Epics are long poems narrating the adventures of a hero and don’t have a specific author due to being passed around so much. The Epic of Gilgamesh and Song of Roland are two famous epics told years after they started and really impacted future literacy. The fact that they are both epics, which are necessarily about a hero's voyage, they have some similarities of what they are trying to portray. These two stories were created in different eras, so they do have differences in concepts. Time and their cultural aspects are big factors that the famous epics can be compared with.
An epic is an early form of literature; it’s a long poem in an elevated style. Epics contain a hero and it most likely would always be the main character. Many epics include valorous deeds, supernatural forces, a hero on a quest, and an elevated style. Rabbit Proof Fence is a movie talking about three girls trying to escape the camp and get back home safely. Beowulf is a folk epic written around 600-110 A.D, about him on a quest to fight the dragons and sea monsters.
Gilgamesh was a legendary King from the distant pass. He was looked as a hero because of his travels with Enkidu to the cedar forest to kill its guard, Humbaba. He was famed for his great deeds as a king. He was a anti-hero and a hero in the Mesopotamians eyes. I think that Gilgamesh was a hero because it he has done many epic and risky travels.
To help put a stop to Gilgamesh's misbehavior, Aruru, the god of creation, creates a man of equal strength: Enkidu. Eventually, the two become friends and go on an adventure to defeat the monster Humbaba to prove their worth and later, kill the Bull of Heaven after Ishtar, the goddess of love, is angered and sends the bull to destroy Gilgamesh.
The Epic of Gilgamesh gives a lot of insight to what was happening and what was expected in ancient Mesopotamia. The epic poem which revolves around a king, includes many details in to the civilization, beliefs, and values of the Mesopotamians. The king thrives to be remembered and many of his actions reflect that. The Epic of Gilgamesh show how an ideal heroic king should be in ancient Mesopotamia. The first thing it shows us is that hero kings should be strong.
Gilgamesh is an epic hero because, he part divine, interacts with gods and his story has a series of adventures and superhuman victories. Gilgamesh is a king that shows off his power and enviably shows his weak side in most altercations. Most scholars see him as a historical figure, but I myself think he is definitely an epic hero. He oppresses people who call out to the gods, this is not very heroic, but his other actions will show the truth. Gilgamesh IS an epic hero.
An epic, as described by Rebecca Ray, is “[a story] told on a grand scale, with armies, heroes, gods, and the brutal forces of nature depicted over long character arcs and sweeping landscapes. ”(Ray) all the key components you will find in an Epic according to Elisah Winikka are, “The Ordinary World... The Call To Adventure… Refusal Of The Call... Accepting the Call and Crossing the Threshold…
However, this leads to the epitome of childish behavior from the divine goddess Ishtar when she makes advances at Gilgamesh and is insulted by him about her treatment of past lovers and she goes to her father Anu and request the mighty bull of heaven so she may “… kill Gilgamesh on his home ground” (64). Since Gilgamesh is merely a man modern beliefs would indicate he would not prevail, but by joining forces with Enkidu they dispatch the bull easily. Though Anu conceded and gave Ishtar the bull only after her pleading he changes his opinion of Enkidu and Gilgamesh and he decides that one of them must die. Shamash the god who originally sent the two to slay Humbaba which ultimately resulted in Ishtar wanting to be with Gilgamesh defends the pair and is accused by Enlil of being their friend and not a
The gods punish the two heroes by ending Enkidu’s life and leave Gilgamesh behind. After twelve days of suffering, he dies in a slow, inglorious death (62). Enkidu represents the wildness in humanity. After his journey with Gilgamesh, he becomes civilized, more mature and closer to humanity. Enkidu was afraid of confronting Humbaba, but because of their friendship he overcomes his fear (29).
Early Mesopotamian people are bilingual, and since there was no unified form of writing, the text is written in Akkadian and Sumerian. It is considered an epic due to the nature of the poem revolving a hero, his deeds, conquests, and history. The epic of Gilgamesh revolves around Gilgamesh or the Sumerians calls him, Bilgamesh. Gilgamesh was said to be the fifth king of Uruk, who was one-third man and two-third god.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest story known to mankind, being written on Sumerian clay almost five thousand years ago (Garone). Since the story was originally known orally, the culture and themes from The Epic of Gilgamesh must have existed long before it was finally inscribed (Mark 4). Having known this, the cultures and themes can be compared to today’s society, discovering about how they have shifted and evolved, and also observe how they are similar. The ancient days of Gilgamesh has brought culture that has greatly influenced today’s society. Because Gilgamesh was set around the time of late Babylonian or early Sumerian society, the Babylonian and Sumerian cultures also play a role in shaping the world into what is is today (Mark).
Enkidu’s friendship makes Gilgamesh calm and helps him to become a better king. Throughout the epic, Gilgamesh and Enkidu kiss and hug each other frequently. After conflicts between the two, they kissed and formed friendship. But Gilgamesh is never seen sleeping with a woman after conflict, and he even rejected Ishtar, the principal goddess of Uruk. “Come, Gilgamesh, be you my bridegroom!
Literature, art, and music have always found ways to transcend the physical barriers and borders humans put up. They influence cultures other than the ones of their origins. Similarities between religions, mythologies, and folk stories have been noted often throughout time by academics and historians. The holy texts of some major religions like The Old Testament and the Quran share many overlapping literary themes and events with older religions and folk tales, like the ancient Sumerian poem; “The Epic of Gilgamesh”. Many examples of overlapping themes is the presence and references to great floods, supernatural influences, otherworldly gardens, and battles between good and evil.
‘Here stand the failures of this tower,’ cackled Ishtar. ‘With any luck from Shamash you will not remnant here immortally.’ With that Ishtar disappeared as mysteriously as she came. Before the battle erupted, Gilgamesh prayed to the oh mighty Shamash. He requested his strength, his perseverance, and most of all his colossal bravery.
The epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by N.K. Sandars, tells the story of the ancient king of Uruk, Gilgamesh, and his desperate search to immortalize himself. The Indian epic, The Ramayana, written by R.K. Narayan, recounts the tale of Rama, who is the incarnation of Vishnu sent down to destroy Ravana and bring peace to the world. Both of these individuals are considered ancient heroes by modern standards. Heroes are individuals that humanity looks up to as superior beings, but who are also relatable. A hero is defined as “a being of godlike prowess and beneficence”, who also displays flaws that he or she struggles with but ends up resolving in the end (Hero, n.d.).
