Analysis Of ' The Epic Of Gilgamesh '

Gilgamesh was the King of Uruk which is thought to be in modern Iraq around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. He built the great City of Uruk complete with fortified walls encompassing the three and a half square miles of city. When he was born, it was known he was two thirds divine and one-third human. Unfortunately, he was known to be quite harsh on the people of Uruk. He “strode back and forth, Lording it

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a very popular epic that is difficult to understand at first, which is why their is different translations of the same book. Although Foster and Sander’s translations have a lot of similar words and the stories are basically the same, there are also a lot of differences between the two. One of which is more straightforward and easier to understand, whereas the other is more of an in depth thoughtful read for the reader. Both translations differences have their own particular reasons for doing so, and add to the depiction of the story. I feel like the translation in the Anthology is a more complex read, whereas Sander’s translation is much easier to understand.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a very popular epic that is difficult to understand at first, which is why there is different translations of the same book. Although Foster and Sander’s translations have a lot of similar words and the stories are basically the same, there are also a lot of differences between the two. One of which is more straightforward and easier to understand, whereas the other is more of an in depth thoughtful read for the reader. Both translations differences have their own particular reasons for doing so, and add to the depiction of the story. I feel like the translation in the Anthology is a more complex read, whereas Sander’s translation is much easier to understand.

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, “Gilgamesh ponders man’s mortality and proposes a quest” (Foster, B. R., 2001, p. 115). Lines 5-16 read In Uruk a person dies, and the heart grieves, A person is no more, and the heart breaks. I have peered over the city wall, I have seen the corpses floating in the river’s water. My spirit is crushed, my heart is aggrieved. The end of life is the one sure thing. The grave, the omnipotent netherworld, no man can escape. No matter how tall, none can straddle the netherworld, No youth can go beyond life’s limits. By the life of the mother who bore me, the goddess Ninsun, and my father, the divine pure Lugalbandsa, And my personal god Enki, Nudimmud! In this story, the view of man’s mortality is distinguished. He sees the gods as being immortal, yet apart from human beings who are clearly mortal and cannot escape death. In The Odyssey, lines 73-83 read When you make sail and put these lodgings of dim Death behind; you will moor ship, I know, upon Aiaia Island; there, O my lord, remember me, I pray, do not abandon me unwept, unburied, to tempt the gods’ wrath, while you sail for home; but fire my corpse, and all the gear I had, and build a cairn for me above the breakers-an unknown sailor’s mark for men to come. Heap up the mound there and implant upon it the oar I pulled in life with my companions. These lines also tell us that the story believes that man is mortal and that our days are numbered. Through the journey of each of the main

“Two-thirds divine and one-third human, surpassing all kings, powerful and tall beyond all others, violent, splendid, a wild bull of a man, unvanquished leader, hero on the front lines, beloved by his soldier's fortress they called him, protector of the people, raging flood that destroys all defenses.” (Mitchell, 71) This is how the author describes Gilgamesh. He was a man different from all others except for his friend Enkidu, who was a man formed from clay and the saliva of Aruru, Goddess of creation. Enkidu was initially made to rid Gilgamesh of his arrogance and restore the city. He was raised by wild animals and very ignorant of human society until he was introduced to Shamhat, a sacred prostitute, who humanized Enkidu. Upon meeting the first time, Gilgamesh and Enkidu were far from friends. They were destined to fight, and that is what they did. It was not until after the fight that they realized they connected with each other and because of this, they became the best of friends. Gilgamesh did not realize that his selfishness and need to make an eternal name for himself would eventually become a problem with the gods. Because he was so successful with Enkidu, the gods punished Gilgamesh by taking away his partner. They killed Enkidu by infecting him with an illness. The death of his best friend shattered Gilgamesh’s, heart.

(1) The black demon saw a beautiful woman and out of all the nobel women. He picked the one that was about the be married. He kidnapped her on her wedding night. It shows that the black demon does things impulsively. He does not care of the consequences. It shows that since he is a demon. He does not fear the consequences of men. When he saw her he could not longer live without her. When he kidnap her. He locked her in box showing that he does not trust the women he kidnap with other men. It also means he wants to keep her pure. She was kidnap on her wedding night so she did not have sex yet so the demon believed she was pure. The untainted virgin that has not been violated by men was his and his only. When he traveled he took her out of the box and wanted to sleep beside her. It shows when he his comfortable. He would sleep better beside her. The women was the demon's most prized possession. It is like comparing the women to a boy's secret toy. When a boy is around someone he would hide his secret toy from everyone. When the boy is alone he would take it and worship it. This meaning is similar to Metamorphoses when Apollo wanted Daphne. Even though she refused him. He impulsively try to rape her. She was turned into a tree, but he still tried to rape the tree. Another text with the similar meaning is in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Any women Gilgamesh desired he would take married or not. Since he was part god and king. He did not care of consequence like the demon.

