1. The Epic

2. Consider: What do these films have in common? What do these films have in common? Lord of the Rings Lord of the Rings Star Wars Star Wars

3. The Epic Meets the following criteria Meets the following criteria –It is a long verse narrative on a serious subject –Told in a formal and elevated style –Centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the human race. Verse: any composition written in meter (i.e., poetry generally). Verse: any composition written in meter (i.e., poetry generally).meter Meter: A recognizable though varying pattern of stressed syllables alternating with syllables of less stress. Meter: A recognizable though varying pattern of stressed syllables alternating with syllables of less stress. Narrative: a story told as a sequence of events. Often chronoglical, but not necessarily so. Narrative: a story told as a sequence of events. Often chronoglical, but not necessarily so.

4. The Epic Write down as many modern epics that fit this criteria. Write down as many modern epics that fit this criteria.

5. Modern Epics

6. The Epic Traditionally were written versions of oral poems. Traditionally were written versions of oral poems. –Usually about a tribal or national hero during warlike times.

7. The Epic Hero is a figure of great national, or cosmic, importance. Hero is a figure of great national, or cosmic, importance. Setting is ample in scale Setting is ample in scale Action involves superhuman deeds in battle or a long, arduous, and dangerous journey. Action involves superhuman deeds in battle or a long, arduous, and dangerous journey. Gods and other supernatural beings take an interest. Gods and other supernatural beings take an interest. Ceremonial performance and narrated in a ceremonial style. Ceremonial performance and narrated in a ceremonial style.

8. Epic of Gilgamesh Tablet 11 of Epic of Gilgamesh

9. Epic of Gilgamesh

10. Recited orally Recited orally –Recorded 2750-2500 BCE –Predates all other major writings of antiquity Gilgamesh Gilgamesh –semi historical figure may have ruled Uruk around 2800 BCE –Two-thirds god; one-third man –Searches for ever-lasting life. Enkidu (Inn-KEY-Do) Enkidu (Inn-KEY-Do) –Dearest companion of Gilgamesh –Killed because Gilgamesh spurns affection of the Queen of Heaven, Ishtar

11. The Story 7 Episodes; 12 Tablets: 7 Episodes; 12 Tablets: –Episode 1 (Tablets 1-2): Gilgamesh and the Coming of Enkidu –Episode 2 (Tablets 3-5): The Raid into the Land of Humbaba (Huwawa) –Episode 3: (Tablet 6) The Bull of Heaven  Ishtar falls for Gilgy; sends Bull of Heaven to kill Gilgy after he spurns her; She kills Enkidu instead.

12. The Story Episode 4: (Tablets 7 – 8)The death of Enkidu Episode 4: (Tablets 7 – 8)The death of Enkidu –Gilgy faces his own mortality Episode 5: (Tablets 9 – 10) The Search for Immortality Episode 5: (Tablets 9 – 10) The Search for Immortality Episode 6: (Tablet 11) The story of the flood: Episode 6: (Tablet 11) The story of the flood: Episode 7: (End of Tablet 11) The return to Uruk Episode 7: (End of Tablet 11) The return to Uruk

13. From the story of the flood. Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying: "I will reveal to you, Gilgamesh, a thing that is hidden, a secret of the gods I will tell you! Shuruppak, a city that you surely know, situated on the banks of the Euphrates, that city was very old, and there were gods inside it. The hearts of the Great Gods moved them to inflict the Flood. Their Father Anu uttered the oath (of secrecy), Valiant Enlil was their Adviser, Ninurta was their Chamberlain, Ennugi was their Minister of Canals. Ea, the Clever Prince(?), was under oath with them so he repeated their talk to the reed house: 'Reed house, reed house! Wall, wall! O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubartutu: Tear down the house and build a boat! Abandon wealth and seek living beings! Spurn possessions and keep alive living beings! Make all living beings go up into the boat. The boat which you are to build, its dimensions must measure equal to each other: its length must correspond to its width. Roof it over like the Apsu. I understood and spoke to my lord, Ea: 'My lord, thus is the command which you have uttered I will heed and will do it. Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying: "I will reveal to you, Gilgamesh, a thing that is hidden, a secret of the gods I will tell you! Shuruppak, a city that you surely know, situated on the banks of the Euphrates, that city was very old, and there were gods inside it. The hearts of the Great Gods moved them to inflict the Flood. Their Father Anu uttered the oath (of secrecy), Valiant Enlil was their Adviser, Ninurta was their Chamberlain, Ennugi was their Minister of Canals. Ea, the Clever Prince(?), was under oath with them so he repeated their talk to the reed house: 'Reed house, reed house! Wall, wall! O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubartutu: Tear down the house and build a boat! Abandon wealth and seek living beings! Spurn possessions and keep alive living beings! Make all living beings go up into the boat. The boat which you are to build, its dimensions must measure equal to each other: its length must correspond to its width. Roof it over like the Apsu. I understood and spoke to my lord, Ea: 'My lord, thus is the command which you have uttered I will heed and will do it.

14. Finding Gilgamesh Recorded 2750-2500 BC Recorded 2750-2500 BC Stored at the Great Library of Nineveh Stored at the Great Library of Nineveh –Ruled from 669 BCE –Library ransacked; Gilgamesh lost Found by archologiests in 1840’s CE Found by archologiests in 1840’s CE –Sent to British Library –Cuneiform translated in 1870’s

15. Key Themes: Peeping Tom: Peeping Tom: –Window into Mesopotamia The nature of the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu The nature of the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu –Civilization vs. Beast –Friendship Cultural Difference Cultural Difference –Role of Women Nature of Gods Nature of Gods Importance of Fame / Immortality Importance of Fame / Immortality