the epic of gilgamesh (volume a). history mesopotamia, 1900– 250 b.c.e. gilgamesh, priest- king of...
Post on 27-Dec-2015
276 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
The Epic of Gilgamesh (Volume A)
History
• Mesopotamia, 1900–250 B.C.E.
• Gilgamesh, priest-king of Uruk
• written in cuneiform• Ur• revised in Babylonian
Ur
Cuneiform
• wedge-shaped script• 2100 B.C.E.
• clay tablets• Sumerians
• length
• content: historic, mythic
• motifs
• divine intervention
• heroic flaw
• orality and performance, writing
• language
Elements of Epic Writing
• death and friendship
• nature and civilization
• power and violence
• travel and homecoming
• love and sexuality
• physical and intellectual journeys
Binary Themes
Death and Friendship
Foil
“Go up, Ur-Shanabi, pace out the walls of Uruk. Study the foundation terrace and examine the brickwork. Is not its masonry of kiln-fired brick? And did not seven masters lay its foundations?” (Tablet X, 151)
Dichotomies
“Shall I not die too? Am I not like Enkidu?” (Tablet IX, 135)
“For whom, Ur-Shanabi, have my hands been toiling? For whom has my heart’s blood been poured out? For myself I have obtained no benefit, I have done a good deed for a reptile!” (Tablet X, 150)
Physical and Intellectual Journeys
Gods
Women
Flood Myths
Consider the etymology of the name “Gilgamesh” (“the old man is still a young man” OR “the offspring is a hero”). Is Gilgamesh’s name significant, despite the fact that he loses the plant that would return him to his youth? In what ways is it a fitting name despite his failure in the quest for immortality. How, in fact, has he actually accomplished immortality?
Discussion Questions
Throughout The Epic of Gilgamesh, many dreams occur, and often their meaning is unclear, or at least inscrutable for the characters who have them. Is there a general unity of the dreams? What is their purport? Do they come from the gods? Are they true? Are they good?
Discussion Questions
Visit the StudySpace at:http://wwnorton.com/studyspace
For more learning resources, please visit the StudySpace site for
The Norton Anthology Of World Literature.
This concludes the Lecture PowerPoint presentation for
The Norton Anthology
of World Literature
top related