...When reading Gilgamesh, it is not uncommon for many to relate the tale's protagonist to John Campbell's theory on the twelve steps of a Hero's journey, which characterizes the typical progression of most epic stories. However, I make the claim that, as per Campbell's theory, it is not Gilgamesh himself who is the hero of the tale. Rather, Gilgamesh and his ally Enkindu combine to form the single hero of the story, with Enkindu actually meeting most of Campbell's criteria. Together, both characters symbolize one hero who embodies mankind's yearning to “incarnate unearthly covenants” (Campbell, 1968, p. 3), consistent with Campbell's views on mythology. The tale begins with an exposition describing Gilgamesh and Enkindu's daily life. According the first step in Campbell's theory, a Hero's journey must begin in an ordinary world. Enkindu fits this description perfectly. As far as a natural living is concerned, every aspect of Enkindu's life is ordinary; he lives completely off the land, his whole body was “shaggy with hair”, and he satisfies his thirst with “mere water” (Anonymous, n.d.). Gilgamesh, in contrast, does not have a conventional life. Not only is he royalty, he is “supreme over other kings”, he is the offspring of deities, and he is described as being “awesome to perfection” (Anonymous, n.d.). It is clear that the story begins with two starkly different lives, with Enkidu truly fitting Campbell's primary criteria as a Hero. Indeed, when the plot begins, Enkindu fulfills...
Words: 1769 - Pages: 8
...The Comparison of Man’s Temptation The Epic of Gilgamesh and In the Beginning have many similarities. Both incorporate the Hero’s Journey and three archetypes: character, situational, and symbolic. Both are about man's relationship with God(s), including man’s struggle with temptation, and the serpent as a symbol. Likewise, they share a common theme that humans fall into temptations for desire of greater things. Both have protagonist character archetypes with weaknesses, the desire for more, The epic poem The Epic of Gilgamesh displays how Gilgamesh, the protagonist, had a high standard position in his kingdom and abused that making him a dictator of his kingdom. Due to this the people prayed to the Gods for a rejoinder, and in response...
Words: 651 - Pages: 3
...Gilgamesh is proclaimed as an unstable compound of part god and part man of Uruk. He is the fiercest of warriors that is why he is king, among other things. The people of Uruk were tired of Gilgamesh behavior, which made them think of an idea that would destroy him. Enkidu “the wild man” was there plan to demolish Gilgamesh. They thought he would have defeated Gilgamesh, but it turns out that they have equal amount of strength. Gilgamesh ends up winning the fight and then they become good friends. The story’s structure is organized around Gilgamesh’s journey because it is not an ordinary journey and he learns life lessons. What he learns on his journey is how to cope with the loss of a dear friend, how to accept one’s own death, and how to...
Words: 830 - Pages: 4
...In both the Odyssey, by Homer, and The Epic of Gilgamesh, created by the Sumerians, both were stories created a long time ago made for folklore or to explain what has happened in a certain time in history. Both stories contain myths, unimaginable acts, and just the idea of immortality is present in both stories. The historic novels both have their own twists to the stories as well as some similarities in the story. In both stories, the Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh, there are similar character archetypes, villains, plot, and the hero’s journey. Although in the Odyssey, most of the villains turned out to be allies, whereas in the Epic of Gilgamesh, they stayed enemies and didn’t switch over to his side. The Hero’s Journey in both stories...
Words: 318 - Pages: 2
...Christian Lescznske Professor Larkin ELIT2055-B 31 March 2014 The Hero’s Journey: Comparing and Contrasting Heroes Joseph Campbell was an American psychologist and mythological researcher. In his lifelong research, Campbell discovered many common patterns running through hero myths and stories from around the world. Years of research lead Campbell to discover several basic stages that almost every hero-quest goes through (no matter what culture the myth is a part of). He calls this common structure “the monomyth” (Hero’s Journey). The “hero’s journey” appears in drama, storytelling, myth, religious ritual, and psychological development. It describes the typical adventure of The Hero, who goes out and achieves great deeds on behalf of the family, group, tribe, or civilization. There are twelve steps, or stages, of the typical “Hero’s Journey”. The twelve steps are: The ordinary world, the call to adventure, refusal of the call, meeting with the mentor, crossing the threshold, a test, the approach, the ordeal, the reward, the road back, the resurrection, and the return with the elixir, or reward. As I previously stated, Campbell’s monomyth works best with the traditional form of the quest such as in folk and fairy tales, myths, legends, and other fantasies. However, it can be applied to many different genres or types of stories. A quest does not have to include swords and monsters. It can just as easily occur in the real world. The monomyth is ageless and universal...
