Tuesday, November 18, 2014

The Epic of Gilgamesh (1900-250 B.C.E)

               The epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamia piece of literature and is one of the earliest known works of the world. The author is unknown and records show the story was passed along gradually over time. The tale consists of king Gilgamesh of Uruk and his search for immortality. He is defined as "two-thirds divine and one-third human". The epic tracks Gilgamesh's transformation from a abominable and cruel king in the beginning to a thoughtful and esteemed ruler.  Along the way he meets a wild man named Enkidu and they grow to be close friends. The two men, battle beasts and face many trials along their adventure. Some themes of the story include power, love, sex, gods and death. The story of Gilgamesh is a gripping ancient masterpiece that is a must read!

Work Cited 

Puchner, Martin. "The Epic of Gilgamesh" The Norton Anthology: World Literature. Shorter Third                    
               Ed. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013. 33-88. Print.

No comments:

Post a Comment