidu and struck Humbaba himself, then Enkidu struck him again and killed him.
"Now the mountains were moved and all the hills, for the guardian of the forest was killed" (Sandars
72). Because Humbaba was killed, Enkidu and Gilgamesh were able to enter the forest and travel as
plunders. When Anu found out what the two did to Humbaba he decided that one of the two must
die and suffer for Humbaba's killing. Enkidu ends up being the one to get punished. He is sick,
laying in his bed for days with Gilgamesh right by his side. Enkidu slowly dies after his sickness
continued to increase. "So Gilgamesh laid a veil, as one veils the bride, over his friend. He began to
rage like a lion, like a lioness robbed of her whelps" (Sandars 77). After Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh
was torn to pieces. He was in disbelief

The Battle Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh
Tablet IV tells the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu partaking in their adventure to the edge of the
Cedar Forest, and their encounter with a guard, an enemy. Throughout this battle, Gilgamesh loses
faith in the couples ability to defeat the guard but is ultimately talked back into his heroic mindset
by The Gods. In column VI, having just defeated the guard, Enkidu then finds himself in a similar
situation to Gilgamesh, whereby he doubts their ability to defeat Humbaba, and it comes down to
Gilgamesh, and his leadership to reiterate the ongoing theme of companionship in order to convince
Enkidu to continue fighting in order to finish the battle. The theme of the inevitability of death is
also shown throughout this column, with Enkidu's injury being a clear indication of what is
undoubtedly going to happen later in the poem. Column VI of the Epic of Gilgamesh begins with
Enkidu seeking reassurance and support from Gilgamesh in the lack of a God's presence. This
reiterates the theme of companionship that is coherent throughout the poem and conforms to the
epic hero cycle of being accompanied by a companion. Enkidu is injured and informs Gilgamesh "I
lost my strength in this crushed hand when the gate slammed shut." (Tablet IV. 38). In saying that he
has lost strength, Enkidu is not only informing Gilgamesh that he is physically harmed from the
previous battle, but is also bringing up one of the reoccurring themes of the poem: the inevitability
of death. His loss of strength

Theme Of Dreams In The Epic Of Gilgamesh
Since the beginning of time, every being on Earth has slept. Along with sleeping, dreams appear.
From the mind, dreams come and can often show one's deepest thoughts. These dreams have
endless interpretations and an impact on future actions. Because dreams can mean anything and are
the foundation for more intense feelings, dreams were used in the earliest form of literature. The
Epic of Gilgamesh uses the concept of dreams to explain Gilgamesh's future ambitions. Gilgamesh's
dreams provide visions compiled of different ideas and the way he interprets those dreams affect the
decisions he makes.
In one of Gilgamesh's dreams, he views a meteor, "fell down from heaven" (Sanders 2). Then his
mother, Ninsun, announces it is Gilgamesh's brother, Enkidu. However, Ninsun takes from his
dream that she created Enkidu and he will love Gilgamesh forever. These discoveries indicate
whoever is the meteor is going to be Gilgamesh's family. Although Gilgamesh feels loved, he
doesn't feel the companionship that his mother feels with Enkidu. It is also believed as symbolism
for the "life–death cycle" (Garth 13). This symbol is the constant circle of life and death. When one
dies, another comes onto Earth. Gilgamesh's has died in a sense and Enkidu was born to help rebuild
Gilgamesh. This is hinted because Enkidu has been created, and has started a new life for both
himself and Gilgamesh. More or less, this dream started a chain of events.
This cause and effect sequence started the course of

The Characteristics Of An Epic Hero In The Epic Of Beowulf
What makes epic hero stories so compelling? Is it the continuous freedom, courage, and value in
society or is it the significance implemented in who the characters are? Stories have been passed
down for generations. Some of the most famous examples is Beowulf, ¨Gilgamesh¨ , Iliad, and
¨Julius Caesar.¨ Epic stories portray the development of an epic heroes characterization through
courage, strength, and love of glory throughout the plot of a story. A major epic hero trait is courage.
The act of picking yourself up after you were thrown down to help others. In the story of Beowulf,
Beowulf saved the Danes. ´´And a young prince must be prudent like that, giving freely while his
father lives so that afterwards in age when fighting starts steadfast companions will stand by him
and hold the line. Behaviour that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere.´´
(SparkNotes Beowulf) This selection is describing Beowulf as a prince and warrior who is
courageous enough to fight his life for people he cares about. Since Grendel often attacks at night, it
displays the setting as a more hard and rigid area. The behavior of saving people brings power
within the epic hero. ´´ Beowulf got ready, donned his war–gear, indifferent to death; his mighty,
hand–forged, fine–webbed mail would soon meet with the menace underwater. It would keep the
bone–cage of his body safe.´´ (Spark Notes Beowulf) In this selection, Beowulf is getting ready to
go to war with Grendel's mother. He

