Compare And Contrast Odysseus And Gilgamesh

The Odyssey written by Homer highlights the character development of Odysseus, the epic hero, in his journey of self-discovery. Odysseus is accredited with many strong traits including his nobility, smarts, and bravery. Having one tragic flaw, being his arrogance, was put to the test throughout his heroic journey. Homer stripped the protagonist of his arrogance as the story goes on, by giving him many challenges, giving dire consequences for his mistakes, and allowing him to continue to overcome obstacles. The main purpose of Odysseus’ journey was to reach his home as a humbled man. The hero’s journey can be used as a way to look at life’s morals. The reader is able to see the protagonist continue to make mistakes, because of his arrogance and continue to be punished by the gods. Once he overcame this, he is greatly awarded with the security of his home. This essay will analyze the arrogance of Odysseus along with his extraordinary traits, the molding of his identity, and his new found lesson of humility.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Mesopotamian myth and the oldest known narrative there is, originally created on clay tablets written in cuneiform. The story focuses on two individuals. Gilgamesh, who is the tyrannical ruler of the kingdom of Uruk. Then his counterweight, Enkidu who resides in the forest and was raised by animals. It may seem that neither would have much in common, considering one is royalty and one is a wild man. However, these two characters balance each other despite their differences, which results in a beautiful friendship, but both will lose as well as gain in the end.

The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey have been a part of human literature for many, many years now, they are both more referred to as epic poems. Both epics are found in different points of time in human cultures stretching roughly 1000 years apart. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a poem from early Mesopotamian culture and The Odyssey is said to be written from the early onset of the Greek civilization. The main characters for these epics are Gilgamesh, a demigod and ruler of Uruk, and Odysseus a great warrior returning home to his wife from war. The two main characters of these epic poems, Gilgamesh and Odysseus share many traits together and apart from each other. Among the qualities that these characters display in each of their respective poems,

Because of his pride, he does not listen, which is one of his biggest flaws in the story. Furthermore, you can see Gilgamesh’s perseverance when he finds out that the outcome of his journey is not favorable, but he still continues to go after praying to Shamash (26). This shows that he would always continue with what he started and that he was not one to give up on what he says he is going to do. His loyalty to his friend, Enkidu, is also very obvious, especially after Enkidu passed away, when Gilgamesh “Slaughtered fatted [cattle] and sheep, heaped them high for his friend” (62). This shows that Gilgamesh really enjoyed and appreciated Enkidu as a friend, and even after his death, he did everything possible to make sure that he was recognized and respected. But, after his death, Gilgamesh still showed his flaw of being self-righteous because he felt that he deserved eternal life because he was part god. For instance, he stated, “Enkidu, my friend whom I loved, is turned into clay! Shall I too not lie down like him, and never get up forever and ever?” (78). The idea of death really hit him after Enkidu because he realized that death is inevitable, no matter how prideful you are or how much you achieve, it is still going to happen. Gilgamesh definitely had too many heroic qualities that were

The Odyssey, written in 725 BCE. in Greece is a tale of a great warrior Odysseus, trying to return home to his wife after fighting a great war. The Epic of Gilgamesh, written earlier in 2700 B.C. in Mesopotamia, is the tale of a King Gilgamesh who goes on a quest to find immortality. Throughout these two epics’ both Gilgamesh and Odysseus are required to fight for their survival.  In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk has to fight Humbaba, a giant beast who is the guardian of the Cedar Forest. While Odysseus lands in the island of the Cyclopes and is trapped in a cave with a giant.

Heroes are extraordinary characters who carry human qualities that reassure followers of the heroes’ limitations. A hero is commonly considered a god, a being with great power that is brave enough to save whole cities. The human qualities are always their greatest fault, it comes in the image of pride, ego, selfishness, and even denial. These flaws are represented by the heroes Gilgamesh and Oedipus. Gilgamesh and Oedipus undertake journeys in search of a truth that will preserve their glory. While Gilgamesh searches for immortality, Oedipus searches for a different fate, both, fearing death. However, only one reaches their their goal.

