The Epic Of Gilgamesh Literary Analysis

Two understand how the gods influenced our hero, Gilgamesh, one must first look at the various ways the gods meddled into his life. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a tale of a half-mortal man whose quest to break his own boredom turns into a tale of friendship, immortality, and kingship. However, his tale would not have been able to happen if it was not for the influence of the various Sumerian deities. After the people of Uruk complained to the gods about Gilgamesh’s child-like behavior, the goddess Aruru creates the man that will become Gilgamesh’s closest friend, Enkidu. Enkidu was created as an equal to the king so that Gilgamesh would have a way to occupy his time. Unfortunately, after the two friends defeated the giant Humbaba, a terrible demon creature, the god Enlil becomes enraged, but despite Enlil’s best effort, he is unable to punish the two.

This explain that Enkidu is trying to point out how dangerous Humbaba is. Gilgamesh didn’t care how powerful Humbaba is because he believe that he could take anyone down, he didn’t care about Enkidu thoughts of Humbaba. “Gilgamesh opened his mouth to speak,/ say [to Enkidu:]/ why, my friend, do you speak like a weakling?/ with your spineless words you [make me] despondent.” (19). This shows that Gilgamesh is arrogant and immature, thinking he could defeat the monster himself without having any fear. Gilgamesh went back to the Uruk to make an announcement of battling Humbaba the vicious monster. Gilgamesh said, “I will conquer him in the Forest of Cedar:/ let the land learn Uruk’s offshoot is mighty!/ let me start out,/ I will cut down the Cedar./ I will establish for ever a name eternal!” (20). Next, Gilgamesh and Enkidu climbed up the hill into the forest to find Humbaba. They end up on the hillside to rest before the battle. Gilgamesh had his first dream, “[My friend, did you not call me? Why have I wakened ?]/ [Did you not touch me? Why am I startled ?]/ [Did a god not pass by? Why is my flesh frozen numb?]/ [My friend, I have had the first dream!]” (30). This symbolize fear, for the first time Gilgamesh experiencing the feeling of being afraid. Gilgamesh suddenly changed as he went onto a Journey to the Forest of Cedar. When Gilgamesh continue to see Humbaba knowing that he is

When Gilgamesh rejects her advances, Anu directs the Bull of Heaven to attack Gilgamesh’s homeland, Uruk. Gilgamesh and Enkidu easily kill the Bull of Heaven which enrages the gods when they hear that the bull is dead. The gods make Enkidu become terribly ill, which kills him seven days later in a very painful death. Seeing his friend die, Gilgamesh obtains apotheosis and continues on his expedition of seeking immortality.

Gilgamesh was a very intelligent leader. He shows throughout the entire epic a sense of foresight that keeps him safe and his city powerful. It is known, that a good leader must prove that he is powerful, and that he can defend his people in the best way possible. Gilgamesh knew that by fighting the terrible beast Humbaba he would prove to his people that he was strong and powerful and could out wit even the strongest beast. He tells Enkidu that, “All glory will be ours if now we conquer this unprecedented foe and risk the woe that frightens others.” He also shows foresight by respecting his mother’s wisdom when she told him that Enkidu was his true friend. Additionally, throughout the entire epic Gilgamesh looks to his mother, “who is wise and worries not,” for advice and counseling on things to do and the right paths to take in his life. Looking to those who are wise and more intelligent, is

Gilgamesh is not a completely flawed character; he possesses, and obtains through his adventures, many positive qualities or virtues. For example, he is courageous. This virtue is evident during his battle with Humbaba. This forest giant is a fearsome adversary, aided by the gods, with a considerable size and strength advantage. Defeat of Humbaba takes the combined efforts of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. To succeed, Gilgamesh had to gain the courage to undergo this task. Enkidu rallies his friend by saying, “O Gilgamesh, remember now your boasts in Uruk. Forward, attacks, son of Uruk, there is nothing to fear.” (Sandars 20) With this, Gilgamesh’s “courage railed” (Sandars 20). He defeats and eventually kills Humbaba for which he is subsequently praised.

He leads Gilgamesh to the forest, where they are greeted by a crestfallen Humbaba. Humbaba tries to guilt trip Gilgamesh into killing Enkidu, but Enkidu senses the fishiness of the situation and guides Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba. Although Gilgamesh and Enkidu have only known each other for a couple of days, Gilgamesh has a lot of trust in Enkidu, and believes that Enkidu’s commands are more important than believing the empty “threats” that Humbaba spews at him. He trusts his friend during a time in battle, a trait that is very important in a deep, trusting relationship.