The Epic Of Gilgamesh As A Hero In Mesopotamian Society
The epic of Gilgamesh is a story of an ambitious epic hero who influenced historical scene and huge
cultural differences in Mesopotamian society. Gilgamesh story implicates a sequence of religious
and adventure victories of the century. The story tells a long live life of a brutal warrior and
affective kings of different surrounding dominion. Gilgamesh was half human and one–third god, a
combination that made him great humanitarian as well as greatest among the combatants. He was
one the greatest with superhuman strength and was also proud preserved the wisdom of his people.
The story is about showing God giving strength while searching for the meaning of life. Eventually,
I don't think Gilgamesh would be considered as a hero in today society because of spiritual
characters and behaviors. He took an adventure to pursue his own desire and find out the secret life
of immortality. Gilgamesh was a true hero because he was the strongest, caring and the wisest in
Mesopotamian society. In the vast great mounting surrounded by secret huge Cedar Forest was the
home of a giant creature called Humbaba. This creature wasn't afraid of anything and he would
instantly kill anything that will come on his territory. Anybody who lived in the surrounding was
scared of being attacked in everyday life. The giant refused to allow anyone to walk through the
Cedar Forest without his approval. People who lived in Urok kingdom were all in danger and fear;
they decided to bring the matter to

The Bible, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The...
The Bible, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Epic of Gilgamesh – Are They Relevant
Today?
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh, the hero of this epic, achieves many feats of skill, which
makes him famous, but that is not the reason it is an epic. The Epic of Gilgamesh fulfills the
requirements of an epic by being consistently relevant to a human society and carries immortal
themes and messages. By looking at literature throughout history, one can infer the themes that are
consistently passed on to other generations of humans. It is in human nature for people to want to
excel in life and strive to make a name in this world for themselves. We want to be remembered by
name or for something we have done. Most, who ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is in human nature to want to be recognized and receive what one think he or she may deserve. In
the Bible, one of many themes is the quest for something greater than what the seeker currently has,
in terms of stature or wealth. One of many examples are the theft of Esau's birthright by Jacob. In
Genesis 25: 27–34, Esau Sells His Rights as the First–Born Son, Jacob wanted more than his proper
inheritance, he wanted the rights as the first–born son. His brother Esau was hungry and asked for
some soup that Jacob was cooking. Jacob answered, "I will give it to you if you give me your rights
as the first–born son." Jacob could not be content with what he already had. He wanted a larger
portion of the inheritance entitled to the one who is the first–born as well as the title. In The Epic of
Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh seeks to gain more fame by attempting feats of great proportion. One of the
feats is the slaying of Humbaba, the giant beast who is the keeper of a !! forest. By doing so,
Gilgamesh becomes famous for killing the dreaded Humbaba, even though it does not pose any
threat to people who stay out of that particular forest. "Together we will accomplish a work the
fame of which will never dieyour dream is good, your dream is excellent, the mountain which you
saw is Humbaba, Now, Surely, we will seize and kill him." He does this is for fame as well as access
to the cedar trees. After this

Human Nature In Gilgamesh
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh was mostly divine but shared minimal characteristics of a god.
Such characteristics were bold physical structures and the strength of a wild bull which he inherited
from his mother, Ninsun, the cow goddess. Everything else such as his characteristics, mentality,
and actions mirrors ours, humans which makes him more like us than a god. His actions portray the
burden of the flawed human nature that we all carry such as being aggressive, competitive, and
running away from our fears.
Initially, Gilgamesh was known as the tortuous, accomplished, and competitive king of Uruk who
drove people out of their sanity and sought trouble. He frequently held competitions to determine
the mightiest of all in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Furthermore, by agreeing to bet his life on the success of his quest, Gilgamesh reveals the desire for
being remembered by humans which are specified in the statement, "I must set my hand to cutting a
cedar tree, I must establish eternal fame" (II. 189–190). Being famous is not a necessity, but a want.
It's just the nature of human to not be satisfied with anything that we have. Something deep inside
us always desires for more. Gilgamesh was the king of Uruk, instead of creating the reputation of a
kind, considerate, generous king, he decided to slay a tremendous monster and tried to impress
others instead. It's the most common mistake that we humans always make. We tend to be so busy
impressing others and striving for their cheers with such frequency, that we forget to be ourselves
and think before we act.We often feel self–conscious and inferior to ourselves after we experience
failure, which we fail to tolerate. Impressing others and having the ought to be seen in a positive
perspective is what makes us compete against one another which might not always be morally right.
Sometimes it's better to be the best together rather than ruining relationships due to the consequence
of proving to the world that you're finessed. Gilgamesh harassing young girls and women of his
kingdom implies that it's also an aspect of the human nature to be aggressive and compel others to
do something for their favor. Although we are known to be the only

