...Zoe Wiener 9/18/13 English 101 Gilgamesh vs. Oedipus What does being powerful mean? Some may say that being powerful means knowing all things; that you do not make mistakes. Some may say that when you are great and wise you have no weaknesses. However, in the “Epic of Gilgamesh” and “Oedipus the king” this is not true. Both all mighty kings seek the very advice that they once gave. Neither one of them are perfect and do not seek help. Their stories are very different but are similar in the struggle they face. The thought of someone being powerful is complicated in the aspect that people do not go through the same things that normal other people do. Although they are portrayed as powerful, both characters share the normal weakness with all human beings. Therefore, the two stories demonstrate the weaknesses of even the most dominate humans. Gilgamesh is an almighty, half-god and half-human. In the “Epic of Gilgamesh”, Benjamin Walker starts off stating how flawless he is. The text says, “He knew the ways, was wise in all things” (p. 38). Which exemplifies his power and prudent ways. It continues on about Gilgamesh and his supremeness. Later on Gilgamesh makes a friend named Enkidu. Enkidu was, “shaggy with hair was his whole body, he was made lush with head hair, like a woman, the locks of his hair grew thick as a grain field” (p. 40). The quote shows how Enkidu was portrayed in the beginning before showing how Gilgamesh fell in love with him. Gilgamesh becomes great friends...
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...INTRODUCTION THE OLDEST STORY IN THE WORLD In Iraq, when the dust blows, stopping men and tanks, it brings with it memories of an ancient world, much older than Islam or Christianity. Western civilization originated from that place between the Tigris and the Euphrates, where Hammurabi created his legal code and where Gilgamesh was written -- the oldest story in the world, a thousand years older than the Iliad or the Bible. Its hero was a historical king who reigned in the Mesopotamian city of Uruk in about 2750 BCE. In the epic, he has an intimate friend, Enkidu, a naked wild man who has been civilized through the erotic arts of a temple priestess. With him Gilgamesh battles monsters, and when Enkidu dies, he is inconsolable. He sets out on a desperate journey to find the one man who can tell him how to escape death. Part of the fascination of Gilgamesh is that, like any great work of literature, it has much to tell us about ourselves. In giving voice to grief and the fear of death, perhaps more powerfully than any book written after it, in portraying love and vulnerability and the quest for wisdom, it has become a personal testimony for millions of readers in dozens of languages. But it also has a particular relevance in today's world, with its polarized fundamentalisms, each side fervently believing in its own righteousness, each on a crusade, or jihad, against what it perceives as an evil enemy. The hero of this epic is an antihero, a superman (a superpower, one...
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...Adva Asraf English 391-0500- Pamplin January 14th, 2016 Essay #1 Epic heroism usually denotes to an individual of highest social class such as great kings or leaders. Epic heroes are outstanding fighters, sometimes carrying some divine powers. To show his heroic elements, the hero must confront some supernatural enemies, quests, war, or adversity. The Epic of Gilgamesh depicts most of these characteristics of epic heroism. The description about his birth to the journey and adventures in his life meets the characteristics of an epic hero. Although, at some points, Gilgamesh engages in acts of selfishness and arrogance, I believe he achieves the characteristics of an epic hero and portrays those characteristics throughout the epic. Gilgamesh is described as a son of a mortal man and a goddess, which makes him a one-third man and a two-thirds god. During his birth, Gilgamesh is marked out as a unique type of a person who has connections with both the mortal world and the divine world. The divine birth is very central and important to the various adventures and achievements to come into his life. “When the gods created Gilgamesh they gave him a perfect body…..Two-thirds they made him a god and one-third man (Mitchell, 13). Like most epic heroes, Gilgamesh embarks on heroic quests where he fights with the guardian Humbaba, which was a monster of the holy forest in order to achieve immortal status. Gilgamesh reveals his courageous nature by defying his advisers, including...
