1. The Epic of Gilgamesh

2. 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, 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

3. 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.

4. Who was Gilgamesh?
1. King in early days of civilization 2. Learning how to conduct himself in society 3. Limited by mortality and responsibility 4. Suffers from a restless heart, quick-temper to violence, arrogance, selfishness 5. 2/3 divine, 1/3 man 6. Giant-size! Much larger than a normal man, accentuated muscles and masculine build; physically intimidating.

5. 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 man
What man owes the gods
A king’s duty to his city/country/people

6. Characters in The Epic of Gilgamesh
Enkidu – created to be the challenger and then companion of Gilgamesh

7. Enkidu-created to be challenger and then companion of Gilgamesh
Originally lived with beasts of forest as a wild man
Mirror image of Gilgamesh
2/3 man, 1/3 divine; the perfect reciprocal to Gilgamesh.
Created by Aruru from the
dust of the ground into a living being.

8. Relief (Enkidu) to loneliness (Gil)
Physical Rivals
Wilderness (Enkidu) vs Civilization (Gil)
Their relationship
Relief (Enkidu) to loneliness (Gil)
Gilgamesh learns from Enkidu about:
Sacrifice
Wisdom
Friendship

9. 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

10. Narrates story of the deluge to Gilgamesh
Utnapishtim
Survivor of the flood
Narrates story of the deluge to Gilgamesh
Only mortal to be given eternal life

11. Utnapishtim teaches Gilgamesh:
Stoicism – indifference to pain or pleasure
Resignation
Responsibility
A sense of self

12. Irkhalla Goddess of the underworld
Comes to Enkidu in dream of his death

13. Sidurri
Goddess of wine
Advice to Gil - Carpe Diem

14. True claim to immortality? Contributions to his city

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. They fight and acknowledge each other as equals and become the deepest of friends
Enkidu acknowledges Gilgamesh as the superior human being and superior fighter
Gilgamesh’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.

20. 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.

21. 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…

22. WILL PICK UP WITH THE EPIC!
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!