Beowulf And Gilgamesh Essay
Comparative English Essay
Compare the Beowulf poet's presentation of the battles with Grendel and his mother with the
Gilgamesh poet's depiction of Gilgamesh' battles with Huwawa and the Bull of Heaven.
Fame and glory have been the most admirable characteristics in the middle Ages and even before
Christ in the ancient civilizations. The epics of Gilgamesh and Beowulf are stories of heroism and
immortality gained through fame. The aim of the main characters, Beowulf and Gilgamesh, is to be
a good warrior by being courageous, respectful and prudent, a protector and servant to their king
(only in the beginning of Beowulf, as he later becomes king and Gilgamesh already is) and their
country. In both poems the fights of the main ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This was the place the guardian demon guarded " (p. 25, line 12 ff.). Even though the forest is
dangerous, still and full of shadows, it is inversely also described as beautiful and full of confusion
and noise: "There was the noise of swords, daggers and axes, confusions of noises in the Cedar
forest. This is how nature is: wild, dangerous, unpredictable but also beautiful. And this is also how
Huwawa's home and therefore also himself is described. This image of Huwawa being
representative for nature is straightened by Shamash's interfering to help Gilgamesh fighting
Huwawa, "Seven terrors are Huwawa's garments. The aura of Huwawa is the terrors. Helpless is the
one who enters the Cedar Forest wears the seven."(p.25, line 6ff.), by raising up "thirteen storms to
beat against the face of the aura of the demon Huwawa, beating their tempest feet off the earth wide
open, splitting the mountains, ( ) Gilgamesh was able to get at him" (p.27, line 14ff.). As Huwawa
then realizes that he is overwhelmed, he offers himself as a servant for Uruk, but Enkidu, who
himself is a child of the wilderness, but now got civilized by Gilgamesh, insists on killing Huwawa.
On the one side this is strange as Enkidu is also wild, like Huwawa, but Enkidu entered the social
life of a civilized nation and adapted its standards. Huwawa is wild and can't protect a cultured
nation; therefore he must die to let civilization win. The wood of the Cedar Forest that is used for
new city gates also shows

Analysis Of ' The Epic Of Gilgamesh ' Essay
Georgia Perimeter College
Epic of Gilgamesh
Jung M Gu
World Literature 129
Liam Madden
12/2/2016
Jung Gu
Professor Liam Madden
World Literature
11/30/16
The Epic of Gilgamesh
The story about Gilgamesh is one of the earliest pieces of world literature dating back to the second
millennium B.C.E. This story has been evolved gradually over a long span of a millennium, and has
been enjoyed by many nations. The Epic of Gilgamesh teaches life lessons that apply to the past and
present while revolving around the question of what it means to be human, and to experience the
phenomenon of friendship, love, and death.
Notably, the thing about human life is that everyone desires friendship or to be simply not be alone.
In the story of the epic of Gilgamesh talks about how friendship changed his whole life. Gilgamesh
used to be a terrible ruler led by arrogance, and brutality of his people. He was overconsumed with
power, therefore doing whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. It seemed that Gilgamesh grew
bored of life, and had a deep hole in his heart as such something was missing from his life. One day
Gilgamesh told his mother "I want a friend for my own counselor, for my own Counselor do I want
a friend" (Foster 106). He needed someone to confide in as well as talk too about his plans and
future. Gilgamesh had everything in his life from riches to power, but it seemed like the thing he
craved more than success was someone to take the journey beside him. In a

Gilgamesh And Enkidu 's Friendship
Gilgamesh and Enkidu's Friendship
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, friendship is a strong theme that drives the story. The bond that
Gilgamesh and Enkidu develop throughout the myth is a bond similar to that of brothers. Gilgamesh
was fearless, but arrogant and Enkidu was created by the gods specifically to keep the legacy crazed
Gilgamesh in check and to teach him humility; Enkidu becomes his conscience of sorts. Gilgamesh
was oppressing the people of Uruk and Enkidu and needed to put a stop to it by confronting and
fighting him. From what initially started as a violent encounter, their relationship bloomed into
something that neither of them could have expected. Their connection really takes off after their
encounter with the giant Hambaba and seals the deal on their friendship. They become basically
inseparable and after Enkidu passed it completely rocked Gilgamesh because he had lost a huge part
of his life. Gilgamesh and Enkidu's eventual bond is the perfect example of checks and balances
within life making this oldest hero's tale still very relevant today.
Gilgamesh was the son of the goddess Ninsun and the former King of Uruk Lugalbanda, this made
him one–third man and two–thirds god. He was created by Nintu, who is the great Mother Goddess,
out of clay. Many other gods had given him other qualities during his creation like beauty, courage,
and wisdom. Gilgamesh lived without any fear and did whatever he pleased even if it meant hurting
others. His behavior was so unruly

Literary Devices In 'The Epic Of Gilgamesh'
The author uses many literary devices in The Epic of Gilgamesh in order to describe the character of
Humbaba, the one who guards the cedar forest, because he wants the reader to be just as fearful of
the character as Enkidu, who is the speaker of lines 155–158 in the text. The character's fear of the
ugly beast is ironic because when Enkidu dies Gilgamesh too becomes afraid to die. Another reason
I chose this short passage is that the author uses imagery and foreshadowing to hint to the reader
what happens later on in the epic and I believe it is essential to the poem. The author also uses
repetition in order to stress the idea that Humbaba is not to be tormented. Enkidu warns Gilgamesh
not to go near the forest of cedars to kill Humbaba, but Gilgamesh laughs at him and asks Enkidu
why he is afraid to die all of the sudden. The paragraph I chose also prepares the reader for
unforeseen events that occur later on in the epic poem, including Enkidu's death.
Enkidu is weary of Gilgamesh's plan and is not in agreeance to join him initially. He questions
Gilgamesh's idea about the quest to kill Humbaba. Enkidu says, "How shall the likes of us go to the
forest of cedars, my friend" (line 155). Enkidu is not confident in his abilities to conquer Humbaba.
The author includes this line to symbolize Enkidu becoming more civilized. Enkidu shows fear for
someone he used to live amongst in the forest, and he is starting to realize that nature is something
to be feared. Gilgamesh

