The Epic of Gilgamesh
1.
Overview:
Miraculously
preserved on clay tablets deciphered only in the last century, the cycle of
poems collected around the character of Gilgamesh, the great king of Uruk,
tells of his long and arduous journey to the Spring of Youth, of his encounters
with monsters and gods and of his friendship with Enkidu, the wild man from the
hills. Also included in this epic
is a legend of the Flood, which agrees with many details in the biblical story
of Noah. As a mixture pure
adventure, morality, and tragedy, the story of Gilgamesh and his futile search
for immortality transcends the barriers of time, for it revolves around the
fundamental forces and human problems common throughout the centuries.
Ignore the
Introduction pages 7 –60.
2. Define Epic.
Also
called epyllion an oral or written narrative poem with a romantic or
mythological theme. Examples: Aeneid, Illiad, Odyssey, The Book of Job, Beowulf,
Epics have 6 main characteristics:
* the hero is of imposing stature, of national or
international importance, and of great historical or legendary significance
* the setting is vast, covering many nations, the world, or
the universe
* the action consists of deeds of great valor or requiring
superhuman courage
* supernatural forces--gods, angels, demons--interest
themselves in the action
* a style of sustained elevation is used
* the poet retains a measure of objectivity
The hero
generally participates in a cyclical journey or quest, faces adversaries that
try to defeat him in his journey, and returns home significantly transformed by
his journey. The epic hero illustrates traits, performs deeds, and exemplifies
certain morals that are valued by the society from which the epic originates.
Many epic heroes are recurring characters in the legends of their native
culture.
Conventions of Epics:
1.
Praepositio: Opens by stating the theme or
cause of the epic. This may take the form of a purpose (as in Milton, who
proposed to justify the ways of God to men); of a question (as in the Iliad,
where Homer asks the Muse which god it was who
caused the war); or of a situation (as in the Song of Roland, with Charlemagne
in Spain).
2.
Invocation: Writer invokes a Muse, one of the
nine daughters of Zeus. The poet prays to the Muses to
provide him with divine inspiration to tell the story of a great hero. (This
convention is obviously restricted to cultures which were influenced by Classical
culture: the Epic of Gilgamesh, for example, or the Bhagavata Purana would
obviously not contain this element)
3.
In
medias res:
narrative opens in the middle of things, with the hero at his lowest point.
Usually flashbacks show earlier portions of the story.
4.
Enumeratio: Catalogues and genealogies are
given. These long lists of objects, places, and people place the finite action
of the epic within a broader, universal context. Often, the poet is also paying
homage to the ancestors of audience members.
5.
Epithet: Heavy use of repetition or stock
phrases: e.g. rosy-fingered dawn and wine-dark sea.
3. Define: Tragic Hero
Aristotle once said that A man doesn't become a hero
until he can see the root of his own downfall. An Aristotelian tragic hero must
possess specific characteristics, five of which are below:
1.
Nobility
(of a noble birth) or wisdom (by virtue of birth).
2.
Hamartia
(translated as flaw or error in judgment). Either a mistake in the character actions
or personality that leads to a downfall.
3.
A
reversal of fortune (peripeteia) brought about because of Hamartia.
4.
The
discovery or recognition that the reversal was brought about by the actions of
the hero (anagnorisis)
5.
The
audience must feel dramatic irony for the character.
Initially, the tragic hero should be neither better
nor worse morally than normal people, in order to allow the audience to
identify with him. This also introduces pity, which is crucial in tragedy, for
if the hero was perfect we would either be outraged with their fate or not
especially care due to their ideological superiority. If the hero was evil,
then the audience would feel that he had gotten what he deserved. It is
important to strike a balance.
Eventually
the Aristotelian tragic hero dies a tragic death, having fallen from great
heights and having made an irreversible mistake. The hero must courageously
accept their death with honor.
