The Norton Anthology of World Literature not only makes available valuable lessons
and words of wisdom, but it shares experiences from around the world. These ageless
writings allow generations to encounter a heritage of tradition and culture all within the
confines of its pages. The anthology’s variety offers multiple characters and ideas to
explore, while each selection contains notable and impressionable material. The
collection’s most memorable content presents larger than life characters and priceless
lessons in Gilgamesh, astute ideas and guidelines to live by in Confucius, and the
universal experience of an impassioned relationship outlined in Lyrics.
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the characters and their lesson arise as the most memorable
part of the story. Gilgamesh appears very impressive because of his great size and stately
presence (Tablet I: 30-38). In addition, he emerges more divine than human (Tablet I: 50)
and possesses the highest degree of strength (Tablet I: 36). Enkidu comes forth from clay
(Tablet I: 102-104) and endowed with the physical power of a hero. Upon his creation,
Enkidu also bears strength as mighty as Gilgamesh (Tablet I: 92). Gilgamesh and
Enkidu’s stature represent power and might, but the true memorable imposing impression
lies in the depth of the friendship they form. It begins in opposition (Tablet II: 96-108),
solidifies in a pact (Tablet II: 115), and continues on after Enkidu’s death (Tablet IX: 1).
The story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu teaches that sharing experiences and hardships
creates the human experience.
The anthology also includes the Analects of Confucius. The “Sayings” outline
Confuciu...
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...oken hearts makes
Lyrics’ contents memorable.
Because of the painstaking labor of the translators, each selection of The Norton
Anthology of World Literature retains and reflects its original intent. The difficulty lies in
trying to pick the most memorable content since each text contains its own
noteworthiness. First, Gilgamesh and Enkidu go unchallenged as memorable characters,
and their physical, intellectual, and moral greatness remain undisputed. Next, the words
of Confucius remain timeless in their wisdom and still provide a useful guide for life.
Finally, Catullus’ anguish repeats itself each time a lover gets jilted. The Norton
Anthology of World Literature contains valuable experiences and emotions from previous
generations, but only a dedicated commitment to reading them begets their full potential.
After the waters of Apsu and Tiamat mix, the gods Lahmu and Lahamu ("slime, mud") emerge. And from this pair come Anshar ("whole sky") and Kishar ("whole earth"), meaning perhaps "the horizon, the circular rim of heaven and the corresponding circular rim of earth" (Jacobsen 168). Anshar and Kishar give birth to Anu, the sky god, who in turn begets what one translation calls "his likeness" (Heidel 18) Ea, the trickster god of the flowing waters, who is familiar to us as Enki.
"Sumerian/Babylonian When on HIgh (Enuma Elish) "Creation and Marduk." [Dennis Bratcher, Tr. Http://www.cresourcei.org/enumaelish.html]." Ancient Mythology East and West. Comp. David Branscome. Print.
His experiences now involve humanity and its creations such as cooked food and alcohol consumption. At this point, like the shepherds, Enkidu has one foot in the wild and one foot in civilization. Once Shamhat brings Enkidu to Gilgamesh, Enkidu has completed the process of becoming cultivated with “garments suitable for a prince to wear…[and] a place of honor nearest the king” (40). In a sense, Shamhat created or gave a rebirth to Enkidu, who gratefully praises her to no end. Without the woman, Enkidu would have never evolved into a prince like figure. Shamhat became the bridge that has connected Enkidu from wilderness to
Tablets IV center mostly on three main characters: Gilgamesh, Enkidu and Humbaba. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are the two main protagonist however, with Humbaba we are faced with our first “antagonist.” Humbaba was appointed by the god Enil to be the guardian of the forest. He is grotesque in appearance and is a fearsome adversary for Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Tablet IV consist solely of our two protagonist journey to the forest. While the journey to the forest, every night they make
My mother gave me the name Gilgamesh at birth. I was born two-thirds god and one-third human. The strength, knowledge, and beauty gave me rights to have power, like a wild bull, whose head was raised over others and no rival was able to strike a weapon against me. Before the events in this story, I was very arrogant person. I saw everything and accomplished all things. I had wisdom and knowledge of all people. I uncovered the secret and brought back “information of the time before the flood” (p.59, line 5). Called the wild bull of Uruk, I was superior to other kings and a hero who defended my people and city. I was “awesome to perfection” (p.60, line 33) opening passes through mountains, digging in the wilderness, crossing the ocean
The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh, is Gilgamesh himself. In the beginning of the book one realizes that Gilgamesh is an arrogant person. Gilgamesh is full of himself and abuses his rights as king. He has sexual intercourse with the virgins of his town and acts as though he is a god. Throughout the story, many things cause Gilgamesh to change. He gains a friend, he makes a name for himself by killing Humbaba, and he tries to become immortal because of the death of Enkidu. Through these main actions his personality changes and he becomes a better person.
...t is from Him” (paragraph 100). A stated previously, Irenaeus puts much emphasis on the belief in all three figures.
The ancient Mesopotamian writing, The Epic of Gilgamesh, gives readers insight into the traditions and customs of the people who wrote it. Like all epics, The Epic of Gilgamesh is the story of a heroic national figure: this epic gives the story of the life of Gilgamesh from his birth as two-thirds god, one-third man to his death. Throughout the epic the importance of loyalty is addressed. In The Epic of Gilgamesh readers see that loyalty is the most important aspect of a Mesopotamian relationship and that there are always consequences for violating trust.
Some of Gilgamesh’s qualities are that he had a “beauty… surpassing all others” and was “two thirds… god and one third man” (13). Before Enkidu, Gilgamesh acted horribly. He was a terrible ruler and a terrible man. Gilgamesh was not all good, for example, “his lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior’s daughter nor the wife of the noble…” (13). He was a terrible ruler. Gilgamesh was arrogant, but very powerful in his country. His people had no choice but to listen to him. They were forced to go along with his unlawfulness and stubbornness.
The Epic of Gilgamesh served the purpose to shed some light on the culture of Sumeria. The story has helped give factual information even though the epic many not be true in whole, it may have some truth in parts. It has given us more knowledge on the architectural craftsmanship of Sumerian people, and also shows us the belief of many gods in Sumer's polytheistic society.
Gilgamesh, The Epic of. Vol. A. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner, et al. 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2012. 95-150. Print.
In the epic of Gilgamesh, there are many complex characters. Every character involved in the story has their own personality and traits.
"Epic of Gilgamesh." Academy for Ancient Texts. Ancient Texts Library. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. .
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a moving tale of the friendship between Gilgamesh, the demigod king of Uruk, and the wild man Enkidu. Accepting ones own mortality is the overarching theme of the epic as Gilgamesh and Enkidu find their highest purpose in the pursuit of eternal life.
Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation, LW King Translator from The Seven Tablets of Creation, London 1902. Downloaded from sacred-texts.com/ane/enuma.htm February 7,2014