The Epic Of Gilgamesh Literary Analysis
The Epic is the name of the story and it was written by N.K. Sanders. It was first translated to
English by R. Campbell Thompson in 1930. N.K. Sanders did an article of the story. Gilgamesh is
about a half god and half human, who is the king of Uruk. He was very arrogant, which causes
unhappiness for his people, meeting and befriending Enkidu, and their adventures together. Towards
the ending this leads Gilgamesh to seek immortality. Gilgamesh learns that he can't live forever,it is
inevitable and unavoidable. He gradually comes to accept that he will one day die.
In the beginning, Gilgamesh likes to show off and for instance, even tried to sleep with a bride
before her husband at a wedding. Then he is guided by Enkidu shortly after to teach him how to be a
better, kinder, and wiser king. That way he can rule over his people. "Becoming aware of himself,
he sought a friend." (1.194–204) Enkidu and Gilgamesh have gotten into a fight and accept each
others strengths, then the two become best friends. One day Gilgamesh proposes an idea to Enkidu
that the two should go on an adventure because he wants him and Enkidu to become heroes. So,
they decided to go face and kill Humbaba. Humbaba was a ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
He was provoking Gilgamesh. He says to him, "Listen to me, not Humbaba's curses." (Chapter 5,
Tablet 5) Humbaba curses Enkidu and Gilgamesh finally makes up his mind and kills Humbaba.
Afterwards, they desecrate his remains. Towards the ending, the gods punish Gilgamesh and Enkidu
by giving Enkidu a slow, painful, and inglorious death for killing the demon Humbaba and the Bull
of Heaven. He has a dream one night that the Gods have decided that for killing Humbaba,
chopping down the Cedar, and killing the Bull of Heaven, either he or Gilgamesh must die. Enlil
chooses Enkidu and he immediately, under mysterious circumstances gets ill, and after much
suffering he dies. Gilgamesh is sad and heartbroken about his friend's

Relationship Between Gilgamesh And Achilles
Gilgamesh and Achilles, heroes in the ancient world, were great fighters. The goal for both was to
achieve an immortal name for themselves, even if it meant dying. Yet, when they went into major
battles accompanied by their best friends, their friendship had an impact on their behavior which
resulted in deadly consequences. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh and his best friend Enkidu go
up against and kill the terrifying monster Humbaba. Afterwards, Gilgamesh's unintelligent actions
lead to more strife in which he insults the goddess Ishtar and as a result she punishes Enkidu. As a
punishment, Enkidu dies of sickness and Gilgamesh's life changes. His life changes in a way were
he feels a need to find answers on achieving immortality, so he ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
During this moment in the text, the bond of brothers is broken between Gilgamesh and Enkidu due
to the selfless actions of Gilgamesh. "Which of your husbands did you love forever? Which could
satisfy your endless desires? Let me remind you of how they suffered..."(133). Ishtar is enraged and
to revenge Gilgamesh she uses the bull of heaven to cause destruction but Enkidu steps in and helps
his brother killing the bull. Enkidu knows death is upon them as he has a dream the following night
"I dreamed that we had offended the gods, they met in council and Anu said, "They have
slaughtered the Bull of Heaven and killed Humbaba. Watchman of the Cedar Forest. Therefore one
of the two must die. Enkidu, not Gilgamesh, is the one who must die (141)". This is where life for
both brothers gets challenging, their attitude about death is changing now that they both realize
Enkidu knows he is the one going to die and Gilgamesh realizes there is not much he can do expect
prays to the Gods. At first, when they traveled to the Cedar Forest to kill Humbaba both brothers
had fears of going up against the monster but they knew if they can protect each other it was going
to be okay. Now, Enkidu is dying he has accepted his fate while Gilgamesh weeps that it is all one
big misunderstanding. Enkidu says to Gilgamesh

The Greatest Lesson Of The Cedar Forest
Death is an inevitable and inescapable fact of human life, which is the greatest lesson Gilgamesh
learns. Gilgamesh is bitter that only the gods can live forever and says as much when Enkidu warns
him away from their fight with Humbaba. Life is short, the two warriors tell each other on their way
to the deadly confrontation in the Cedar Forest, and the only thing that lasts is fame. But when
Enkidu is cursed with an inglorious, painful death, their bravado rings hollow. Shamash, the sun
god, consoles Enkidu by reminding him how rich his life has been, but though Enkidu finally
resigns himself to his fate, Gilgamesh is terrified by the thought of his own. Mesopotamian theology
offers a vision of an afterlife, but it gives scant comfort–the dead spend their time being dead. If
Gilgamesh's quest to the Cedar Forest was in spite of death, his second quest, to Utnapishtim, is for
a way to escape it. Utnapishtim's account of the flood reveals how ludicrous such a goal is, since
death is inextricably woven into the fabric of creation. But life is woven in as well, and even though
humans die, humanity continues to live. The lesson that Gilgamesh brings back from his quest isn't
ultimately about death–it's about life. Although we never learn exactly why the gods unleashed the
great flood in Gilgamesh, we know why Ea rescues Utnapishtim and through him all the creatures
and people of the world. As the god of wisdom and crafts, Ea is responsible for human attributes
including