Enkidu is weary of Gilgamesh’s plan and is not in agreeance to join him initially. He questions Gilgamesh’s idea about the quest to kill Humbaba. Enkidu says, “How shall the likes of us go to the forest of cedars, my friend” (line 155). Enkidu is not confident in his abilities to conquer Humbaba. The author includes this line to symbolize Enkidu becoming more civilized. Enkidu shows fear for someone he used to live amongst in the forest, and he is starting to realize that nature is something to be feared. Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a very popular epic that is difficult to understand at first, which is why there is different translations of the same book. Although Foster and Sander’s translations have a lot of similar words and the stories are basically the same, there are also a lot of differences between the two. One of which is more straightforward and easier to understand, whereas the other is more of an in depth thoughtful read for the reader. Both translations differences have their own particular reasons for doing so, and add to the depiction of the story. I feel like the translation in the Anthology is a more complex read, whereas Sander’s translation is much easier to understand.

Gilgamesh befriends Enkidu, and they become the best of friends. They went on long adventures together, Gilgamesh decided that they should try to defeat Humbaba, the guardian of the cedar forest.

This passage from Tablet II takes place shortly after Enkidu and Gilgamesh first meet, and it illustrates Gilgamesh’s blind pride by his shaming of Enkidu for objecting to his proposal to fight Humbaba. This excerpt serves to characterize Gilgamesh as brash and overzealous in his support for a seemingly impossible quest. Gilgamesh eventually coaxes Enkidu to go along with his plan which inadvertently leads to Enkidu’s death through Gilgamesh’s inability to hold his tongue. This later episode further supports the reckless mindset displayed by Gilgamesh in the excerpt at the beginning of this paper. Judging by this excerpt it can be inferred that one’s pride and honor played a very important role in ancient Mesopotamian culture. This is because Gilgamesh attacked Enkidu’s pride and honor in the last six lines of the excerpt to cajole Enkidu to assist him. Gilgamesh also asserted to Enkidu that he was going to fight Humbaba, even at the cost of his own life, regardless of if Enkidu decided to help him.

Gilgamesh requests Enkindu join him on a quest to defeat the evil creature Humbaba. Gilgamesh’s mission to destroy Humbabba displays his boastfulness and courage. Weary at first, Enkindu says to Gilgamesh, “The haunt of Humbaba is a hopeless quest” (48). Eventually Enkindu dreams and tells Gilgamesh, “We will catch Humbaba and kill him / Then we will throw down his corpse on the field of battle” (54). Enkindu’s decision to join Gilgamesh displays his support and loyalty to Gilgamesh. Also it shows that both Enkindu and Gilgamesh share immense

Later, Enkidu is punished for killing the Bull of Heaven and Humababa, Enkidu suffers from illness and ends up dying. Enkidu’s death affected Gilgamesh a lot; Enkidu’s death marks a change in Gilgamesh life. Gilgamesh change from a harsh and a strong person into someone who has feelings and a loving heart. Gilgamesh keeps thinking that if Enkidu can die then he can die too and all that Gilgamesh

Enkidu’s devotion to Gilgamesh is shown in their battles with both Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. By partaking in these battles with Gilgamesh, Enkidu is expressing his friendship. The conquests aren’t his idea, and he

Enkidu's death left Gilgamesh frightened and confused. The despair in his heart was so great that he could not rest; would he ever be at peace? He became terrified of his own death. Puzzled and searching for answers, Gilgamesh set out on a quest for Utnapishtim. It is on this great journey that Gilgamesh learns of a

Gilgamesh is the King of the world and the ruler of Uruk. He was an arrogant king and he took at his leisure anybody’s woman for his own pleasure. The God’s of Uruk decided they needed to tame him by having an equal made of him so they spoke to the goddess of creation who was a lady named Aruru. The creation that Aruru had was Enkidu. Enkidu and Gilgamesh because very good friends, more like brothers, they were inseparable. Later on in their friendship the two traveled to Cedar’s Forest which was the forest of where the God’s lived. They ended up getting into a fight with Humbaba who was the guardian of the forest. Gilgamesh decided that Humbaba must die so he took an axe from Enkidu and struck Humbaba himself, then Enkidu struck him again and killed him. “Now the mountains were moved and all the hills, for the guardian of the forest was killed” (Sandars 72). Because Humbaba was killed, Enkidu and Gilgamesh were able to enter the forest and travel as plunders. When Anu found out what the two did to Humbaba he decided that one of the two must die and suffer for Humbaba’s killing. Enkidu ends up being the one to get punished. He is sick, laying in his bed for days with Gilgamesh right by his side. Enkidu slowly dies after his sickness continued to increase. “So Gilgamesh laid a veil, as one veils the bride, over his friend. He began to rage like a lion, like a lioness robbed of her whelps” (Sandars 77). After Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh was torn to pieces. He was in disbelief