Epic Of Gilgamesh Research Paper

254 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: The friendship in gilgamesh

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, we are introduced to a man who is two-thirds god and one-third man, whose name is Gilgamesh and his inseparable companion, his friend, his brother, Enkidu, a ½ human ½ god. Gilgamesh’s main purpose is to cheat death and gain immortality. In the process of trying to gain immortality, Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill two Godly beings. Due to that, the Gods declared that one had to die, therefore they killed Enkidu. It was the first time Gilgamesh has had to face death, and it caused him to fear it even more, making his journey way more important than it was before. Hoping to learn the secret of immortality, he makes a long and difficult journey in search of Utnapishtim, the one human being who has acquired it. Utnapishtim

Show More
Related

  • The Road of Trials in Literature

    1775 Words  | 4 Pages

    Before his journey, Gilgamesh, who is half god and half human, does whatever he wants. He sees himself as a god and he acts like one until he meets a man by the name of Enkidu. Enkidu is half man and half animal. As their friendship grows, the two become very close and Gilgamesh begins to act more in line with the human side of himself, as does Enkidu. Gilgamesh’s life comes to an abrupt halt when Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh, who has never felt a loss so dearly before, is determined to bring Enkidu back to life, so he leaves his hometown on a to journey to find the god Utnapishtim. This is where his Road of Trials begins. While wandering in the desert looking for Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh figures out that, “His life became a quest/To find the secret of eternal life/ Which he might carry back to give to his friend” (Mason, 55). For the first time in his life Gilgamesh thinks of someone else before himself. He had always been drawn to the side of himself that is half god but...

    Read More

  • How Did Gilgamesh Become A Better King

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gilgamesh who has always gotten what he wanted could not save Enkidu from death. The death of Eknidu effected Gilgamesh and the way the character would evolve from the death of his friend. The friendship with Enkidu allows Gilgamesh to see the reality of death. When Enkidu dies then Gilgamesh becomes obsessed with his own mortality. “What my brother is now, that shall I be when I am dead.” (Gil. 31)

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Immortality In Gilgamesh

    2368 Words  | 5 Pages

    He exudes pride in a manner only rivaled by Enkidu, his best friend. Gilgamesh and Enkidu relish in their brotherhood through fighting Humbaba and the Golden Bull. Their shared life is not permanent however. After they defeated the Golden Bull, the gods look down upon Enkidu and Gilgamesh, in which they decide one of them needs to die. As the book carries on, Enkidu is struck with a deathly illness and inevitably passes on. This changes Gilgamesh’s mindset towards death. In Mitchell’s translation, it reads,“If my grief is violent enough, perhaps he will come back to life again.’ For six days and seven nights I mourned him until a maggot fell out of his nose. Then, I was frightened, I was terrified by death” (Mitchell 167). Gilgamesh, who before was enthralled with the idea of dying a hero, suddenly became terrified of death. This growth, albeit not positive growth, was a direct result of the prior circumstances. The heroes’ shared hubris angered the gods who struck Enkidu down, causing Gilgamesh to lose his best friends. This loss causes gilgamesh to grow by fearing

    Read More

  • Essay About Gilgamesh

    525 Words  | 2 Pages

    Experience is an important part of being an epic hero. This quality allows someone to succeed where others will always fail. Gilgamesh displays far more experience and knowledge than Sundiata, thus making him a better hero. He displays 3 main qualities that show he has experience. He is far more powerful and influential at the beginning of the story, he has more success in his early adventures, and (((((???))))).

    Read More

  • Epic of Gilgamesh

    555 Words  | 2 Pages

    Superman, Iron Man, Green Arrow, Thor, Captain America, and Batman are all examples of our societies current Hero’s, many of which have superhuman abilities but not all. Even in our scientifically advanced society these characters and their stories still capture our imagination, inspire, teach and analyze the values of our culture. It is no surprise that one of the oldest written stories known is just that – a hero’s epic that imparts values and inspires greatness. The Epic of Gilgamesh, among other aspects, looks at the relationship between that of nature and culture. There is a central theme throughout this epic of culture and nature clashing; however, this author proposes that the epic is not so much about nature verses culture as it is about the balance of nature and culture. The Following sections will look at Epic of Gilgamesh and the Levi-Straussean analysis of the myth to support the authors view.