The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay
At the heart of a tale about slaying mystical creatures, scorning a goddess, and traveling to
fantastical places, lies the narrative of a profound friendship between two men. In The Epic of
Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian literary masterpiece, all of its events are centered around the
development of the friendship between Gilgamesh, the tyrannical and stubborn king of Uruk, and
the man created by the Gods to both complement and challenge his nature: Enkidu. Each of the
three dream sequences in the epic represent different stages of Enkidu's life – one portends his birth,
another foretells the actions that will ultimately lead to his demise, and the final predicts his death.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh dreams are utilized as a tool to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Gilgamesh's mother, Ninsun, also aptly interprets that Enkidu will be a "mighty comrade" and
become "[Gilgamesh's] saviour" ; his mother also states that Enkidu "often will save [Gilgamesh]."
The repetition of the idea of saving suggests that Gilgamesh will be dependent on Enkidu, which is
contrary to the nature of Gilgamesh, who often appears as the most powerful and independent
character in the epic. This particular language strengthens the subtle foreshadowing that Gilgamesh
will undergo a radical change in his outlook on life and death. As such, after Gilgamesh and Enkidu
"kiss each other and form a friendship," Gilgamesh begins to reform his ways and become a more
just ruler. After some time, the two companions decide to journey into the Cedar Forest to slay the
divine demon, Humbaba, in order to establish glory and eternal fame. Initially, Enkidu is weary and
repeatedly warns Gilgamesh with the use of potent and acerbic words – "Humbaba, his voice is the
Deluge, his speech is fire and his breath is death!" As they travel to the Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh,
through dream incubation, has a series of five dreams filled with violent imagery indicating the
consequences of killing Humbaba. However, like the true "companion" and "saviour" he

The Epic Of Gilgamesh : The Jeopardy Of A Hero
The Jeopardy of a Hero The Epic of Gilgamesh was an epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia. The
Epic of Gilgamesh, is often known as the earliest surviving great work of literature, by an unknown
author but translated by N.K. Sanders. The epic poem, tells a creative story about a bold hero named
Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story that takes place in Summer of Uruk, in the Middle
East around 2700 B.C. Gilgamesh is half man, half god. Enkidu, Gilgamesh's friend is a man that
was created from clay to balance out Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Enkidu emerge to depart to various
adventures. During the initiation of their very first adventure Gilgamesh and Enkidu go to the Cedar
Forest to fight the ruthless monster, Humbaba. Later on, Enkidu ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Gilgamesh and Enkidu are reluctant to go on the adventure, and fight off the evil of the land.
Following his adventure, Gilgamesh goes on a road of trials. Gilgamesh and Enkidu sacrifice
themselves to fight the vicious Humbaba. They prepare to invade the forbidden Cedar Forest and
fight the demon Humbaba that is "armed... with sevenfold terrors, terrible to all flesh is Humbaba.
When he roars it is like the torrent of the storm, his breath like fire, and his jaws are death itself. He
guards the Cedars" (Sandars 8). Gilgamesh and Enkidu are ready to defeat Humbaba and take the
fame and glory. Gilgamesh refuses the quest when he fights Humbaba and puts down the offer to be
his servant. Through trial and error, Gilgamesh eventually accepted the idea of killing Humbaba.
The relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is so strong that they killed Humbaba together,
"Gilgamesh took the axe in his hand, he drew the sword from his belt, and he struck Humbaba with
a thrust of the sword to the neck and Enkidu his comrade struck the second blow. At the third blow
Humbaba fell " (Sandars 17). Gilgamesh and Enkidu's killed Humbaba together. They have an
unbreakable friendship. The two of them just watch as they " set Humbaba before the gods, before
Enlil... who is Humbaba's master and the god of

Gilgamesh's and Scrooge's Character Changes Essay
Gilgamesh's' and Scrooges' Character Changes
The character Gilgamesh from Epic of Gilgamesh and the character Scrooge from Charles Dickens'
A Christmas Carol grow during their respective storylines and experience a number of character
changes. Through a series of trials, one sees both
Gilgamesh and Scrooge transform from powerful but selfish individuals to beings
possessing kindness and empathy.
In the beginning, Gilgamesh is a fantastic athlete and warrior. As one would expect from an
individual who is two thirds god and one third man, his beauty, strength and courage surpassed all
others. He built great walls for his city and temples for the gods. Gilgamesh's flaw, however, is that
he is a poor king. He is known for ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
More importantly, the friendship that is formed after their battle eases Gilgamesh's lonesomeness
and is the first step towards his socialization.
The next improvement that we see in Gilgamesh involves his voyage to the Cedar Forest where he
and Enkidu kill Humbaba. Gilgamesh's motives are both for his personal gain and for the good of
his people. Gilgamesh is honored for his actions and the people of Uruk enjoy the newly opened
Cedar Forest. The destruction of Humbaba and opening of the Cedar Forest provides more resources
for the people of Uruk and betters their lives. Here we see Gilgamesh uncharacteristically thinking
with others in mind. Right when Gilgamesh seems to be making progress in becoming a better king,
however, he returns to a state of selfishness after Enkidu's death. Rather than remaining in Uruk, as
he should, he travels to find Utnapishtim in search of immortality.
During Gilgamesh's search for immortality, we once again see improvement in his character. When
Utnapishtim offers Gilgamesh a rejuvenating plant, Gilgamesh plans to give it to the elderly in Uruk
rather than keeping it to himself. Here we see that Gilgamesh has been humbled. Although a snake
steals the rejuvenating plant, Gilgamesh still learns a great deal from his journey. From Utnapishtim,
Gilgamesh learns a great deal about immortality as well as responsibility. This knowledge is the
final step in Gilgamesh's transition to a good