Words: 1692 - Pages: 7
...be easily referenced at any point during a hero’s journey. The intriguing story of Gilgamesh can be compared in such a manner to real life occurrences of heroism as well as serve, in turn, as a model to follow. The fascinating story of Gilgamesh tells of a hero born of humble beginnings as an underdog leader seen as a tyrant by his own people and through mass paranoia is shunned and put at odds with the gods by means of prayer. Much like the beginnings of all real life heroes and heroines, Gilgamesh shows us that life sometimes, in fact, doesn’t go our way from the beginning. As with any hero and heroine, Gilgamesh cannot undo the hand he is dealt, he must simply prove himself through his actions. The gods responded to the subject’s prayers by means of creating Enkido. Enkido was meant to be Gilgamesh’s arch nemesis; yet through Gilgamesh’s actions over time, Enkido grew to love Gilgamesh as only a brother could. This could only occur if a hero or heroine is worthy of bearing the title given to them by fate. Eventually the kinship developed between Gilgamesh and Enkido would prove itself through the actions of Enkido. Gilgamesh and Enkido fight numerous battles side by side as many real life heroes and heroines do, but the final battle is the one that serves as the best example of sacrifice. Gilgamesh’s spurning of Ishtar’s advances send the goddess into a blind rage releasing the Gugalanna on not only Gilgamesh but Enkido as well. The two...
Words: 575 - Pages: 3
...list of the mythological hero’s characteristics o A description of how that character exemplifies a mythological hero o The purpose of the mythical quest in general APA Style!!! * An epic hero has four distinctive qualities. The first characteristic is that the hero requires a life altering journey, one that can change the way he thinks about someone or something, or that has a substantial impact on him/her physically or emotionally. The next quality is that there must be some form of divine or godly intervention that helps or hinders the hero’s journey. A third quality of the epic hero is a quest, goal or objective that the hero must reach. Nearly all cultures have produced myths about heroes. Some heroes, such as the Greek Achilles, have one mortal and one divine parent. Others are fully human but are blessed with godlike strength or beauty. Many myths about heroes concern significant phases of the hero's career, such as the circumstances of the hero's birth, a journey or quest, and the return home. The birth and infancy of a mythological hero is often exceptional or even miraculous. In the ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean world, the births of many heroes followed similar patterns. Many heroes were often left to die at a ver young age but miraculously survived. Other heroes were immediately able to care for themselves. They performed astonishing feats of strength as children. Most heroes set off on a quest or a journey of some kind. One of the...
Words: 691 - Pages: 3
...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 might say) who doesn't know the difference between strength and arrogance. By preemptively attacking a monster, he brings on himself a disaster that can only be overcome by an agonizing journey, a quest that results in wisdom by proving its own futility. The epic...
Words: 3615 - Pages: 15
...Upon completion of some of the readings, my understanding of myth is beginning to change slightly. After completing The Epic of Gilgamesh, I started to re-think the events in the book and apply different theories of myth to them. I applied the theory of binaries developed by Lévi-Strauss to analyze both Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Gilgamesh stands for almost everything human made, culture, and the opposite of purity and untouched my nature. Enkidu on the other hand was created out of nature; he stands for everything earthy, nature, pure, and untouched. As the theory states, they are two opposites who do not appear to go together. I also applied Girard’s way of thinking about myth to the story as well. The violence that occurred was always justified in almost a sacrificial way (one thing must happen in order for another to follow). There was also rivalry between Gilgamesh and other characters, such as Humbaba. Both Gilgamesh and Humbaba are...