4. Create Flash Cards
See pages
120-125
Create
Flash Cards for characters and places in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Especially
make cards for the following:
Anunnaki
Anu
Bull of
Heaven
Dilmun
Ea
Egalmah
Enkidu
Enlil
Ereshkigal
Gilgamesh
Hanish
Humbaba
Ishtar
Lugulbanda
Ninsun
Shamash
Shullat
Siduri
Urshanabi
Uruk
Utnapishtim
Be
sure to look up additional information if pages are referenced.
On the
FRONT
Develop a
mnemonic device to remember defining characteristics.
Draw a
picture or visual representation
On the
BACK
Summarize
or paraphrase key information.
5. View Map
6. Themes
Friendship,
Ego, Immortality, Fame, Dreams, Restlessness, Journey, Battle, Death, Loss,
Mourning
7. Advice for Reading
1.
Write
detailed journals
2.
Define
vocabulary terms in your own words
3.
Look
over study guide questions
4.
Read
in a quiet environment
5.
Don’t
get caught up on parts you don’t understand
6.
Re-read
and outline what happened in the chapter
7.
Skim
and look for vocabulary terms
8.
Check
& revise vocabulary definitions
9.
Skim
and answer study guide questions
10.Go over study guide & vocabulary answers with class
11.Adjust answers as needed
12.Respond to blog prompt
13.Review other student blog responses
14.Create & post relevant blog comments
15.Pursue any enrichment
16.Study vocabulary terms & questions
8.
Online text with pictures
http://www.aina.org/books/eog/eog.htm
9. Reading Guide
Chapter
1: The Coming of Enkidu
Pages
62-69
Journal: Who is YOUR best friend? Why? Describe.
Vocabulary:
Tocsin,
arrogance, comely, resolute, contend, firmament, cultivated, extol, harlot,
wanton, beckoning, embrace, roused, radiant, jostled, thronged, exulted,
anointed, ordained, grappled, fury
Study
Guide Questions:
1.
Describe
the creation and purpose of Enkidu.
2.
How
is Enkidu civilized?
3.
How
does the narrator view sex?
4.
Describe
Gilgamesh.
5.
Why
do Gilgamesh and Enkidu fight?
6.
How
is the fight resolved?
7.
How
does the narrator view men & fighting?
Chapter
2: The Forrest Journey
Pages
70-84
Journal: Recount a time you felt special or were noticed for being
exceptional. OR Recount a time you
overcame a fear.
Vocabulary:
Decreed,
supremacy, fugitive, idleness, leagues, sevenfold, torrent, clamber, endures,
ferocious, supplicate, quay, encompass, succor, rancor, encompass, sacrifice, compassionate,
allies, pommel, hilt, thirty score, enterprise, enduring, abhors, extinguished,
exhortation, votaries, hierophants, roused, resolute, foolhardy, precipice,
gorge, intolerable, ascended, ominous, enraged, quenched, garment, immolation,
desolate, pyre, rallied, haste, distinction, devour, rival, execration, plunder
Study
Guide Questions:
1.
Why
does Gilgamesh want to go to the Land of the Cedars?
2.
Describe
or Draw Humbaba.
3.
How
does Gilgamesh plan to become immortalized?
4.
What
gifts does Shamash give to Gilgamesh?
5.
How
does Ninsum pray & what does she request of Enkidu?
6.
What
warning and advice do the counselors give to Gilgamesh?
7.
How
& when does Gilgamesh encourage Enkidu?
8.
How
& when does Enkidu encourage Gilgamesh?
9.
How
is Humbaba defeated?
10.What does Humbaba ask & how does Gilgamesh respond?
11.How does the god Enlil respond?
Enrichment:
Record 3-5
memorable or re-occurring dreams/nightmares you have had. Then interpret them.
http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/
http://dreaminterpretationsguide.com/dreamdictionary/
http://www.djmcadam.com/dreams.htm
Chapter
3: Ishtar and Gilgamesh, and the
Death of Enkidu
Pages
85-96
Journal: Your thoughts on death.
