1. The Epic of Gilgamesh

2. What’s an Epic? Epic : a long narrative poem about a larger-than-life hero who is engaged in a dangerous journey (quest) that is important to the history of a nation or people. Examples:Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon) The Odyssey (ancient Greek) Sundiata (West African) The Mahabharata (Indian) The Nibelungenlied (German) The Divine Comedy (Italian) The Song of Roland (French) King Arthur legends (English)

3. The Epic – Key Elements An opening statement of theme, followed by a prayer (invocation) to the gods Begins in medias res (in the middle) Has a serious tone and an elevated style Includes epic similes and epithets (stock words / phrases)

4. The Epic – Key Elements An epic hero (ex. Achilles/ The Illiad) An epic conflict (ex. Greeks v. Trojans; Achilles v. Hector; The Illiad ) An heroic quest(s) Divine intervention (Zeus, Hera—The Illiad)

5. An Epic Hero is… Strong Brave Loyal Virtuous ** flawed in some way (often hubris) Occupies an important position in society Is usually of semi-divine or noble birth

6. An Epic Conflict Plot--centers on the hero’s struggle against a series of obstacles Proves his… – Strength – Bravery – Wisdom – Virtue …through a variety of deeds and success in battle or adventure.

7. The Quest (a plot archetype) A hero’s perilous journey in search of something of value to his people.

8. Quest/ A hero may search for… a person a place an object of value the answer to a problem or puzzling question some other special knowledge

9. Divine Intervention The epic hero often receives help from… 1. a god 2. some other supernatural force

10. The Epic of Gilgamesh written over 4000 years ago. based upon 12 clay tablets written in cuneiform script is at least 1,000 years older than the Greek epics Iliad and Odyssey, as well as most books of the Hebrew Bible. tale was written by the Sumerians repeated and reworked by writers from the Babylonian and Assyrian cultures.

11. Clay Tablets Found in 1839

12. Historical Gilgamesh It is based on some grains of fact: Sumerian king named Gilgamesh reigned over the city-state of Uruk, in ancient Mesopotamia (now Iraq) Reigned some time between 2700 and 2500 B.C.

13. The Characters Anu (aay nooh): the god of the heavens; the father-god Ea (aay): the god of wisdom; usually a friend to humans Enkidu (en-kee-dooh): Gilgamesh’s friend; a wild man whom the gods created out of clay Enlil (en-lil): the god of the air, the wind, and the earth Humbaba: a giant demon who guards a great cedar forest Ishtar: the goddess of love and war; the queen of heaven Ninurta: a god associated with the sun and human laws Siduri (Sid-ooh-ree): goddess of wine and brewing Urshanabi: the ferryman who travels daily across the sea of death to the home of Utnapishtim Utnapishtim: the survivor of a flood sent by the gods to destroy humanity; the gods granted him eternal life.