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Why Gilgamesh Should Stay In The CGS Curriculum

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Final Paper: Why Gilgamesh Should Stay in the CGS Curriculum The Epic of Gilgamesh holds immense value in the domain of literature due to its historical relevance as one of the earliest existing pieces. The fact that it has been included in academic curricula for a substantial amount of time is a testament to its significant importance in the study of humanities. Given the prompt, Dean McKnight has initiated a thorough assessment of the curriculum offered at CGS. Considering this, there could be some questions about the relevance of adding this ancient story to the current HU103 course. This essay suggests that The Epic of Gilgamesh has immense value in terms of literature and culture, as well as offering valuable insights into the state of …show more content…

Originating in ancient Mesopotamia, the epic is the oldest existing literary work and offers insights into the historical background and culture of that time. The story depicts the adventures of Gilgamesh, who is made up of a blend of divine and human elements. He forms a close bond with Enkidu, a wild creature created by the gods to rival Gilgamesh’s dominance. The poetic structure consists of twelve tablets that explore various themes, including the quest for immortality, the strength of companionship, and the fear of death. The enduring significance of these themes remains present, and studying Gilgamesh has the potential to provide students with a deep understanding of essential aspects of mankind, civilization, and traditions. By reading the epic, one can gain a deeper understanding of the historical and societal progressions of ancient Mesopotamia, as it provides an analytical view of their cultural practices, values, and beliefs. This allows readers to deconstruct and analyze these elements for a comprehensive insight into their …show more content…

CGS aims to facilitate the comprehensive growth of students by providing them with the necessary talents and knowledge to thrive in a constantly changing worldwide environment. Studying Gilgamesh has the potential to enhance critical thinking skills, nurture an appreciation for diverse cultures, and facilitate an understanding of the historical significance of traditions and rituals in shaping modern society. HU103 aims to improve communication skills and cultural sensitivity. By studying The Epic of Gilgamesh, it will lead to the acquisition of both abilities. By carefully dissecting and comprehensively interpreting the epic, students can hone the abilities necessary for insightful analysis, compelling written expression, and articulate communication regarding complex ideas. A thorough study of The Epic of Gilgamesh has the potential to greatly contribute to the overall goals of the CGS curriculum, which aims to provide students with a strong foundation in various areas of the humanities and sciences. By delving into epic literature, learners can gain exposure to varied ways of thinking and develop a broader understanding of the vastness of human insight and

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Always encountering success, Gilgamesh was once a tyrant to his people. Reflecting on his rule, he recalls that, “He demanded from an old birthright/the privilege of sleeping with their brides” (15). His triumphs fostered arrogance. To him, everyone else paled in comparison. When he experiences defeat, however, Gilgamesh grows as a leader, seeing the similarities between him and his subjects, their common humanity.

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When reading The Epic of Gilgamesh we can find different examples of the six criteria for evaluating works of art. Therefore we are able to hone in on a few that really prevail throughout the story that persuades the reader to think critically about what exactly the author wants the reader to understand. Three main themes of the Christian critical tradition in The Epic of Gilgamesh are truth, righteousness, and beauty. When looking at the epic of Gilgamesh and accessing the literature for truth we see that an ultimate truth is death.

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In this essay, I will be talking about The Epic of Gilgamesh as well as the great flood that is mentioned in the Bible. Both stories were written and passed down orally through generations and have often been compared with many similarities as well as differences that I will discuss and contrast. More specifically, the first few books of the Bible, including Genesis is where the Bible flood story is found, which was said to be written by Moses. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the story about a king by the name of Gilgamesh, who uses his power in a negative way in his kingdom. The gods decide upon giving Gilgamesh a friend, who will tame his character and therefore, produce a more ethical king to rule over the city of Uruk.

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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.

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In comparison, it’s always observed on how different scholars find the similarity of especially marital settings, characters, and as well as the wanderings of the mythological world. Different events within the life of these characters cover broadly a huge range of epic encounters that are heroic. The character, emotional and psychological development of Gilgamesh can be borrowed especially from the ancient heroic perspectives of mortality and death while comparing with Achilles. Mesopotamian civilization has had several phases in which hero Gilgamesh has been in existence, however having similar attributes. One of the earliest stories of Gilgamesh is developed from Sumerian texts, one of the most influential and well-known poems (Michelakis & Pantelis 2007).

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Cole and Ortega’s The Thinking Past is a book that covers the history of humans and civilization. The authors cover the transition of humans from a hunter-gatherer life into a sedentary life, forming the civilizations we know today. This transition can be witnessed through the character, Enkidu, in The Epic of Gilgamesh. Enkidu—a glorified forager—is created by the gods to keep the King of Uruk, Gilgamesh, in check.

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The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian epic poem that tells the story of the legendary king Gilgamesh, who was two-thirds god and one-third human. Throughout the story, the overarching theme of perseverance is evident as Gilgamesh embarks on a journey to find immortality. Through the journey, Gilgamesh faces numerous challenges and obstacles, but he persists in his quest, later on, he also learns that the pursuit of eternal life is futile and instead, discovers the true meaning of perseverance and the importance of living a virtuous life. A significant event where Gilgamesh highlights the importance of the virtue of perseverance is when he says, "For six days and seven nights I battled with death, but with the dawn of the seventh

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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.

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The Epic of Gilgamesh is the first epic poem to be written in ancient West Asia. It was written around the third millennium BCE in Mesopotamia by Sumerian people (Spodek, 127). The epic is based on actual an historical figure, a Sumerian king who reigned the city-state of Uruk around third millennium BCE. Ashurbanipal, the last Neo-Assyrian king who was literate, built a great library in his capital and preserved 20,000 tablets including the earliest complete version of The Epic of Gilgamesh (Spodek, 128). Sumerian attitudes towards gods, friendship, and the story of the great flood are revealed throughout the epic.

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The Epic of Gilgamesh: Relevant Truth for Today’s Society The Epic of Gilgamesh is set in Uruk, an ancient city of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization of Sumer, now modern-day Iraq. The epic was said to be written by Sin-liqe-unninni, but it is based on five earlier Sumerian poems with no known author. The piece was difficult to translate, and there are two main version for the Epic of Gilgamesh. This is the result of the environment during the time the piece was being written.

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