    Read More

  • Death and Immortality in The Epic of Gilgamesh

    1379 Words  | 3 Pages

    Death and Immortality in The Epic of Gilgamesh The search for immortality has been a major concern for many men and women all throughout history. True love and immortality in life would be a dream come true to many. To spend time with a special someone, the person one feels closest to, and never have to say good-bye would greatly appeal to most people. But when death steps into the picture, even with all the pain and devastation, one starts to re-evaluate themselves. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh explores the possibility of immortality following the saddening death of his friend and brother, Enkidu.

    Read More

  • Epic of Gilgamesh Essay - The Ever-Changing Gilgamesh

    547 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Questions for Analysis: 'Epic of Gilgamesh'

    660 Words  | 2 Pages

    3.     Utnapishtim complements Siduri’s message by giving analogies in regards to the fact that death is unexpected. Nothing is permanent or certain except death. You could build a house that’s believed to stand forever, but is it really true? Does an agreement hold for all time? These are the examples Utnapishtim gives. While death is certain, the time it occurs is not known by man.

    Read More

  • Free Epic of Gilgamesh Essays: Themes of Gilgamesh

    451 Words  | 1 Pages

    One of the main themes in the epic is that death is inevitable, which is shown through Enkidu's death. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh becomes very worried, because he realizes for the first time that everyone is going to die at some point in time. The fact that Enkidu is a close friend makes it even more visible to Gilgamesh that everyone is mortal. Then, along with this realization, comes the theme of denial. Gilgamesh does not want to accept the fact that he will die.  He denies the truth, because he does not want to think about the truth or cope with the tragedy that has struck him. "And he-he does not lift his head. 'I touched his heart, it does not beat'" (Tablet VIII, Column II, 15-16). "'Me! Will I too not die like Enkidu? Sorrow was come into my belly. I fear death; I roam over the hills. I will seize the road; quickly I will go to the house of Utnapishtim, offspring of Ubaratutu. I approach the entrance of the mountain at night. Lions I see, and I am terrified. I lift my head to pray to the mood god Sin: For...a dream I go to the gods in prayer: ...preserve me!'" (Tablet IX, Column I, 3-12).

    Read More

  • Relationship Between Gods And Humanity

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    Enkidu’s death evokes a disturbing thought in Gilgamesh. He finally realizes that he is mortal. He then goes about trying to find the key to immortality. Gilgamesh first seeks out Utnapishtim, the only human to gain immortality. When Gilgamesh cannot pass the test of staying awake for seven days, Utnapishtim then gives him the plant "Old Men Are Young Again." Despite this second opportunity, Gilgamesh is not triumphant in his search for immortality because a serpent eats the plant and Gilgamesh’s opportunity is lost forever. He does not realize that Enlil, the father of the gods, had already determined his destiny. It is clear from the events of the story that Gilgamesh was not to obtain everlasting life and it is no coincidence that all of his efforts fail in one way or another. This is another example of man’s lack of control where the gods are concerned

    Read More

  • The Epic of Gilgamesh

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    Perhaps one of the main reasons the Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, overwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh for a person to locate these themes in the story, and even less introspection to relate to them.

    Read More

  • The Friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    The whole reason Gilgamesh takes this journey to search for eternal life is due to the death of Enkidu, with whom he was close with. Before all of the events occurred, Gilgamesh had never thought about the topic of death. It’s as if it never crossed his mind; as though he would live forever. He went through phases along his journey. The first was not accepting reality, the second was fighting for eternal life, and the last was accepting reality. Now, his aspirations for immortality are no longer apparent as he enters the last stage.

    Read More

  • The Characteristics of Gilgamesh in 'The Epic of Gilgamesh'

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    Every living thing on Earth has characteristics. Characteristics are what make humans unique. Whether someone is tall, short, intelligent, or athletic, character traits make all things on Earth unique. One of the greatest examples of characteristics is the main character of the epic Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh’s three main characteristics are bravery, strength, and arrogance.

    Read More

  • Free Epic of Gilgamesh Essays: Character of Gilgamesh

    545 Words  | 2 Pages

    Analysis of the Character of Gilgamesh In the epic Gilgamesh, there are many complex characters. Every character involved in the story has their own personality and traits. The main character in the novel is Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is a character who is very self-confident.

    Read More

  • A Summary of the Epic of Gilgamesh

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

More about Epic Of Gilgamesh Research Paper

Open Document