Words: 410 - Pages: 2
...Gilgamesh and Odysseus were two heroes from two completely different time periods that were both in search of the meaning of life, or what could be done in a lifetime. Gilgamesh and the Odyssey are both categorized as hero myths. This is because both hero's go through growth and change throughout out their conquests. The epics that the two characters are featured in Gilgamesh, was developed from early Mesopotamia and the Odyssey in early Greece. Gilgamesh was a very popular and it was very valuable to the historian of Mesopotamian culture because it reveals much about the religious world, such as their attitudes toward the gods, how a hero was defined and regarded, views about death and friendship. The Odyssey was also very popular in its era. It was set in ancient Greece where in its culture; mythology was the heart of everyday life. Gilgamesh, the hero from the epic Gilgamesh, was the historical king of Uruk in Babylonia, on the river Euphrates. He lived about 2700B.C. Odysseus, the hero from the epic the Odysseus, was the ruler of the island kingdom of Ithaca. He was one of the most prominent Greek leaders of the Trojan War. Both of these men were granted certain strengths, Gilgamesh had physical, while Odysseus had mental strengths. The journeys of Gilgamesh and Odysseus are two incredible stories written long ago; these two heroes have many similarities, but also many differences. The differences are between these two great heroes are slim, but significant. Gilgamesh was...
Words: 2517 - Pages: 11
...entertaining readers. Among classical epics are the well-known Epic of Gilgamesh, The Iliad, and The Odyssey. However, is the epic adventure a dying breed of literature? Is it possible that epic stories have sustained the test of time and evolved over the centuries? The Lord of the Rings trilogy, including The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, is one of the greatest examples of a modern day epic. What do The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and The Lord of the Rings all have in common? They all share typical characteristics of epic adventures in some form or another. Though the motives and reasons may differ, the theme of journeying is common to all epic adventures. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, King Gilgamesh sets out on a perilous adventure with his closest friend Enkidu in order to find enduring fame and glory. In The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus embarks on a 10 year-long journey through trials and tests to find his way back home to his wife and son. Epic hero Achilles, of The Iliad, sets out to fight in the legendary Trojan War. Similarly, Frodo Baggins, unassuming hero of The Lord of the Rings, sets out from his home and place of comfort to destroy the evil artifact, The One Ring, and restore peace and freedom to Middle Earth. Each of these stories centers on a “hero”, or main character, and the brave and virtuous deeds they enact. This praise of the hero’s deeds may be the author’s way of reflecting the characteristics they...
Words: 2317 - Pages: 10
...------------------------------------------------- Ishmael Question 1 In the novel, Ishmael, the phrase that the gorilla uses to represent society’s creation of a reality for an individual and a group is Mother Culture Question 2 at the end of the novel, the narrator expresses the idea that what he wants from Ishmael is a program Question 3 Daniel Quinn wrote the novel “Ishmael” in the twentieth century Question 4 According to Ishmael, if the takers accumulate knowledge about what works well for things, the leavers accumulate knowledge about what works well for people Question 5 The premise being acted out by Leaver cultures, according to the novel, Ishmael, is humanity belongs to the world Question 6 In the novel, Ishmael, the gorilla says there are two stories being enacted by humans at the present time: the takers and the leavers Question 7 Based on the text of the novel Ishmael, complete the following analogy. The Takers are to the Leavers as Cain is to Abel Question 9 In the novel, Ishmael, the dialogue eventually deals with a biblical story. Which biblical story is a key part of the novel? Garden of Eden Question 10 There are two trees in the biblical story of the garden of Eden, as recounted by Ishmael. One tree is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The other tree is the tree of Life Question 11 According to the novel, Ishmael, if the Takers know the one right way to live, Leavers know the way that they prefer to live Question 12 ...