The Wilderness And Environment In Ancient Epics
The significance of the wilderness and environment in the three ancient texts, the Ramayana, the
Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey is indisputable. It goes beyond just being the backdrop for the
action in the epics and instead, influences the action in some way. For this very reason, the
environment becomes as important as the central characters in the epics. The Ramayana's Cedar
forest was a den of mystical creatures, sages and demons that created challenges for the hero. It
occasionally altered the character's behaviors and tested their will to follow their dharma, which is
"an individual's duty fulfilled by observance of custom or law" ("dharma"). In the Epic of
Gilgamesh, the wilderness serves as a frightening force for the hero to tame and civilize, resulting in
it being one of the themes carried out through the narrative. The sea in the Odyssey hurled obstacles
at the hero and his men that they had to fight through on their journey back home and was
representative of the Ancient Greeks' way of living under the influence of the gods. These
environments, no matter how distant in cultural context, all have a significant effect on their
respective characters and story lines.
Pancavati, which is the forest in the Ramayana, is the place where Rama, the prince of Ayodya,
withdraws to after being exiled from his kingdom.. Throughout the epic, the forest is often viewed
as an antithesis of the kingdom, where all tradition is has to self–imposed because there is no norm
to

The Epic Of Gilgamesh And Odysseus And The Odyssey
The Odyssey, written in 725 BCE. in Greece is a tale of a great warrior Odysseus, trying to return
home to his wife after fighting a great war. The Epic of Gilgamesh, written earlier in 2700 B.C. in
Mesopotamia, is the tale of a King Gilgamesh who goes on a quest to find immortality. Throughout
these two epics' both Gilgamesh and Odysseus are required to fight for their survival. In the Epic of
Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk has to fight Humbaba, a giant beast who is the guardian of the Cedar
Forest. While Odysseus lands in the island of the Cyclopes and is trapped in a cave with a giant.
The first enemy Gilgamesh encounters is Humbaba. After three days and one hundred fifty leagues
they finally arrive at the Cedar Forest. After some fighting in an act of desperation Humababa
pleads for his life, he says "O Glgamesh, spare my life!" (Foster 60). Following some discussion
between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Gilgamesh finally gives in and kill Humbaba. But not before
Humbaba curses both of them. The first enemy Gilgamesh kills, later has great consequences. It will
kill citizens of his city, turn the Gods against him and even kill his best friend. The first enemy like
in The Odyssey could've been avoided all together, but the protagonists kill them because they have
too much pride. The first enemy Odysseus meets on his journey is a Cyclops named Polyphemus.
Odysseus and his men entered the cave, where they helped themselves to some cheese and wine
they later fall asleep.

Comparison Of Human Nature In The Epic Of Gilgamesh
Throughout the famous "Epic of Gilgamesh, the king of an Ancient Sumerian city called Uruk
portrays the burden of the flawed human nature that we all carry. Although Gilgamesh was two third
divine and one–third human, his actions were very much alike of a human's. He shared minimal
characteristics with his mother the Ninsun, the cow goddess, such as bold physical structures and
the strength of a wild bull with his mother, Ninsun, but the rest of him including his personality,
ways of thinking, and mentality was a human's nonetheless.
Initially, Gilgamesh was known as the tortuous, superb, accomplished, and fierce king of Uruk who
drove people out of their sanity and sought trouble. He was an arrogant, overconfident being who
loved to prove to himself that he's undefeatable even though he knew it from the core of his heart. In
fact, the whole kingdom of Uruk knew it. He frequently held competitions to determine the
mightiest of all in the kingdom which required the presence of every single victim. Unfortunately,
no man was spared to be the opponent of the man who had the vitality of a wild bull. It was said that
" He was harrying the young men of Uruk beyond reason, Gilgamesh leaves no son to his father!"
(101, line 59–60).The intense thirst for competing that Gilgamesh had, conveys how it's the human
nature to have a big an ego, and prove to themselves that they are the finest of all. Humans have the
instinct to be competitive and thrive for victory. There's always a part