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...Mythic Truths Dr. Himes English 4003.3 09/30/14 Gilgamesh: The Return Gilgamesh sits stoically, with both feet tucked under him. He feels the dew from the fleece tickle against his muscular legs. All he has to do is remain awake for six days and seven nights and Utnapishtim will grant him eternal life. After witnessing the death of his beloved Enkidu he is afraid his own lifeforce will soon leave his body. He is determined not to suffer the same miserable fate as Enkidu. “I, Gilgamesh, the mighty ruler of Uruk,” he thought to himself; “Slayed Humbaba, in his forest and felled the great Bull of Heaven. Surely I will be able to complete this test.” It is not long before Gilgamesh begins to feel the weight of his eyelids as he strains with every fiber of his considerably muscular being to stay awake; however, he is weary from his long journey and cannot best his mortality—Gilgamesh succumbs to a deep slumber. In what seemed like only a moment, Gilgamesh is awakened by the smell of bread baking over burning embers. Utnapishtim explains to Gilgamesh that he has been asleep almost seven days. Each day Utnapishtim’s wife has baked a loaf of bread for everyday that Gilgamesh has been asleep. Gilgamesh begins to protest, but upon seeing the rotting bread lying on the ground, he becomes distraught at the realization that will not escape his mortality—it is his destiny to die. Not wanting Gilgamesh to leave empty handed, Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh about a flower that can restore...
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...Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh is epic poetry from Mesopotamia and is among the earliest known works of literature. Scholars believe that it originated as a series of Sumerian legends and poems about the protagonist of the story,Gilgamesh, which were fashioned into a longer Akkadian epic much later. The most complete version existing today is preserved on 12 clay tablets from the library collection of 7th-century BC Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. It was originally titled He who Saw the Deep (Sha naqba īmuru) or Surpassing All Other Kings (Shūtur eli sharrī). The story revolves around a relationship between Gilgamesh (probably a real ruler in the late Early Dynastic II period ca. 27th century BC)[1] and his close companion, Enkidu. Enkidu is a wild man created by the gods as Gilgamesh's equal to distract him from oppressing the citizens of Uruk. Together they undertake dangerous quests that incur the displeasure of the gods. Firstly, they journey to the Cedar Mountain to defeat Humbaba, its monstrous guardian. Later they kill the Bull of Heaven that the goddess Ishtar has sent to punish Gilgamesh for spurning her advances. The latter part of the epic focuses on Gilgamesh's distressed reaction to Enkidu's death, which takes the form of a quest for immortality. Gilgamesh attempts to learn the secret of eternal life by undertaking a long and perilous journey to meet the immortal flood hero, Utnapishtim. Ultimately the poignant words addressed to Gilgamesh in the midst...
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...Larsen 1 Mark Larsen Mrs. Anderson Honors English IV July 31, 2011 The Epic of Gilgamesh A man who wrestled giants, killed heavenly bulls, and even killed a herd of lions still was only man and never a god. Gilgamesh was a classic and may be one of the first epic heroes. He had many of the qualities that fit that role. On the other hand Enkidu fit more of an antihero than an epic one. The culture of the story, from what the book explains, took place at around the time of biblical times and A.D. Also there are many religious influences in the story that even intertwine with stories from the bible. You can tell that these religious comparisons came into the story because it was an oral tradition. Gilgamesh was a valiant hero who cared for his people and his companions. The story of Gilgamesh was a tremendous discovery for ancient literature. Gilgamesh was your typical epic hero. He was stronger than any man and the world. He was even two thirds god and one third man. Gilgamesh cared for his people and loved his best friend and they both never left each other’s side. Gilgamesh during his life knew no obstacles that he could not overcome. In the end he died, but he was able to fulfill his quest by finding the Larsen 2 flower that granted eternal life, still to lose it to a snake. An epic hero can’t live forever and is still only man. Enkidu was not your classic antihero, but when in comparison to Gilgamesh, he is not the epic hero. Enkidu was a fearful...
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...words to Noah on a fateful night long ago. A flood was the only way to cleanse the earth. The thought process of the Gods in The Epic of Gilgamesh was very similar; they also felt the need to rid the earth of humans. The biblical story of the flood was influenced by The Epic of Gilgamesh because the Gods had similar incentives, both characters were told to do related tasks, and both had kindred outcomes. The gods in The Epic of Gilgamesh were disgusted by what they saw from human beings. The sheer wickedness of their souls was unbearable. In “The Story of The Flood” God saw how his earth had become sin stricken. In both stories the Gods...
