Essay about Epic of Gilgamesh

Submitted By wrenchmama
Words: 868
Pages: 4
Open Document
The epic of Gilgamesh is long regarded as one of the first great works in literature, dating from the Third Dynasty of Ur (circa 2100 BC). The epic’s prelude offers a general introduction to Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, who was two-thirds god and one-third man. He built magnificent temples and towers, surrounded his city with high walls, and laid out orchards and fields. He was handsome, immensely strong, and very wise. Gilgamesh is portrayed as a strong leader and man but one who does not always make the best choices for his people or himself. Although Gilgamesh was godlike in body and mind, he began his kingship as a cruel despot. He lorded over his subjects. He accomplished his building projects with forced labor, and his exhausted subjects groaned under his oppression. The gods heard his subjects’ pleas and decided to keep Gilgamesh in check by creating a wild man named Enkidu, who was as magnificent as Gilgamesh. Enkidu eventually became Gilgamesh’s great friend, and Gilgamesh’s heart was shattered when Enkidu died of an illness inflicted by the gods. Enkidu lives with the animals, grazing in the meadows, and drinking at their watering places and freeing them from traps laid by hunters. A hunter discovers him and sends a temple prostitute, Shamhat, into the wilderness to tame him. In that time, people considered women and sex calming forces that could domesticate wild men like Enkidu and bring them into the civilized world. When Enkidu sleeps with Shamhat, the animals reject him since he is no longer one of them. Now, he is part of the human world.

The story of Enkidu seems to speak of how people must change or be changed, or tamed, to live among others in a civilized society. Shamhat teaches Enkidu everything he needs to know to be a man and encourages him to go back to the city and meet Gilgamesh. Shamhat tells Enkidu about the great king Gilgamesh and he is intrigued and outraged by what he hears about Gilgamesh’s excesses, so he travels to Uruk to challenge him.

Gilgamesh has dreams foretelling the arrival of Enkidu. When Enkidu arrives, Gilgamesh is about to force his way into a bride’s wedding chamber. Enkidu steps into the doorway and blocks his passage. The two men wrestle fiercely for a long time, and Gilgamesh finally prevails. After that, they become friends and set about looking for an adventure to share.

Gilgamesh is looked upon as a great ruler but one who does not treat his people as a good and kind king should. When Enkidu enters his life he is tamed, as was Enkidu in his own ways, and begins to see things differently. Enkidu becomes and important companion and part of Gilgamesh, a part of him that he had been missing…perhaps a conscience.

The Epic seems to remark on many different aspects of life. From the way your life begins, no matter how entitled you are or aren’t, that you can change your life and become a better person, as did Gilgamesh after befriending Enkidu and taking the journeys with him. Gilgamesh has many journeys through his life that all signify his internal journey within himself. The epic continues on to talk about kinship between men and describes the existential struggles of a superlatively strong man who must
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about Epic of Gilgamesh

Epic Of Gilgamesh

Compare and contrast of “The Epic Of Gilgamesh” and “Noah And The Flood”. “The Epic Of Gilgamesh” was made in circa 2100 BC and is often regarded as the earliest surviving great work of literature written on clay tablets. “Noah And The Flood” Was written in genesis the old testament. “The Epic Of Gilgamesh” and “Noah And The Flood” is found to be very similarities at base but throughout the stories it is found to be quite different. The stories of “The Epic Of Gilgamesh” and “Noah And The Flood” have…

Words 287 - Pages 2

Epic of Gilgamesh and Epic Essay

September 22, 2012 The Ongoing Epic of Gilgamesh Most historians today, at one point or another, have examined and analyzed one of the earliest surviving works of literature, which in this case originated from ancient Mesopotamian culture. Entitled “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” it is an epic narrative constructed during the early second millennium BCE, describing “human—as opposed to godly—achievements” (Worlds Together, Worlds Apart, p.97). To historians The Epic of Gilgamesh has shed a great amount of…