Beowulf and Gilgamesh
Comparative English Essay
Compare the Beowulf poet's presentation of the battles with Grendel and his mother with the
Gilgamesh poet's depiction of Gilgamesh' battles with Huwawa and the Bull of Heaven.
Fame and glory have been the most admirable characteristics in the middle Ages and even before
Christ in the ancient civilizations. The epics of Gilgamesh and Beowulf are stories of heroism and
immortality gained through fame. The aim of the main characters, Beowulf and Gilgamesh, is to be
a good warrior by being courageous, respectful and prudent, a protector and servant to their king
(only in the beginning of Beowulf, as he later becomes king and Gilgamesh already is) and their
country. In both poems the fights of the main characters ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Enkidu and Gilgamesh can only win against nature and even gods by cooperating, which again is a
sign of culture. It shows us that a civilization can withstand everything and even fight the Gods
plans.
In the Beowulf poem the battle scenes are described more vividly descriptive and including a lot of
symbolism. The first fight is between Beowulf and Grendel, "a fiend out of hell, [ ] grim demon
haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in
misery among the banished monsters, Clain's clan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemned
as outcasts." (p. 6) Beowulf sets out to kill this monster in order to achieve fame. He isn't forced to
do so, especially as Grendel doesn't attack the Geats (his clan) but the Danes. Nevertheless Beowulf
settles out to destroy the demon and declares that he will fight Grendel there is a feast: "Now I mean
to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat." (p. 15) Afterwards there is a feast in
Hereot and at dusk Beowulf prepares for the fight and awaits Grendel's attack. "Then down the
brave man lay with his bolster under his head and his whole company of sea rovers at rest beside
him." Beowulf's companions stay at his side and this is a symbol for their closed circle of society.
The Germanic culture is based on the

Comparing The Epic Of Gilgamesh
Pride
The Epic of Gilgamesh was translated by Andrew George and the Iliad was written by Homer.
These are both heroic epics that show some similarities in their stories. The Epic of Gilgamesh came
to us in a fragmentary form and was written in some form we no longer have. It possibly influenced
the Iliad because the Iliad showed some modification of the epic and was written later than
Gilgamesh. Both stories show some similarities in theme, such as pride, morality, friendship, love,
fate, and free will. In both the books, pride seems like a big topic. Comparing the pride in the
character Gilgamesh in the, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and Achilles in the Iliad shows that the
mistakes both make is that they can not let go of their pride. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This further insults Achilles' pride by showing that he cannot even protect the woman he loves.
In tablet III, "The Preparation for the Expedition to the Forest of Cedar," Gilgamesh and Enkidu
were scared to go on this journey and because of the pride they could go back home, and they had to
succeed. In the end of tablet II, "Gilgamesh heard the words of the senior advisers, he looked with a
[laugh at] Enkidu...: ['Now, my friend, how frightened I am!] [In fear of him shall I change my
mind]" (22). The elders warned Gilgamesh and Enkidu that they should not go into the forest
because this is not an accomplishable journey. Even the goddess Ninsun, Gilgamesh's mother, warns
them not to go, but they still went. In tablet IV, "The Journey of the Cedar Forest," Gilgamesh got
scared and had multiple dreams. When he woke up, Gilgamesh said, "[The dream that I had [was an
utter confusion:] in [a] mountain valley... [The mountain fell down on top of..., [then] we like..."
(30). The readers do not know the full dream because it was written in fragments, but we can
understand Gilgamesh 's fear. During the journey, Gilgamesh has five dreams and every time
Gilgamesh tells a dream to Enkidu, Enkidu interprets the dream in a positive way. He deciphers the
dream that the gods wants Gilgamesh to go and kill the protector of the cedar forest, Humbaba, even
though both of them are scared to kill him. Both travelers had five changes to go back home and
give up on their

Gilgamesh And Enkidu Analysis
Enkidu continues to push Gilgamesh to smite Humbaba. On p. 44, once Enkidu makes the final case
to Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba, Humbaba curses both of them: "My friend, Humbaba who guards
the Forest [of Cedar –]/ [finish him,] slay him, [do away with his power,] /.../ Humbaba
heard...and...[bitterly cursed them:]/ 'May the pair of them not grow old,/ besides Gilgamesh his
friend, none shall bury Enkidu!" Humbaba curses Enkidu for fervently encouraging a hesitant
Gilgamesh to kill him. Although Gilgamesh in in the position to kill Humbaba, it is Enkidu who
commits the worse crime: betraying the natural world–the world that raised him. Humbaba entrusted
Enkidu with his life, to protect him from civilization. Enkidu does not bend to any of ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
This door and Enkidu resemble each other in that both of their transformations had crude beginnings
and developed into refined products of civilization. Enkidu ripped the cedar tree from its natural
roots in the forest and sculpted the hunk of wood into a manicured door. Enkidu himself was a
beast–man living naturally until he was removed from the forest to go through a similar grooming
process brought on by civilization. Just how Enkidu polished the cedar tree, Shamhat, the Uruk
people, and Gilgamesh polished Enkidu. Now, he wants to destroy the door he fashioned, this
symbol of civil cultivation, for he believes that he is dying as a consequence of becoming civilized.
Enkidu believes that if he maintained his status in the wilderness, never ventured off to have sex
with Shamhat, never drank the people's ale and bread, he would not be dying. He believes
civilization has corrupted him; he should have remained pure and natural as a wild man in the forest.
After cursing the door, he then goes to curse the trapper–man and Shamhat, the two people who are
responsible for bringing him into Uruk society. Shamhat more significantly, is responsible for
bringing Enkidu into the civilized

