ipl-logo

Epic Of Gilgamesh Research Paper

1005 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The epic of gilgamesh overview

The perception of death for Gilgamesh evolves from ignorance, to denial and lastly acceptance. Death’s purpose is to teach Gilgamesh that immortality is only achievable through the legacy he makes for himself. Enkidu’s passing causes a cataclysm in Gilgamesh’s mental state, as he must learn to deal with the reality of death. The journey Gilgamesh desperately takes to find the secret of eternal life is a direct parallel to him going through the five stages of grief, the grief being mortality. A period after Enkidu’s death, the reality of mortality reconciles Gilgamesh through his outburst,
Shall I not die too? Am I not like Enkidu?
Oh woe has entered my vitals!
I have grown afraid of death, so I roam the steppe.
This moment of vulnerability …show more content…

He begins to understand the notion of mortality as he states, “Shall I not die too,” the word “too” carries the heavy realization of his own mortality and the sharp bite of rage (9.3). His fury towards mortality leads to his slaughter of lions, for they remind him of the constant threat of death (9.18). “Shall,” such a weak word, has underlying tones of disbelief and anger caused from it, as seen from Gilgamesh using “shall” to begrudgingly admit he is susceptible to fatality. His anger causes his progress of accepting mortality to …show more content…

Humanity has strived for comfort from that fear through religion and folklore. The Epic of Gilgamesh emphases the religious aspect because of Gilgamesh’s constant dependence on the gods. Eternal life appears again in Christianity, for Jesus sacrifices himself for all of mankind so that man may avoid death. The unknown is a terrifying topic, and it is necessary for religion to lay a comforting hand upon every individual so that one might overcome the fear. The epic, in a way, sets up humanity for success because man is able to see Gilgamesh’s comfort and acceptance of death. This poem outlined all other poetry and religion to follow, not only because it is the oldest recorded epic, but it shows the evolution of the hero and how that hero is able to conquer his or her greatest fear, not through excellence and brute force but through emotional

Show More
Related

The Christian Critical Tradition In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

631 Words | 3 Pages

These actions by Gilgamesh show the reader how important it is for mankind to enjoy the time that they have on earth and make the most of every situation. Death is unavoidable, but with the right actions, the right Christian walk, as well as spreading truth and righteousness any death can be a beautiful

Read More

Similarities Between Gilgamesh And The Hebrew Bible

1352 Words | 6 Pages

Anna O’Tool Professor Volger World Literature 1 14 June 2023 The Epic of Gilgamesh vs. The Hebrew Bible “Where did we come from”. A question as old as time, pun intended. Humans have been asking this from the very beginning, and we know this because of the texts that they wrote. Thousands and thousands of writings have been created to attempt to answer it, but a few stick out.

Read More

Enkidu And Anu: The God In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

1804 Words | 8 Pages

My interpretation is he does this to convey the point that lustful, high and mighty thinking ultimate can lead to some sort of tragedy. However, it is always possibly to get back to some sort of happiness. One interesting thing I discovered was that after Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh is stuck in the mental and emotional Hell. He ends up fearing death, the one things he couldn’t care less about. The one thing he brought upon others that he never thought about; death.

Read More

How Do Dreams Play In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

614 Words | 3 Pages

This theme is shown when Gilgamesh kept having nightmare and starting think that he might be killed by Humbaba. Gilgamesh knows that the Gods, are the only ones who don’t die, so he fears his own death. Enkidu and Gilgamesh come to term with the fear of death because fame is the only thing besides Gods, that survive. After, Enkidu is cursed with a painful death he then knows that he time is up and it’s nothing he can do to stop it.

Read More

Self-Fulfillment In The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Iliad

921 Words | 4 Pages

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the protagonist, Gilgamesh, is portrayed as a selfish and tyrannical king who seeks to fulfill his desires. The text emphasizes the importance of personal ambition and ego by illustrating Gilgamesh's pursuit of immortality as a heroic quest, even though it is self-serving. " For example, when Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu kill the monster Humbaba, they do so not out of any sense of justice or moral obligation but simply because they want to add to their reputation" (Epic of Gilgamesh, pp. 23-24). Similarly, when Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh establishes his fear of being

Read More

The Warnings In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

615 Words | 3 Pages

The Epic of Gilgamesh was written as a reminder to the people that the mortality of man should never change, because it is what defines humanity. However, in the world of The Epic of Gilgamesh, this does not seem to deter any who wish to break the cycle of life. Gilgamesh, distraught by the death of his companion, Enkidu, is overcome with the obsession of obtaining immortality, and goes along a journey to attain it. While on the journey of obtaining immortality, he faces many difficulties and warnings that should deter him away from doing so.