Words 1150 - Pages 5

The Epic Of Gilgamesh Analysis

History through Literature: Analysis of Benjamin R. Foster's translation of The Epic of Gilgamesh INTRODUCTION The hero in the Epic of Gilgamesh, unlike heroes of Greek mythology, is based on a real king of Sumerian history who ruled over the city-state of Uruk, located in the Mesopotamian area. The epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest works of literature from early civilizations. There are many versions of the Epic that have surfaced but, the most common is the eleven tablet version, which is…

Words 2316 - Pages 10

Essay Epic of Gilgamesh

Title: Gilgamesh Type: Epic Author: Anonymous Theme: The central idea of Gilgamesh was the greed that he had to receive eternal life. Gilgamesh was a selfish person who was half god and half man and wanted to keep his youth after seeing Enkidu die. Gilgamesh knew his destiny was not to receive eternal life because he was half man. He decided to go against the odds to fight against not having eternal life searching for the secret despite what the Gods told him. Exposition: The story…

Words 968 - Pages 4

Essay on Epic of Gilgamesh

Professor Pratt Mosaics 851 24 September 2012 Proposal: Talk Dirty to Me The Epic of Gilgamesh has many intriguing events that can be explored by analyzing the writing provided. Reading between the lines is the key tool to understanding the context of the poem. Each new stanza, whether it be repetitive or a fresh thought, comes at you with a new angle of explanation. If a thought or statement was unclear, as you continue to read, you are sure to catch the meaning in a different explanation further…

Words 673 - Pages 3

Gilgamesh As An Epic Hero

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is attributed to three main traits that define him as an epic hero: bravery, strength, and wisdom. Deeply affected by the sudden death of his best friend, Enkidu, Gilgamesh goes on a long and perilous journey to find the secret of immortality. Throughout his journey, Gilgamesh continuously displays bravery in facing all obstacles and proving his valor to the guardians of the gate. His determination to avoid death gives him the courage to reach his end goal of discovering…

Words 200 - Pages 1

The Struggle In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Stories have been passed around from every culture, and some epic tales stick more than others. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of these stories. The Epic of Gilgamesh has not just been passed down from generation to generation, it is the oldest written story. Although this piece of literature is the ancient, it is relatable to people all around the world in modern society. The epic is about a powerful tyrant king named Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was created by the gods with a perfect body, strength, and courage…

Words 1257 - Pages 6

Sacrifice In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

living our lives. These values were also relevant even as far back as when civilization first arose, illustrated in the Epic of Gilgamesh. There are also numerous values that are conveyed in the Epic of Gilgamesh that are innate in the Peddie School, but courage is most important out of all. Because these principles are so crucial for Peddie students and faculties, the Epic of Gilgamesh is a perfect read that depicts these important values. Although there are five main core values in…

Words 665 - Pages 3

Gilgamesh As An Epic Hero

Throughout Gilgamesh, the reader can observe Gilgamesh and Enkidu as the epic hero and the foil character. In the epic, Gilgamesh is portrayed as a fearless hero who is eager to fight Humbaba. In contrast, Enkidu is depicted as a anxious sidekick, who quivered at the thought of fighting Humbaba. Gilgamesh declares to Enkidu “Why are you worried about death? Only the gods are immortal anyway, What men do is nothing, so fear is never justified. What happened to your power that once could challenge…

Words 371 - Pages 2

The Epic Of Gilgamesh Analysis

in the pages of history lies the epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh, who was the King of Urek, heard of a magical plant that would allow him to live forever. Gilgamesh determined to find this plant searched over treacherous rocky, rough mountains, crossed blistering, burning, barren deserts, but failed to find the powerful, perplexing plant. However one day while he was soaking his hot, dusty, tired feet in the cooling refreshing waters of the Euphrates River, Gilgamesh spotted a faint glow in the sea which…

Words 431 - Pages 2