...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 with...
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...World Literature I 1. In your opinion, is Oedipus a hero? Think about what you found heroic in previous characters we encountered: Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Roland. How does Oedipus compare? Also, does Oedipus have a character flaw that affects his fate? There are many types of heroes, but Oedipus happens to be a tragic hero. Throughout the story, it is pretty safe to say that Oedipus is a tragic hero. In Aristotle’s work, he has made this point very apparent. There are three main reasons why I think Oedipus is a tragic hero. First, by his own actions, he ascertains his own fate. Secondly, he falls from great esteem. Lastly, Oedipus’ story ascends fear and sympathy. The way Oedipus discovers his fate is by his own actions. If he did not inquire about the murder of Laois, he probably would have never discovered that he in fact was the murderer. The saying “curiosity killed the cat”, is a perfect example of how Oedipus’ story dwindled and unwounded. If Oedipus did not seek Teresias he would have still been in the unknown of the murder. When he asked Teresias, the answers that were given were nonetheless the answers that Oedipus was seeking. For example, Teresias replied to him and said, “You are the murderer of the king whose murderer you seek.” After hearing this information, he still does not believe it or understand, so he seeks Jocasta. He has hopes of her telling him that there is no truth to what Teresias is saying. When he arrives, the news that Oedipus hears is the...
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... 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, and exists anywhere and everywhere. During the first half of this semester, we have read a number of stories from our class text, which involves and relates to the hero’s journey. There were two stories and characters that particularly stood out to me and which I found the most comparisons between although they were two types of heroes. Those characters were Gilgamesh, from The Epic Of...
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...The Sumerian tale of Gilgamesh is the oldest to have survived into the modern era. Thus the greatest value of Gilgamesh is that it opens a window for modern readers into their collective past. The tale’s content reveals much about humanity’s earliest social and religious concerns, while its form reveals equivalent insights about the relationship between instruction and entertainment in an oral culture. The story of Gilgamesh reveals both a desire to commemorate the hero’s greatness and an obligation to learn from his flaws. The first thing the audience learns from the story is that Gilgamesh builds protective walls around the city, a great gift to his society. When the audience next learns that the king has been abusive to the young men of the city and has deflowered young maidens, their disapproval of these acts is tempered by their initial approval of his great accomplishment. Overall, the early portions of the story demonstrate that the abiding criterion for judgment is not the happiness of the individual, even if that individual is the king, but the good of society as a whole. When Gilgamesh exercises the kingly privilege in deflowering maidens, his actions may be legal, but they fail to provide any benefit for Uruk and are therefore condemned. Thus does the audience learn that greatness entails responsibility, not just strength. Crucial to the lesson of the story is Gilgamesh’s status as two-thirds god, one-third human. Kings are more than human and therefore are revered;...
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...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...
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...The Babylonian myth of Gilgamesh is an epic hero myth found in the Akkadian manuscripts believed to have been written 2150-1400 BCE which seems to be one of the oldest and longest legends found in ancient Mesopotamia. Gilgamesh appears to have actually lived and is accepted as the fifth king of Uruk and the myth that surrounds his divine status is one that seems to have developed through oral accounts of his legendary acts that were later transcribed on twelve tablets that create the “Epic of Gilgamesh.” As is the case with oral traditions, there is no documented author to the original story, however one transcriber, known as Shin-Lei-Unninni (1300-1000 BCE) is credit for one of the best preserved versions of this epic poem which is written in cuneiform script (Mark). This epic poem depicts the hero Gilgamesh as a renowned warrior whose divine rule is supported with his stature and appearance attributed to his parentage that characterize him as one-third man and two-third god. His mother is the goddess Ninsun and his father is King Lugalbanda. Unfortunately, his tragic flaw of arrogance during the first part of his life incurs the wrath of the gods. His tyrannical behavior and disregard of his people would probably be considered by the Swiss psychologist, C.G. Jung as the unconscious inherited traits of childhood and youth not fully balanced with adulthood or consciousness. For Jung the balance between the external world (conscious) and the internal (unconscious) is...
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...Lord of the Rings and Modern Day Epic? Epic adventures are one of the oldest and most celebrated works of literature. These adventures paint pictures of larger-than-life heroes, terrifying battle scenes, and heroic triumphs. Most epics served the purpose of transmitting culture and history, as well as 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...