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...Running head: THE TWO FLOODS 1 Noah and Gilgamesh the Two Great Floods Jonathan Bailey Oakland City University English 201 World Lit. The Two Floods 2 The History The epic story of Gilgamesh has been an interest of religious patrons since it was found in the ruins of the great library of Nineveh in the mid-nineteenth century, along with its substantial similarities to the great flood in Noah’s day. The remaining portion of this epic story, which very possibly dates back to the third millennium B.C., and holds little if almost no Christian values, as it distresses the typical beliefs in the myths related with the pagan societies of the period in time. Nevertheless, a number of religious patrons have deliberated on the notion of creation and the hereafter introduced in the epic story. There are even select researchers that have accepted the similarities in the Babylonian and Hebrew findings, while all are not ready to make the connection in the two floods. (Keller, 1956) (anonymous, 2013) There are countless stories telling of floods that have come from ancient sources strewn around the globe. The accounts that were translated from the cuneiform tablets were comprised of some of the most primitive remaining text, having recognizable associations. Cuneiform script was created by the Sumerians and passed on by the Akkadians. Babylonian as well as Assyrian are dialects of Akkadian, and both have instances of floods in them. Despite the fact that there...
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...we need very special guests too, so please, stand up and welcome the greatest heroes of Greek mythology, who inspired millions of people throughout the world and time - Gilgamesh from The Epic of Gilgamesh and Achilles from Iliad. Tonight, they are going to reveal secrets never heard before and change your perception of life forever. It is amazing how the stories you will hear, happened so far back in the past are applicable for our life today. Host: Hello Gilgamesh and Achilles. You look amazing tonight. How do you feel? Gilgamesh: Great! Achilles: A little old, but good! Host: How do you like the couch? Is it comfortable enough for you? Gilgamesh: Well, my bed in Uruk was much better, but I can survive on that coach for an hour. Achilles: It’s better than sitting on the floor. Host: You are funny! I will ask to be changed next time you come. Ok. Let’s start with the serious part now. Gilgamesh, Achilles, you know that you are the most famous heroes of all time, and all the people around the world who are watching you now have read your stories in the books “The Epic of Gilgamesh” and “Iliad”. Everybody knows what happened in your lives and the descriptions of your journeys. How does it feel to be still known by everybody after more than 2,000 years and be still the greatest heroes ever? Gilgamesh: To be honest, I never expected that my story will live for such a long time, and I really appreciate it. When I see all people’s faces who are watching me now and admire...
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...Drozdik 1 Anna Drozdik Mrs. Chaney English 12 5 December 2011 Floods: An Archetype Every year many people are killed by one of nature’s great powers, floods. Many authors have used floods to depict a certain tone throughout the story. To truly understand this work of nature, one doesn’t have to look any farther than certain works of literature. The archetype of flooding is very prevalent in works such as “Noah and the Flood”, the “Epic of Gilgamesh”, “Deucalion”, and “Tata and Nena”. These literary works evoke a tone of fear, fury, strength, and how delicate life is. The first example of this power and fury comes from the story “Noah and the Flood”. In this story the flood shows the tone of how delicate life is. A good example of this is “All existence on earth was blotted out- man, cattle, creeping things, and birds of the sky;...” (“Noah and the Flood 62). This shows that this specific flood was able to kill anything in its path. Usually a flood kills some living things, but this one was so great that it was able to kill every living thing that existed on earth, thus proving that life is very delicate. Another great literary work, the Epic of Gilgamesh also shows a fine example of what floods are able to do to the world. For instance, the flood in this tale displays how much fear Drozdik 2 can be instilled on people as the flood passes through. “Even the gods were terrified at the flood, they fled to the highest heaven…” (Sandars 30) is a quote that enables...
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...Destiny Vincent English 2010 Dr. Tuman 11 July 2014 Word Count: 784 One of The Iliad’s main characters, Achilles, endures a knife to the heart as his one and only son was killed in battle while he sat back and watched. Similarly, one of the main character’s in Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh himself, gets his heart completely ripped out once he accepts the fact that he will never attain immortality. Though the causes of Achilles’ and Gilgamesh’s grief are completely different, the extent of their grief and their optimism in their respective situations are what make them highly comparable. Achilles and Gilgamesh both grieve, but for different reasons. The way they handle their grief is what makes these characters alike. Achilles has the power to prevent his son, Sarpedon, from losing his life in battle, but is persuaded by his wife, Hera, not too. It has been made very clear to the audience that Achilles is sincerely passionate about his son in book XVI when he says, “Fate has is that Sarpedon, whom I love more than any man, is to be killed by Patroclus” (471-472). He wants to intervene and put a stop to this tragedy, but is told by his wife “...don’t expect all of us to approve…If you send Sarpedon home alive…Think of the resentment you will create” (480-485). Imagine watching your only child die in battle, knowing you could have prevented it, but your wife is in your ear blatantly telling you to let him die. Nonetheless, time passes and Sarpedon’s fate does indeed come to pass...