Words: 5304 - Pages: 22
...Comparative analysis Gilgamesh and Odysseus Nikki Porter Hum Cultures 111 (world cultures 1) Professor Monique Baucham Strayer University Comparative Analysis: Gilgamesh and Odysseus This is a comparative analysis between two hero’s Gilgamesh and Odysseus who are two heroes from two different time periods that were both in search of the meaning of life. The epics that the two characters are featured in Gilgamesh, was developed from early Mesopotamia and the Odyssey in early Greece. Gilgamesh was a very popular and it was very valuable to the historian of Mesopotamian culture because it reveals much about the religious world, such as their attitudes toward the gods, how a hero was defined and regarded, views about death and friendship. Comparative analysis Gilgamesh and Odysseus This comparative analysis is that of Gilgamesh and Odysseus who were both historical hero’s. Gilgamesh who lived from 2700 BC-2620 BC he died in uruk. Gilgamesh compared to Odysseus Gilgamesh, the hero from the epic Gilgamesh, was the historical king of Uruk in Babylonia, on the river Euphrates in modern Iraq: he lived about 2700B.C. Odysseus, the hero from the epic the Odysseus, was the ruler of the island kingdom of Ithaca. He was one of the most prominent Greek leaders of the Trojan War. Both of these men were equipped with certain strengths, the difference in their strengths were Gilgamesh had physical, while Odysseus had mental strengths. Gilgamesh was a very self-confident and at times...
Words: 1072 - Pages: 5
...ancient Sumerian epic Gilgamesh and the Greek myth of the Iliad, both Gilgamesh and Achilles receive help or guidance from their mothers, a key component of both myths that can often be missed. In the epics, both mothers have a heavy influence on on their sons’ lives, which in turn affects the outcome of the myth. To fully understand how the mothers affected the myths, it is important to examine both and understand they way both mothers went about helping their sons. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is a demi-god and ruler of Uruk and has seemingly god-like abilities and because of this, the people of Uruk looked at him as a hero. With his god-like abilities, Gilgamesh went on many journeys that tested his strength and physical endurance. Although part god and seemingly invincible, Gilgamesh still sought his mother’s opinion. One example of this is when Gilgamesh seeks counsel with his mother Ninsun to understand two dreams he had about a future opponent named Enkidu. For the first dream, Ninsun interprets: This star of heaven which descended like a meteor from the sky;[sic]which you tried to lift, but found too heavy, when you tried to move it it would not budge, and so you brought it to my feet; I made it for you, a goad and spur, and you were drawn as though to a woman. This is the strong comrade, the one who brings help to his friend in his need ("THE COMING OF ENKIDU." 4). It was because of the information given by his mother that Gilgamesh was able to fight Enkidu...
Words: 1037 - Pages: 5
...Transformation of Gilgamesh in the Epic of Gilgamesh In many literary works we see significant transitions in the hero's character as the story is developed. This is also true in the Epic of Gilgamesh with its hero, Gilgamesh. In this narrative poem, we get glimpses of who Gilgamesh is and what his purposes and goals are. We see Gilgamesh act in many different ways -- as an overbearing ruler resented by his people, a courageous and strong fighter, a deflated, depressed man, and finally as a man who seems content with what he's accomplished. Through all of these transitions, we see Gilgamesh's attitude toward life change. The goals he has for his own life alter dramatically, and it is in these goals that we see Gilgamesh's transition from being a shallow, ruthless ruler to being an introspective, content man. The epic begins with the men of Uruk describing Gilgamesh as an overly aggressive ruler. "'Gilgamesh leaves no son to his father; day and night his outrageousness continues unrestrained; And he is the shepherd of Uruk, the enclosure; He is their shepherd, and yet he oppresses them. Strong, handsome, and wise. . . Gilgamesh leaves no virgin to her lover.'"(p.18, Line 23-27) The citizens respect him, but they resent his sexual and physical aggression, so they plead to the gods to alleviate some of their burden. The gods resolve to create an equal for Gilgamesh to tame him and keep him in line. This equal, Enkidu, has an immediate impact on Gilgamesh. When they first meet...
Words: 1820 - Pages: 8