Vocabulary:
Glorious,
bridegroom, lapis lazuli, brazier, garrison, chafes, parapet, abominable,
hideous, arrogance, courtesans, eminent, cubit, pivot, ferrule, wattle,
obliterate, beseech, lament, acolytes, incantation, ecstasy, bailiff,
marvelous, ominous, strewed, dirge
Study
Guide Questions:
1.
Who
is Ishtar & what does she want from Gilgamesh?
2.
What
does Ishtar offer Gilgamesh?
3.
Recount
what happened to the previous six (6) lovers
4.
What
does Ishtar ask of Anu? What does
Ishtar threaten to do?
5.
What
does Anu ask Ishtar?
6.
Describe
or Draw the Bull of Heaven.
7.
What
happens to the Bull?
8.
How
does Ishtar respond?
9.
Summarize
the dream Enkidu has.
10.Who does Enkidu curse? Why? How?
11.Describe hell and describe or draw the awful being that
guards it.
12.How long did Enkidu lay in bed?
13.Recount the eulogy of Gilgamesh.
14.How does Gilgamesh grieve?
Enrichment: Write your own eulogy. http://dying.about.com/od/eulogies/ht/write_eulogy.htm
http://www.speech-topics-help.com/how-to-write-a-eulogy.html
Resources: Show examples of lapis
lazuli.
Chapter
4: The Search for Everlasting Life
Pages
97-107
Journal: A trip or journey
Vocabulary:
Undismayed,
leagues, hematite, cubits, bitumen, ferrules, ibex, permanence, allot
Study
Guide Questions:
1.
Who
is Gilgamesh looking for? Why?
2.
Describe
or Draw Mashu Mountain & the Guardians of the pass.
3.
Describe
or chart the journey.
4.
What
advice does Siduri, the wine-maker, give Gilgamesh?
5.
Describe
the appearance of Gilgamesh.
6.
What
task does Urshanbi give Gilgamesh?
Why?
7.
How
does Utnapishtim feel about permanence?
8.
What
will Utnapishtim reveal?
Enrichment:
Research
the Fountain of Youth & create an informative poster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_of_Youth
http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9801/13/life.extention/
Chapter
5: The Story of the Flood
Pages
108-113
Journal: A Dream
OR A time you acted on
intuition
Vocabulary:
Teemed,
bellowed, aroused, clamor, intolerable, babel, exterminate, baroque, abundance,
torrents, ordained, batten, stupor, curs, libation, myrtle, pestilence,
henceforth.
Study
Guide Questions:
1.
Why
did Enlil want to send a flood to destroy man?
2.
How
& Why was Utnapishtim saved?
3.
Describe
or draw & label the boat.
4.
How
many days was Utnapishtim afloat?
How did he know when to go ashore?
5.
How
did the god Ea reprimand the god Enlil?
6.
According
to Ea what other options should Enlil have tried first?
7.
How
did Enlil make amends to Utnapishtim and his wife?
Enrichment:
Create a
Chart that compares key elements of Gilgamesh’s Flood story with Noah’s Flood
story.
http://www.bibleontheweb.com/Bible.asp
http://www.religioustolerance.org/noah_com.htm
Chapter
6: The Return
Pages
114-117
Journal:
How do you
rest & recharge?
OR A time
you had to give up something you REALLY wanted.
Vocabulary:
Prevail,
harborage, fillet, sluices, sloughed, toiled, precinct.
Study
Guide Questions:
1.
What
challenge does Utnapishtim extend to Gilgamesh?
2.
Why
does Utnapishtim have his wife bake bread?
3.
Before
Gilamesh is sent home, what gifts are bestowed upon him?
4.
Describe
the third and final gift in detail.
5.
How
does Gilgamesh exhibit generosity?
6.
Who
or what steals the flower?
Final
Project:
Create six
(6) simple sketches outlining major events in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Then in small groups, create clay
tablets of your own using air-dry clay and plastic utensils.
Unit Plan Ó Jeremy VanDerKern, Keene High School 2008
Materials: White paper, black crayons, rolling
pin, wax paper, air dry clay 10 lb boxes @ $7.00 per box. (1 box will make 6
tablets).