What Is Gilgamesh A Hero
What is a hero? Is it a person who is admired and seen as one with courage, nobility, and heroic
achievements, humble , and helpful and always looking for other's favors? Or is it someone who is
forcing his will through tyranny to be praised as a hero? Of course it's the first option. Gilgamesh is
supposed to be a story of a hero with no comparison of his strength, power and nobility. But the
truth about Gilgamesh is that all he is looking for is his fame and fortune. The king's tyranny and
narcissism had led his people to even say "should a shepherd savage his own flock? "(73)
Gilgamesh was more like a celebrity who is doing charity in public and on television ,just so people
speak about how great he is , and how kind hearted ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
So the plan was effective Gilgamesh knew that Enkidu would be there at that time. So when Enkidu
fought with Gilgamesh, he showed Gilgamesh how strong he was. And even with Enkidu being the
one who lost and Gilgamesh the one that won, Gilgamesh was able to test his courage and strength
by fighting him. He knew that if he won that time, he probably wouldn't win the next time and he
would have a very powerful person who can take everything from him especially fame. Therefore,
he decided to be a friend of him, while still keeping him slightly below him as his subordinate. He
could turn off the rise of Enkidu's fame by putting him under his shadow, and he could use his
strength, wildness and kind heart in more dangerous tasks that would give Gilgamesh more fame
and make him into a hero that people would love and talk about forever making his name rise.
Becoming Enkidu's friend was a very wise choice, and would only benefit Gilgamesh to make his
name lasting and in the mind of people. When Gilgamesh wanted to convince Enkidu to go with
him to kill Humbaba, he said "I will kill Humbaba, I will make a lasting name for myself, and I will
stamp my fame on men's minds forever."(Gilgamesh 94) He was talking about his name and his
fame, as it was all what matter and that is the best thing in the world. It could be away of him to
make Enkidu desiring the same too, but if that was true he would be more considering speaking
about Enkidu's power

Ancient Sumerians: The Homosexuality In The Epic Of Gilgamesh
"Surpassing all kings, powerful and tall, beyond all others, violent, splendid, a wild bull of a man,
unvanquished leader, hero in the front lines, beloved by his soldiers...(71)". This excerpt from The
Epic of Gilgamesh describes Gilgamesh as "powerful" and "violent", attributes which may possibly
be real characteristics that the ancient Sumerians valued in their time. Although today's society may
find these qualities quite reprehensible, the ancient Sumerians greatly valued prominent physical
strength, uttermost bravery, religious beliefs, and intimate relationships and friendships. Evidence of
these aforementioned qualities are displayed in numerous occurrences in the epic. One of the most
important qualities that the ancient Sumerians ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"They embraced and kissed. They held hands like brothers. They walked side by side. They became
true friends (90)". The clear companionship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is demonstrated by the
ways they affectionately treat each other. "They embraced and kissed" suggests that there were
distinctive social customs in ancient Sumer in comparison to the habitual actions of our present
society. In our present–time, many would find Gilgamesh' and Enkidu's embracing to be a sign of
homosexuality. In the time of the ancient Sumerians, it was never regarded as an attraction of the
same sex, but rather a gesture of close friendship. The ancient Sumerians also greatly valued
persistent flattery and encouragement in their friendships. "Enkidu saw his [friend's] dismay and
said, 'Dear friend, great warrior, noble hero, don't lose courage, remember this: two boats lashed
together will never sink, a three–ply rope is not easily broken. If we help each other, what harm can
come to us?' (121)". This quote is just a tidbit, but it exhibits the amiable motivation that ancient
Sumerians thought mandatory in any genuine friendship. Throughout the entire epic, Gilgamesh and
Enkidu always praise each other, and much to an extent. But again, the ancient Sumerians had
completely different social customs than the existing state of common traditions in today's society,
so they may have thought it conventional to compliment one another to the extreme. It can be
decided that in ancient Sumer, friendships were a cause of prosperity and profoundly

The Journey Into Cedar Forest
Gilgamesh, powerful, charismatic, and burly that he was hankering to make a title for himself,
therefore commencing on a perilous journey into Cedar Forest. Gilgamesh presumed that if he
executed the imposing Humbaba, the citizens of Uruk would gaze upon him with astonishment and
awe. He yearned for his name to surpass his demise so that all would know the glorious king of
Uruk who defeated the fearsome Humbaba. Gilgamesh blatantly disregards nature and its beauty in
his conquest to slay the monstrous Humbaba. Nature has been long forgotten and demolished by
beings who do not understand nor value its beauty.
Humbaba was delegated by Enlil to be entrusted with the forest to keep human beings whose only
desire was to log the luscious trees that thrived within the woodland. He was viewed by the majority
as a ferocious beast that bestowed fear in all. In contrast to that, we see near the end of book V that
Humbaba may not be as malicious as he was portrayed. He even begs for his life, saying that if they
spare him, then he will become their personal slave. This makes Gilgamesh have a moment of
contemplation on whether or not he should end Humbaba's life. However, this moment is quickly
terminated by Enkidu as he encourages Gilgamesh to continue with his mission. Though we will
never know if Humbaba truly meant what he uttered to Gilgamesh we feel empathy for him. Seem
genuine, yearning to safeguard the forest as he was put on Earth to do so and for doing so he was
viciously

Gilgamesh Analysis

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Gilgamesh Analysis