Preparing for Class: September 6

The Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablets 1-5

Today we'll be starting Gilgamesh with an introduction to the culture, followed by a discussion of the assigned tablets. As you read, be sure to jot down any questions you may have and ask them before we get started on the lecture. This poem has a number of ideas and themes that will become increasingly important as you read, so I'd like you to start by downloading a handout on what to look for in reading Akkadian literature. Use it as you read and bring it to class.

In doing the reading for today, I'd like you to think about the following questions.

1. What do we know about Gilgamesh so far? In what sense is he a great king? What makes him a problematic ruler for his subjects?
2. There are many parallels between Gilgamesh and other Ancient Near Eastern literature, but the Hebrew Tanakh (Christian Old Testament) is probably the most familiar to many of us. Compare Ferry, sections ii-iv with Genesis, Chapter 2-3. How are these stories alike? How are they different? What is the Mesopotamian attitude to knowledge? What is the Hebrew attitude? What is the role of women in the two stories?
3. What makes Enkidu an unusual character? How would you describe him?
4. Who tames Enkidu (and how?) and what significance does this have?
5. If Enkidu is uncivilized, what does it mean to be civilized?
6. How does the Mesopotamian view of civilization and civilized behavior differ from ours?
7. If Enkidu and Gilgamesh are heroes within the context of their culture, what qualities did the Mesopotamians most value about their heroes?
8. Is the 'world view' of these characters similar to ours? How/how not?
9. At the end of tablet 2 Gilgamesh decides that he wants to go to the Cedar forest to kill its guardian, the terrible monster, Huwawa. Why does Gilgamesh want to go on this quest?
10. Does he need anyone's permission to do this?
11. What is the purpose of the council of Elders and what, if anything, do you think it tells us about early Mesopotamian political structures?
12. What role does Enkidu play in this adventure?
13. How does the author show the passage of time, relate action, give emphasis?
14. What is the "heroic view" of combat and death?
15. The dreams that Gilgamesh has add psychological depth to the story and are a useful narrative device. What, specifically, do they contribute?
16. Choose a quotation from the end of tablet 2 through tablet 4 that you think best describes the author's view of "heroic behavior." Copy the passage onto a page in your notebook and write a brief paragraph in support of your choice. You should be ready to read the paragraph to us in class.

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