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...Enkidu: The Greater Hero of the Epic What makes a hero a hero? This is what I thought when I first encountered the “Epic of Gilgamesh” and found Enkidu far better than Gilgamesh. Strangely, his character outshone the main protagonist because of some reasons that may only be my own. He captured my attention because of his strong will and because of some things I can relate him with. Am I too vague or narrow to think such? Well this is an opinion worth valuing since it may steer away from the supposed preference of many to Gilgamesh' character. Apologies to fanatics or to those who oppose my arguments. I'd like to share what I think is right, and why it's right for me. INNOCENT ENKIDU “So the goddess conceived an image in her mind, and it was of the stuff of Anu of the firmament. She dipped her hands in water and pinched off clay, she let it fall in the wilderness, and noble Enkidu was created. There was virtue in him of the god of war, of Ninurta himself. His body was rough, he had long hair like a woman's; it waved like the hair of Nisaba, the goddess of corn. His body was covered with matted hair like Samugan's, the god of cattle. He was innocent of mankind; he knew nothing of the cultivated land.” (Assyrian International Books) Enkidu was first introduced in the epic of Gilgamesh as an innocent man, one with nature and though strong, he never used his strength to harm others. Son of a wild ass and gazelle, he is very primitive and eats with the animals. His encounter...
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...Gilgamesh Passages Tablet I The tablet I passage from line 1 to 28 are significant because it talks about how he (Gilgamesh) was granted powers and with these powers such as knowledge, Anu granted him the totality of knowledge of all (line 4) describes how Anu the father of the gods gave Gilgamesh the power of knowledge. He built the city and raised its walls in all it magnificent splendors. He carved on a stone stela all of his toils, and built the walls of Uruk-Haven (Line 9-10). Also look at the wall which gleams like copper (?), inspect its inner wall, the like of which no one can equal (lines 11-12). These text describe the walls and how the city Uruk was built by a mighty being like Gilgamesh. This at the end describing the city and certain thing built by Gilgamesh such as the Temples, Gardens, and the league (probably referring to the ocean or body of water). Another passage from I is the 3rd passge from which the people of Uruk prayer to he gods. This passage shows how the people of Uruk don’t enjoy Gelgamesh as a king due to how he treats his people for ex. Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother (?) The Daughters of the warrior, the bride of the young man (line 5-6). Gilgamesh is all powerful so no one can challenge him and he deemed as a bad King as how he treats his people like wild ox. The people get fed up with the treatment and they pray for the gods to make him his match (a zikru). All this so explaned in line 7 of the next passage. (Let them be a match...
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...Our society is built upon relationships. Most decisions people make are based on how they will affect themselves and other people. The artist “Banks” album “Goddess” is an example of the different type of relationships people have and how that affects our lives. Another theme that “Goddess” expresses is the flaws the human society possesses. The album appears to be a “love album” but Banks’ verses are in common with how society thinks. Banks also expresses how people generally act towards each other. Our relationships with ourselves and with society are aspects of the same relationship, and they unfold simultaneously. As we travel the road of self-knowledge, discovering our identity, we also become conscious of the greater human society. We come to know that our relationship with society is to assume the responsibility we necessarily have because we participate in it. In the song “Brain” Banks talks about how people overthink things in life. “Don't hurt your brain. Thinking what you're gonna say..cause everything's a game…always trying to calculate…trying to look smart, but not too smart, to threaten anything they say.” The obvious meaning behind this line is to stop over calculating things just to make it seem like one has things under control. One doesn’t have to have all the answers in life. One of the underlying motivations for misrepresenting ourselves is avoiding discomfort. Avoiding discomfort might include admitting we aren't as nice as we hope, or the discomfort of causing...
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...Let’s Hope It Repeats: A History Lesson Human beings posses, as an innate part of our nature, an incredible ability to argue with each other about just about anything. Some of these arguments are necessary to push us forward, and some keep us locked in a standstill and accomplish nothing. One of the biggest arguments that today’s society is embroiled in is that of the existence, and treatment of, homosexuality and same-sex relationships. Unfortunately, it seems that this is one of those arguments that keeps us from moving forward. What frustrates me the most about the whole argument is how unnecessary—and ridiculously riddled with misconceptions and outright insulting fabrications—it is. Homosexuality seems to be too difficult a concept for our society to accept, but it is too real, and too ancient, an issue to deny. My purpose for writing this paper is to address one of the myths about homosexuality, and in doing so make a vital point about the biggest misconception that exists on the subject. In a society where each consecutive generation pushes the boundaries of social norms and acceptable behavior further outside of polite society’s comfort zone, fads and rebellions are commonplace. Often homosexuality gets lumped in with these fleeting trends and is seen as something transitory, something that will go away if denied acceptance long enough. On the contrary, homosexuality is not something new or impermanent. Rather it is a concept, a fact of life, which has been...
