Instruction
As you read the material and watch the videos, be sure to pay special attention to the following different themes and topics. They are your guide into the lifestyles of ancient Mesopotamia and will help you think about different elements of the story.
After you finish listening/reading to the materials address one (1) of the following analysis questions. Answer in full paragraphs, revealing your interpretation using the materials provided to support your thinking. Your response should be a minimum of one page, 12-point font, double spaced, with standard margins, per question (250+ words). Submit your response via Canvas. The essay portion of this assignment is worth 20 points.
Please answer these questions when writing the essay.
Which of the four (4) functions does the myth of Gilgamesh serve for the people of Mesopotamia and how? Of course, it may serve more than one function!
Describe Gilgamesh. What are his glories? What are his faults? What transforms Gilgamesh and Enkidu into friends rather than adversaries? What qualities of friendship are exemplified in their relationship?
Analyze the way Enkidu’s transformation is described, especially upon his entry into the City of Uruk. What supports your assertion?
How do the Sumerian composers of the epic look upon their gods?
How are women treated in the City of Uruk?
Read Tablet XI: The Story of the Flood in The Epic of Gilgamesh (Links to an external site.) when Utnapishtim tells the flood.