Read More

What Is The Hero's Journey In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

453 Words | 2 Pages

You have toiled without cease, and what have you got! Through toil you wear yourself out, you fill your body with grief, your long lifetime you are bringing near(to a premature end)!... No one can see death, no one can see the face of death, no one can hear the voice of death, yet there is a savage death that snaps off mankind.” (Tab.X, PG. 25) Utnapishtim attempts to speak knowledge into Gilgamesh about rebirth and how he cannot escape death.

Read More

Why Is Gilgamesh Unique?

312 Words | 2 Pages

One thing that bothered me about this reading the fact that Gilgamesh and I shared the same reaction to a death close to us. I read this story a few years ago, shortly after the death of someone close to me. I never understood why I looked at myself and realized that I was not immortal. I know I mentioned this in my presentation, but I it almost seems ridiculous to think everyone is going to die especially yourself. However, it is just as ridiculous to feel like you're invincible and that you’ll live a long life.

Read More

Vietnam American Culture

1167 Words | 5 Pages

Culture of Vietnam SSG Duplantier, Robert Class 002-18 Instructor SFC Williams The idealists of the people of Vietnam is that of both of Communist and a bit of Democratic. Although the political structure of Vietnam is more sided of Communist. Whereas the president servers as the head of government in what is known as a one system party lead by the Communist party.

Read More

Death In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

992 Words | 4 Pages

Gilgamesh is given more than one chance to become immortal. Yet, despite his reputation for being victorious in all battles, he fails at both opportunities. One could argue that Gilgamesh was not actually so afraid of death but was, perhaps, afraid of living without his friend, Enkidu. Perhaps, he was simply having a hard time coping with Enkidu's shameful death. Perhaps the quest for eternal life was nothing more than a chance to prove that eternal life is unachievable.

Read More

The Tragic Hero In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

940 Words | 4 Pages

The hero Gilgamesh, passed through various tests and turns out better for it. For at the beginning the epic the king appears in the form of an unbridled, corrupted and cruel young man, then after the death of Enkidu, he is finally capable of a heartfelt deep sorrow. For the first time he becomes aware of the futility of existence, feeling the fear of the death, the hero of the poem turns to the gods to find out the secrets of life and death. From now on, Gilgamesh cannot simply rule his people, he wants to know the secret of death. His soul comes to complete despair: how could the immortal power and energy in the body of Enkidu die?

Read More

Epic Of Gilgamesh Suffering

1147 Words | 5 Pages

Human suffering is one of the major themes in The Epic of Gilgamesh. When confronting with painful circumstances in our lives, we often ask ourselves why is life so difficult and wonder if suffering is necessary. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the two heroes, Gilgamesh and Enkidu both go through suffering either physically or mentally. There are many beliefs to the reason why suffering is inevitable. In this epic, it is portrayed that the two heroes’ sufferings are the results of their fundamental flaws, such as their hubris and their attachments of to be remembered.

Read More

Essay On The Value Of Life In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

1089 Words | 5 Pages

“Trust not Gilgamesh in your own strength” (Foster 53). This advice can correspond with warnings given to those who believe that the life they lead is sustainable and without consequence. It is important to note that it is not a bad thing to obtain success and fortune, however, it is bad when such lifestyles lead one to neglect the reality of their existence. Unfortunately, sometimes one must experience great loss before coming to such realizations, such as the case of Gilgamesh. “Enkidu, whom I so loved, who went with me through every hardship, the fate of mankind has overtaken him” (Foster

Read More

Culture And Themes In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

2037 Words | 9 Pages

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).

Read More

A Hero's Quest For Immortality Analysis

711 Words | 3 Pages

The whole notion of going through all sorts of hardships and perils to achieve eternal life signifies a hero’s fear of death. The famous hero of Greek mythology, Achilles, is said to be invincible since his mother dipped him in the River of Styx, but he still failed to survive when the Trojan prince shot him in his heel. It goes to show that no matter how strong, wise and powerful a hero is, he or she cannot escape the inevitable knocking of death. But in order to get the desired immortal life, a hero must first prove that he or she is worthy to gain such privilege.

Read More

More about Epic Of Gilgamesh Research Paper

Related Topics

Open Document