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...ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN THOUGHT AND THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK SUMMARY by JOE VALENTI Old Testament Introduction OBST 590 B06 Dr. Randy Haney March 1, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 1 CHAPTER 2 2 CHAPTER 3 3 CHAPTER 4 5 CHAPTER 5 7 CHAPTER 6 9 CHAPTER 7 11 CHAPTER 8 12 CHAPTER 9 14 CHAPTER 10 15 CHAPTER 11 17 CHAPTER 12 19 CHAPTER 13 20 CHAPTER 14 22 POSTSCRIPT 23 WORKS CITED i CHAPTER 1 The opening chapter begins by orienting the reader to the idea of "comparative study," or the area of study that strives to understand things within their broader cultural context. In the case of this book, the goal is to understand the Old Testament within the context of the Ancient Near Eastern milieu. Walton explains that over the years there has been much debate on the issue of comparative study and the way in which it is to be exercised. Scholars, always biased by their presuppositions, tend to enter the argument negating the importance of the Old Testament on the one side, or defending the inerrancy of Scripture so vehemently that the cultural context is lost. Walton poses a better way, namely, accepting the study of the Ancient Near Eastern cultures as important and academic in their own right while attempting to comprehend the Old Testament in light of what modern scholarship is learning about the ancient world...
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...Sajyou Ayaka 【Status】 Addresses self as: “Watashi” Master Rank: Rank 7–Princes Magecraft: General black magic (Witchcraft). Is bad at cultivating medicinal plants. Strangely, is close with crows. Magic Circuit/Quality: C Magic Circuit/Quantity: C Magic Circuit Composition: Normal 【Comment from Takeuchi Takashi】 Although she has quiet and inconspicuous behavior, in truth she could be said to be a virtuous heroine character. Without her glasses, both her eye color and hair color become brighter. 【Explanation】 The protagonist. At first glance is quiet and melancholic. On the inside is tsun-tsun and aggressive. Because of her appearance, her past, and the fact that she has little skill as a magus, or perhaps because she has a complex about being a magus, she always acts frightened around other people. Haughty at home but meek outside. At home she acts self-assured. (When like this she is similar to Rin from Fate/stay night, but she isn’t brimming with confidence like Rin. Rather, she acts more like a child) Because her older sister who departed the world 8 years ago was a genius, she has a complex about her ordinariness. Although her father, who also died 8 years ago, told her “There will be a day when you, too, participate in the Holy Grail War”, she was absolutely unwilling, and ran. When she was about to be killed by Lancer, she summoned Saber. Because he saved her, she had no choice but to participate in the Holy Grail War. During the War, her personality...
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...Historians call this area the Harappan civilization and found sophisticated communities with mudbrick villages located there. The abundant rainfall helped the civilization thrive and archeologists found the area to be from the Himalayas to the Indian ocean. The Harappan civilization started off as a tiny village until they thrived and grew until a ruling elite became leader. Archeological evidence suggests that made of over fifteen hundred cities and towns ruled by landlords instead of being a large center with a centralized monarchy. There were no royal burial monuments unlike the Egyptian empire in the old kingdom and only a few images exist that represent kings or priests. Harappa did not have a centralized government or become a major civilization like the Assyrians and Persians yet traded with Sumer and had a social...
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...www.randomhouse.co.uk Published by Vintage 2010 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1 Copyright © Isaac Marion 2010 Chapter heading illustrations from Gray’s Anatomy modified by author © Isaac Marion 2010 ‘Heart rose’ illustration on title page © Isaac Marion 2010 Isaac Marion has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser Excerpt from GILGAMESH: A Verse Narrative by Herbert Mason. Copyright © 1970, and renewed 1998 by Herbert Mason. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Last Night When We Were Young Lyrics by E.Y “Yip” Harburg, Music by Harold Arlen...
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