Transcript Background to Gilgamesh

Background to Gilgamesh
World Literature
Types of Epics
 Folk epics—stories about heroes; recited or
sung
 Literary Epics—borrow same
characteristics of folk epics; usually written
down by one author; some based on wellknown characters or stories from oral
tradition.
Elements of the Epic
 Epic Hero
 Epic Conflict
 Heroic Quest
 Divine Intervention
Epic Conventions:
-Invocation
-in medias res
-serious tone
-contain epic similes (elaborated
comparisons) and epithets (poetic
renamings. For example:loud-sounding
sea)
-Archetypes (recurring plot, character,
symbol, idea)
Elevated language or elevated
style:
 formal, dignified language; it often uses more elaborate
figures of speech.
 Purpose…
– to give dignity to a hero (note the speeches of heroes like Achilles
or Agamemnon in the Iliad),
– to express the superiority of God and religious matters generally
(as in prayers or in the King James version of the Bible),
– to indicate the importance of certain events (the ritual language of
the traditional marriage ceremony), etc.
– It can also be used to reveal a self-important or a pretentious
character, for humor and/or for satire.
Example of Elevated Style
“Now Come! Let us go forward
together. Be of good courage! When we come
face to face with Humbaba, if we are afraid,
we will conquer our fear!”
(Come on; let’s go kill Humbaba! I
know you’re scared out of your mind, but
we’ll deal with it when we get there!)
Mythology/ Epics timeline
From the Prologue we learn that Gilgamesh is the
King of Uruk, a city in ancient Mesopotamia-modern day Iraq.
Gilgamesh Background
 Both MYTH and LEGEND
 Supernatural: 2/3 god &1/3 man based
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on a real king
Story is 4,000 years old—ancient
Sumeria (modern Iraq)
Written on 12 clay tablets in Cuneiform.
Mesopotamia (Greek for “between two
rivers”)—between the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers
One of the earliest URBAN civilizations
we know of. This culture enjoyed a
very sophisticated lifestyle over 4,000
years ago.
Topics/Themes
 Good vs. Evil
 Spirituality
 Immortality—why do
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we have to die? How
do we attain
everlasting life?
Friendship
What makes a good
leader?
Responsibility
Balance/Harmony
Cuneiform tablet