Background to Gilgamesh

World Literature

Types of Epics

Folk epics—stories about heroes; recited or sung

Literary Epics—borrow same characteristics of folk epics; usually written down by one author; some based on well-known characters or stories from oral tradition.

Elements of the Epic

Epic Hero Epic Conflict Heroic Quest Divine Intervention

Epic Conventions:-Invocation-in medias res-serious tone-contain epic similes (elaborated comparisons) and epithets (poetic renamings. For example:loud-sounding sea)-Archetypes (recurring plot, character, symbol, idea)

Elevated language or elevated style: formal, dignified language; it often uses more elaborate

figures of speech. Purpose…

– to give dignity to a hero (note the speeches of heroes like Achilles or Agamemnon in the Iliad),

– to express the superiority of God and religious matters generally (as in prayers or in the King James version of the Bible),

– to indicate the importance of certain events (the ritual language of the traditional marriage ceremony), etc.

– It can also be used to reveal a self-important or a pretentious character, for humor and/or for satire.

Example of Elevated Style

“Now Come! Let us go forward together. Be of good courage! When we come face to face with Humbaba, if we are afraid, we will conquer our fear!”

(Come on; let’s go kill Humbaba! I know you’re scared out of your mind, but we’ll deal with it when we get there!)

Mythology/ Epics timeline

From the Prologue we learn that Gilgamesh is the King of Uruk, a city in ancient Mesopotamia--modern day Iraq.Earliest Civilization (Sumer, Egypt, Akkad) from 3200 to 2052 BC

Gilgamesh Background Both MYTH and LEGEND Supernatural: 2/3 god &1/3 man based

on a real king Story is 4,000 years old—ancient

Sumeria (modern Iraq) Written on 12 clay tablets in

Cuneiform. Mesopotamia (Greek for “between two

rivers”)—between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

One of the earliest URBAN civilizations we know of. This culture enjoyed a very sophisticated lifestyle over 4,000 years ago.

Topics/Themes

Good vs. Evil Spirituality Immortality—why do

we have to die? How do we attain everlasting life?

Friendship What makes a good

leader? Responsibility Balance/Harmony

Cuneiform tablet