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...Christopher Gilchrist Professor Ms. Alyse W. Jones World Literature I - English 2111 October 7, 2012 The Universal Truths on ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh & The Hebrew Bible’ The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Hebrew Bible are considered by their audiences’ as two of the greatest literary works of ancient literature. The universal truths on The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Hebrew Bible, are most fundamental when viewed from both the contemporary and traditional audiences. Fundamentally, both audiences develop their own universal truths during the time in which the events transpired or by reading the scenic events from an anthology or other literary works. Most importantly, both literary works have sought the attention of their perspective audiences by their ancient texts, which also brought about spiritual interpretations from a religious point of view. These ancient literatures were written and re-written by numerous authors with their spiritual interpretations as their main thesis. Thus, the audiences’ philosophical interpretations create the thread that sews these two literary works to their universal truths. There are several scenes in both literatures that have similar spiritual interpretations. For example, in The Epic of Gilgamesh, “Your clothes should be clean, Your head should be washed, You should bathe in water, (Sec. 10, 77 – 79).” In this epic scene, Gilgamesh embraces the notion of cleansing himself from the darkness that was bestowed upon him. Gilgamesh’s...
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...experience, parts of the absorbed self fades away, while the reflective self matures. We become less selfish and more compassionate towards others. Three literary works -- The Epic of Gilgamesh, Sophocles' Oedipus the King and Plato’s Phaedo, -- show this transformation of self. In The Epic Of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh transforms himself from an unruly king who is unaware of his own death into a compassionate friend who reflects on the idea of his death. This transformation in self derives from the gods’ creation of Enkidu. Enkidu is created to match Gilgamesh. Before Gilgamesh meets Enkidu, he is characterized as a reckless leader, who “tramples his citizens like a wild bull ”(Mitchell 2004: 72). He neglects to think about his mortal side, and rules his people as if his days did not truly count. Once Enkidu comes into his life, Gilgamesh’s unjust actions stop. Although Gilgamesh is still stronger than Enkidu, “they walked side by side, they truly became friends ”(Mitchell 2004: 90). This is a significant for Gilgamesh because moment he had never had a companion. Before Enkidu, the king of Uruk, had been unchallenged physically and completely alone. For the first time in his life he had a relationship with love and purpose. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is traumatized. This is the closest Gilgamesh comes to death. True, he had been around death many times before, but he had never cared about the person who had...
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...Academic Honesty policy. In particular, I have not committed any kind of plagiarism. There are no un-attributed direct or indirect quotations or paraphrases from printed materials, websites, other students' papers, or any other sources in my essay." Professor Iglesias, Valint, and Nathanael English 203 10 April 2014 The Substance I Lack I Find in You When looking for love we may not realize that many times we are merely looking to improve our own areas of opportunity. We subconsciously look for counterparts that create a balance by contributing to what attributes are lacking within ourselves. In “The Epic of Gilgamesh” and Ama Ata Aidoo’s “Anowa” we see two character’s Gilgamesh and Anowa searching for substance in people who are unlike themselves. Their life’s counterparts have what they are lacking within themselves; security. In both Anowa and Gilgamesh’s relationships we are able to see their true characteristics through their choice of mates. Both characters are portrayed to be powerful but when we see who they fall in love with we learn the nature of their true self. We learn that though they may appear strong and confident are in actuality both insecure. Gilgamesh is described in the beginning of the story as “like a bull he makes himself mighty head raised (over others)” (Iglesias, Mays and Pierce 8). He is boastful and constantly ensuring everyone feels his presence when around. He acts as though he is all powerful, filled with courage, without insecurities...
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...Robert William Silvers II Professor Pamela Magrans English 2030-38A 10 February 2015 The Great Floods from around the World If you are alive today living in America, odds are that you have heard of Noah and his Arch. You may not know the specifics of it but you likely have a general idea of what is being talked about. However, his story is not unique to the bible. Strikingly similar stories show up in fables and other works of literature all across the globe. There are many similarities between these stories which makes a strong argument that these stories all originated from one story, or that there really was a great flood that covered the earth. The first and oldest story documented is the Epic of Gilgamesh. The flood in this story was...
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