I will speak out boldly” (42). Enknidu’s desire to save the people from Gilgamesh displays his characteristics of honor and humility. This differs from Gilgamesh’s narcissism and recklessness. After Gilgamesh and Enkindu wrestle in their first encounter, they befriend each other. Both Enkindu and Gilgamesh ability to form a friendship between each other, displays both characters having respect and sensitivity. It seems Enkindu’s companionship is humbling Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh is not a completely flawed character; he possesses, and obtains through his adventures, many positive qualities or virtues. For example, he is courageous. This virtue is evident during his battle with Humbaba. This forest giant is a fearsome adversary, aided by the gods, with a considerable size and strength advantage. Defeat of Humbaba takes the combined efforts of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. To succeed, Gilgamesh had to gain the courage to undergo this task. Enkidu rallies his friend by saying, “O Gilgamesh, remember now your boasts in Uruk. Forward, attacks, son of Uruk, there is nothing to fear.” (Sandars 20) With this, Gilgamesh’s “courage railed” (Sandars 20). He defeats and eventually kills Humbaba for which he is subsequently praised.

There once lived a king, the great king of Uruk in Mesopotamia. This great leader was Gilgamesh. His preserved epic is of great significance to modern day culture. Through Gilgamesh, the fate of mankind is revealed, and the inevitable factor of change is expressed. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, it is a great love, followed by a lingering grief that cause a significant change in the character of Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu form a wonderful brotherly relationship with one another. And they mirror one another in many ways. Both men are alike in the sense they need to be tamed in order to rule over, or to coexist with civilized people. Enkidu is tamed by the prostitute Shemat and in return will tame Gilgamesh. The way the Gods created them, they are individuals with immense physical abilities. However even though they have similarities, they also have differences, as friends normally do. Gilgamesh is a man of noble stature living having lived his life amongst civilization. Enkidu is a wild man raised by animals and lives the way they do. The Gods created both men to be amazing in stature. Both are powerful but Enkidu’s power is derived by his strength. Whereas Gilgamesh has both strength and knowledge from growing up in civilization. He is also the boldest

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.

The epic of Gilgamesh is the earliest primary document discovered in human history dating back to approximately 2,000 B.C.E. This document tells a story of an ancient King Gilgamesh, ruler of Sumer in 2,700 B.C.E. who is created gloriously by gods as one third man and two third god. In this epic, Gilgamesh begins his kingship as an audacious and immature ruler. Exhausted from complaints, the gods send a wild man named Enkidu to become civilized and assist Gilgamesh to mature into a righteous leader. However, Enkidus death causes Gilgamesh to realize his fear of immortality and search for an escape from death. On his journey, Gilgamesh learns that the gods will not grant his wish and that he must

Further analysis of the poem The Epic of Gilgamesh, described the characteristic of king Gilgamesh from the beginning, middle, and end. Throughout the poem, there are immature and petrified moments of Gilgamesh, but more importantly he learned to grow as he explore his journey. Friendship, love, and fear appears to be essential in this poem. Why are those terms relevant ? and how does it connect with the trait of Gilgamesh ?, let’s continue to find out the truth about Gilgamesh.

Since gilgamesh is both God and human, the people of Uruk basically worshipped Gilgamesh. The people thought he was the strongest of them all. A hunter came across another being. The hunter then went to his father and explain to father was he saw and the father told the hunter “Boy, your answer lies in Uruk where there stalks a man of endless strength named Gilgamesh.” (Pg.22 Column III). Little did they know someone else was coming to be equally or even more strong then Gilgamesh. Enkidu was only made to match the strength of Gilgamesh. Although everyone knew the strength of gilgamesh many did not like him, because he would take women that were with other men then sleep with them first. Enkidu was about to test the strength of Gilgamesh.

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