The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by N.K. Sandars and Braveheart, directed by Mel Gibson

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Throughout history, there have been countless stories, legends, myths, and tales featuring larger-than-life heroes that metaphorically or even physically go to the ends of the earth achieving heroic feats and gathering companions along the way, each playing their own role in the hero's story. Many of these epics have the same plot structure and similar character archetypes that make these stories stand out from the rest, giving them a distinct and unique style. The story The Epic of Gilgamesh translated by N.K. Sandars and the film Mel Gibson's Braveheart are two classic sagas that are alike in many ways such as their similar plots, their general character archetypes, and finally their central theme.

In comparison, both The Epic of Gilgamesh and Braveheart share the same plot outline with similar story turning points. The two stories both depict a hero that undergoes great suffering of losing a loved one and is then equally driven by the sorrow of the loss and defiance of a higher power. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the hero Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, befriends a wild man by the name of Enkidu after beating him in a fierce spar. Together, they venture into the Cedar Forest and slay the demon Humbaba. Upon their return home, Gilgamesh rejects the advances of Ishtar, the Goddess of love and war. The vengeful goddess, in attempt to smite Gilgamesh, unleashes the mighty Bull of Heaven. Her attempt was unfruitful for Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay the bull without incident. Ishtar, realizing that she cannon harm Gilgamesh, releases a pestilence on Enkidu. In the last hours of Enkidu's life, he has a ominous dream depicting the afterlife. He explains this dream to Gilgamesh in full detail saying, ''There is the house whose people sit in dark...

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...and reasons for being written, they both share very similar aspects that are also prominent in many other epic stories. This proves that the style for writing epics has persisted through time for thousands of years due to the fact that the way they are written creates a long lasting effect on the readers and inspires others to follow the same parameters to writing stories in a similar fashion. This causes a snowball effect that allow the same story structure to even be prominent in movies and books today.

Reference

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological

Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

"Anonymous &" Sandars, N.K. (2006). Elements of Literature: World Literature. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Gibson, M. (Producer & Director). (1995). Braveheart [Film]. Hollywood, CA: Paramount.

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