Oral tradition: repetition of key words and phrases,
monologues
Focus on National Hero
Intervention of Gods in Human Affairs
Motifs:
Mourning for a friend
Return after challenging adventures
God's council and preferences
Relationship between Gods and Humans, Gods and Gods
Glory and Immortality
Role of Enkidu, in life and death
The Flood
Position of Women in Society
Dreams (Prophecy and Destiny)
See discussion of some secondary sources
** Homework Questions ** (See 2nd Set of Q's ) (Norton Introduction) 36:
What characteristics does the Epic of Gilgamesh
share with traditional Greek epics?
Chapter One (pge #s refer to pdf):
1:
What kind of king is Gilgamesh? Explain.
3-4:
Explain Gilgamesh's dreams.
4:
Why does Enkidu fight Gilgamesh? Explain.
Chapter Two:
5:
Why do Enkidu and Gilgamesh decide to fight Humbaba?
Explain.
Chapter Three:
12-13:
Why does Gilgamesh refuse Ishtar's offer of marriage?
13:
Why do Enkidu and Gilgamesh kill the Bull of
Heaven?
14:
Why must Enkidu die?
15-16:
What is the significance of Enkidu's dream?
1618:
Why does Enkidu believe he will die in shame?
Other Discussion Questions: Chapter One:
3:
Why do the animals run from Enkidu after he sleeps with
Shamhat?
Chapter Two:
7:
Who is Shamash? Why does Ninsun offer him sacrifices?
9:
Explain Gilgamesh's dreams.
11:
Why does Enkidu tell Gilgamesh to ignore Humbaba's pleas
for mercy?
Chapter Three:
13:
Who is Ishullanu? How does he respond to Ishtar's
offer of love?
14-15:
Explain the curses Enkidu pronounces.
15:
Why does he take back his curse of Shamhat?
16:
Why does Enkidu believe that Aruru has cursed him?
18:
What is the significance of Gilgamesh's plan to put on a
lion's skin?
** Homework Questions, pt. 2
** Chapter Four: 18:
Who is Utnapishtim? Why has Gilgamesh sought him?
19:
Explain Gilgamesh's interactions with the Man-Scorpion.
20:
Explain Gilgamesh's interaction with Siduri.
21:
Why does Gilgamesh attack Urshanabi's boat?
Chapter Five:
23-26:
How does Utnapishtim's story compare to Noah's? (See News Story ):
Chapter Six:
26:
What is Gilgamesh's first test? How does he do?
Why?
Why does Utnapishtim banish Urshanabi?
27:
Where does he get the plant that restores youth? What
happens to it?
Chapter Seven:
29:
What is the final "moral" to this story?
Additional (More in-depth) Questions (Respond to
5 for credit):
Does Gilgamesh ultimately find Consolation for his Grief?
Explain.
How would you characterize the relationship of humans to
divine beings in The Epic of Gilgamesh? What
characteristics are described as "god-like"? What qualities
(if any) divide humans from gods and goddesses? Is an
intermediate status possible, and what are its limits?
Describe the relationships among the different gods. Do
all the gods have equal power or is there some sort of
hierarchy? Explain.
One of the most intriguing characters in the Epic is the
woman who causes Enkidu's transformation from natural man to
civilized man. Describe this woman and suggest what her role
might indicate about the process of becoming civilized, or the
role of women in early Mesopotamian cultures?
What clues does the Epic of Gilgamesh present
about the political values of early Mesopotamian society? Is
Gilgamesh a good king or a bad king? What qualities define
good kings? Are those qualities learned as skills or
life-lessons, or are they inherited or "natural" qualities?
Describe the significance of the "raging bull" images and
its different uses. To what characters or figures is it
usually applied? What does it represent?
Does Enkidu fulfill his original purpose? Explain.
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