The Epic of Gilgamesh

What is Myth? Symbolize and embody the spiritual values of a culture. Society preserves myths because it believes world views found in them are crucial to the survival of the culture. They attempt to answer key questions of life .

Functions of Myth Transmit Culture Explain the world—floods, mortality, human nature. Provide Role Models—larger than life figures that embody cultural values.

Common Themes in Myth Gods of sky and earth Creator gods Flood story Death and rebirth Heroes and hero’s journey

The Two Truths 1st Truth 2nd Truth Literal Truth Metaphorical Truth Did it really Happen? What is the takeaway from the story? How can we apply the events in myth to our lives?

History of Gilgamesh Earliest recorded word of literature – dates to 2100 b.c. Written in cuneiform Sumer (Middle Eastern)

History of Gilgamesh Borrows the name of an apparent king of Uruk circa 2500 b.c. Recounts a flood that may have occurred in the region in 2900 b.c. Uncovered in Nineveh in 1845 First outlined in 1862

Biblical Parallels Noah Adam and Eve Flood Narrative with human “savior” Adam and Eve Creation of man from god and natural elements. Tempted by a female Man must leave former self never to return

The Epic Adj.   Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size: "A vast musical panorama . . . it requires an epic musical understanding to do it justice" (Tim Page). Noun: An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.

The Epic Most epics begin with the “before words” -- the words before the story, which is called a “prologue.” This usually takes one of the two following forms: A Genealogy A Prayer history of the people involved asking the gods for genealogy of the hero inspiration summary/introduction of praising the hero and his the crisis adventures

The Hero’s Journey What is a Hero? According to Joseph Campbell A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something greater than oneself They set out to recover something that has been lost or to discover a life-giving elixir They must die to an infantile personality and psyche and come back having gained wisdom They undergo trials that serve to purify the hero to gain the ultimate boon. The hero’s morals come from sacrificing the self to save a people, a person, or to support an ideal that they believe in.

The Hero’s Journey Separation Return Initiation Departure Return Known The Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Supernatural Aid The Crossing of the First Threshold The Belly of the Whale Departure Return Known Return Refusal of the Return The Magic Flight Rescue from Without The Crossing of the Return Threshold Master of the Two Worlds Freedom to Live Unknown Initiation The Road of Trials The Meeting with the Goddess Woman as the Temptress Atonement with the Father Apotheosis The Ultimate Boon Initiation

The Call to Adventure The hero receives a signal to show him/her that they have outgrown their former self.

The hero hesitates on the threshold of change. The Refusal of the Call The hero hesitates on the threshold of change.

Supernatural Aid A protective aide gives the hero all of the tools they need to cross the threshold.

Threshold Guardian When the hero reaches the threshold, they will not be permitted to pass without effort. The job of the threshold guardian is to get the hero to rethink whether or not they wish to proceed on the adventure.

Crossing the Threshold This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known.

Woman as Temptress In this step, the hero faces those temptations, often of a physical or pleasurable nature, that may lead him or her to abandon or stray from his or her quest, which does not necessarily have to be represented by a woman. Woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the hero-knight was often tempted by lust from his spiritual journey.

Belly of the Whale The belly of the whale represents the final separation from the hero's known world and self. By entering this stage, the person shows willingness to undergo a metamorphosis. The hero is swallowed (sometimes literally!) by the unknown world. To the outside, they may seem dead.

The Road of Trials The hero is faced by a series of ever greater trials. They are typically tempted by evil in one way or another.

The Meeting of the Goddess The Meeting with the Goddess: The hero meets a "goddess" that shows him/her what perfection is truly like. The hero witnesses all that can be accomplished and often times, his/her mission becomes much clearer. The goddess encourages the hero to continue. This goddess may be a physical person or may be some feminine symbol. 

Abyss The hero must “slay their dragon.” This is the thing that they must overcome or have the repressed need to resolve. They need to conquer their greatest fear.

Apotheosis He has discovered his life’s purpose and come to a realization about the world and his position of greatness in it. Now, with his consciousness expanded, he is vastly different from the man he was at the beginning of the journey. He can see things others can’t see and do things others can’t do.

The Ultimate Boon The hero achieves the elixir or the ultimate “thing “that they were after. The previous steps were served to purify the hero in order to achieve them.

The Return The hero returns to share the elixir with society. Lives among the known world with newfound understanding that they can never be the same as a result of their journey