Things to Know about The Epic of Gilgamesh It’s THE earliest surviving work of fiction, ever! ...
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Transcript of Things to Know about The Epic of Gilgamesh It’s THE earliest surviving work of fiction, ever! ...
Things to Know about The Epic of Gilgamesh
It’s THE earliest surviving work of fiction, ever! Predates: The Iliad, the Odyssey, Old Testament
(oldest fragment dated to the 12th century, 1300-1100 B.C.) It’s 1000 years older than the Bible and The Iliad!
It’s said that oral poems about Gilgamesh predated these dates; bits and pieces from other tales referencing Gilgamesh are also in existence.
Crucial foundation myth of Mesopotamian society 80+ manuscripts and 11 tablets of the story exist
•Originally inscribed on clay tablets (using a reed pen) in wedge shaped characters known as “cuneiform”
•Cuneiform= “wedge-shaped” pictures/images that became writing that was translated and given a context by writers.
1. King in early days of civilization2. Learning how to conduct himself in society3. Limited by mortality and responsibility4. Suffers from a restless heart, quick-temper to violence, arrogance, selfishness5. 2/3 divine, 1/3 man6. Giant-size! Much larger than a normal man, accentuated muscles and masculine build; physically intimidating.
The Epic of Gilgamesh in its time provided a display of and a
proper example of the relationship between:
The individual and his/her duty in relation to his/her society
The way the gods relate to manWhat man owes the godsA king’s duty to his
city/country/people
Characters in The Epic
of Gilgamesh
Enkidu-created to be challenger and then companion of Gilgamesh
Originally lived with beasts of forest as a wild man
Mirror image of Gilgamesh2/3 man, 1/3 divine; the perfect
reciprocal to Gilgamesh.Created by Aruru from the
dust of the ground into a living being.
Physical Rivals Wilderness (Enkidu) vs Civilization (Gil)
Their relationship
Relief (Enkidu) to loneliness (Gil)
Gilgamesh learns from Enkidu about:
Sacrifice
Wisdom
Friendship
Shamash
God of the sun; judge and law giver; advised Gilgamesh he could not continue journey because no living man had ever been this far
taught Gilgamesh humility
Utnapishtim
Survivor of the flood
Narrates story of the deluge to Gilgamesh
Only mortal to be given eternal life
Utnapishtim teaches Gilgamesh:
Stoicism – indifference to pain or pleasure Resignation Responsibility A sense of self
IrkhallaGoddess of the underworldComes to Enkidu in dream of his death
SidurriGoddess of wineAdvice to Gil - Carpe Diem
True claim to immortality?
Contributions to his city
Elements of an Epic According to Abrams, an epic must have 5
features: Hero of great nations or universal imp. Vast canvas – setting Plot involves battles involving superhuman
deeds/long, difficult journeys Ex: Odysseus traveled 10 yrs.
Gods and/or other supernatural beings interested and involved
Ritualized, performative aspect, ceremonial, ordinary speech
Common Literary Conventions
Employed by Most Epic Poets Poet opens by stating theme and invoking a
Muse to inspire the poem Opens in medias res Catalogs of warriors, ships, and armies
included Extended formal speeches given by main
characters Poet makes frequent use of epic/extended
simile Use of repetition
We will pick up in Book VII but here is what has
happened in the epic up to this point:
Enkidu was created as another hero to perfectly balance Gilgamesh’s tyranny and arrogance over his people of Uruk. Enkidu is childlike where Gil. is violent Enkidu is peaceful and wild among animals
vs. Gilg. who is among humans, civilized.Shamhat (a priestess of Ishtar’s temple)
is sent to seduce Enkidu in the wilderness and bring him to Gilgamesh
•Enkidu is “tamed” by Shamhat’s love and passion; they make love and she introduces him to the self-awareness of a human being, not that of a wild animal.•Enkidu challenges Gilgamesh upon being in Uruk for the first time after hearing that Gilgamesh takes the virginity of every new bride in the city, as decreed by him and the gods.•Enkidu blocks the door to the marriage house where Gilgamesh is about to enter and the two fight and brawl through the streets of Uruk.
They fight and acknowledge each other as equals and become the deepest of friends Enkidu acknowledges Gilgamesh as the
superior human being and superior fighterGilgamesh’s “restless heart” is soon
satisfied by his need to kill Humbaba the monster of the Cedar Forest.
Gilgamesh decides to kill Humbaba and take Enkidu with him on the journey.
Along the journey to the Cedar Forest, Enkidu dreams bad omens about what they’re about to do; Gil. Ignores them.
Enkidu is held equally morally responsible for persuading Gilgamesh to slay the monster, therefore his own life becomes forfeit.
Even though the gods wanted the monster defeated, they didn’t want him destroyed and since Gilgamesh decided this for himself, there are always consequences.
To make matters worse, after returning to Uruk celebrated heroes and being physically admired by the people, Ishtar finds Gilgamesh attractive and desires him.
Ishtar asks Gilgamesh to be her lover and offers him herself, a goddess of love but Gilgamesh rejects her harshly.
As a woman scorned, Ishtar is not only petulant and vengeful; she is really a “monster” willing to sacrifice hundreds of people for the sake of her revenge.
She sends the Great Bull of Heaven against them and they defeat it.
To add insult to injury, they throw a piece of meat at Ishtar’s face.
The great gods are not to be mocked…
•The killing of Humbaba (Cedar Forest guardian/monster) and humiliation of Ishtar will have fatal consequences.•Enkidu has two dreams about dying…
THIS IS WHERE WE
WILL PICK UP WITH THE EPIC!