The next improvement that we see in Gilgamesh involves his voyage to the Cedar Forest where he and Enkidu kill Humbaba. Gilgamesh's motives are both for his personal gain and for the good of his people. Gilgamesh is honored for his actions and the people of Uruk enjoy the newly opened Cedar Forest. The destruction of Humbaba and opening of the Cedar Forest provides more resources for the people of Uruk and betters their lives. Here we see Gilgamesh uncharacteristically thinking with others in mind. Right when Gilgamesh seems to be making progress in becoming a better king, however, he returns to a state of selfishness after Enkidu's death. Rather than remaining in Uruk, as he should, he travels to find Utnapishtim in search of immortality.

An epic hero is a character in an epic poem that is recognized for their courageousness and success in the face of great trials and tribulations whereas a tragic hero is a character in a tragedy who, despite his/her nobility, can’t escape their imminent collapse. Although Gilgamesh is an epic hero and Oedipus is a tragic hero there are many similarities between both epics. Both characters are valiant and heroic in their very own way.

'No two men are alike in the way they act, the way they think, or the way they look. However, every man has a little something from the other. Although Oedipus and Gilgamesh are entirely different people, they are still very similar. Each one, in their own way, is exceptionally brave, heroically tragic, and both encompass diverse strengths and weaknesses. One is strictly a victim of fate and the other is entirely responsible for his own plight.

Throughout the paper I’ll be describing the story of the Odysseus and his Epic Journey, as well as Gilgamesh Journey. I will show you how these two epic stories relate to one another. By comparing and contrasting the two stories, I will compare how Odysseus and Gilgamesh relate to the gods and have a good communication with them, as well how both of them are epic warriors and last the pain they both received in there epic journey. I will show examples of Odysseus communicating with the gods, and how Gilgamesh communicated with his mom the god. Also I will show the example that they are both great warriors by explaining how Odysseus beat the Trojan and killed Poseidon son just as Gilgamesh fought a war and build the wall. Both of these examples reflect the great warriors they were. Last I will show the pain Odysseus and Gilgamesh encountered in there soul by doing there epic journeys.

The Epic of Gilgamesh took place in the city of Uruk Mesopotamia, and the first story appears in 2100 B.C.E. Oedipus the King came to life in the city of Thebes in 429 B.C.E. The Ramayana of Valmiki was composed in 550 B.C.E. These three pieces of writings have distinct differences in time periods and setting. On the other hand, a similarity that these writings share is that each has its own hero. The time period and setting certainly have an impact in the actions that these heroes take, and the goals they wish to accomplish. Gilgamesh (Gilgamesh), Oedipus (Oedipus the king), and Ram (Ramayan) are all portrayed as heroes with different and similar characteristics such as dedication in helping others, loyalty, courage and during different time periods

The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both are held in high respect by literature analysts and historians alike for the characterization of the hero and his companion, the imagery brought to mind when one of them is read, and the impressive length in relation to the time period it was written in. The similarities that these two epics share do not end with only those three; in fact, the comparability of these works extend to even the information on the author and the archetypes used. However, The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh contrast from one another in their writing styles, character details, and main ideas. Both epics weave together a story of a lost man who must find his way, but the path of their stories contrast from one another.

In Homer’s The Odyssey, the protagonist is a father named Odysseus. He has been away from home for years. The narrative tells of his journey back home to his family and of the fame he gains during his travels. The Epic Of Gilgamesh, originally an oral epic, tells a story of a man who is two thirds god.

In literature there are many aspects and different narratives of the same story which is subject to change. There are numerous ideas which can be captured and conceived according to the reviewer and very good examples of such literary work are Mythological tales. Most commonly renowned mythological work is of “Homers Odyssey” and the “Epic of Gilgamesh” with major emphasis on the tentative issue of “heroism”. Odysseus belonged to mainland Europe and Gilgamesh Epic is Middle Eastern work with Gilgamesh’s tale having been written on twelve tablets of clay. Both these tales are folklore and are considered an Epic which means a saga, Heroic Poem, narrative or Legend. A frenzy of events takes place including achievements and prominent

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odysseus both are poems that have since early times been viewed as stories that teach the reader valuable life lessons, almost like a self-help book in today’s society. They both teach a lot of the same general lessons but there are some key similarities and differences throughout both works. Such as perseverance, and the inevitability of death are both lessons that are taught in each poem but they are presented to the reader through different interpretations. In the Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey there are two main characters both viewed as heroic figures in which the develop a greater knowledge of human mankind and immorality.