Every iconic story is basically the same thing. Successful and well-known stories, books, and movies all follow the path that was first laid out by the Epic of Gilgamesh. Joseph Campbell wrote out this path of thirteen steps in which every hero follows on his quest. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is no exception. Harry, the hero of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone follows the same steps that Gilgamesh, the hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh followed over 4,000 years ago. The first step that every hero’s quest story follows is that the hero is introduced in their ordinary world. In most stories, the hero has a special birth and/or is an unlikely hero. Many heros do not know their parents and are raised by foster parents. Gilgamesh has
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It is during this time that the hero is presented with a problem which they are asked to solve. Both Harry Potter and Gilgamesh’s mentors send them companions who convince them to go on the quest. Gilgamesh’s mentors, the gods, send Enkidu to Gilgamesh because he is just as powerful as Gilgamesh. Enkidu convinces Gilgamesh to go on miniquests, like going to fight and defeat the monster, Humbaba. Enkidu and Gilgamesh become best friends and equals which eventually leads to the reason Gilgamesh goes on his final quest. Gilgamesh watches Enkidu die and realizes that this is his future, which causes Gilgamesh to go in search of immortality. Enkidu’s death presents Gilgamesh with his problem, that he is destined to die like a mortal. Gilgamesh fears this fate which prompts his acceptance of the quest. One of Harry Potter’s mentors, Dumbledore, sends Hagrid, who tells Harry who he really is and invites Harry to learn magic at Hogwarts. The details of how and why they were called differs between the two stories. Harry receives letters inviting him to learn about who he is. Harry accepts the quest with the hope of finding his true self and to escape the Dursleys. He also thinks it will be a fun adventure. Gilgamesh decides to go on his quest for immortality after Enkidu’s death. His reasons for embarking on the quest is very different than Harry’s motivation. Gilgamesh leaves out of fear of death and sadness …show more content…
A typical mentor is one who is older and wiser than the hero. They usually train or give advice and generally assist them on the path to the reward, but disappear before the supreme ordeal. The entire point of a mentor is to prepare the hero for the final battle. Harry and Gilgamesh both had multiple mentors. Harry has Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Dumbledore. They teach him everything about himself, from why he’s famous to everything about the wizarding world. Harry’s mentors also teach him the supernatural skills that he will later use to defeat his enemy and gain the reward. Harry could not have saved the reward from evil without the help of his mentors. Gilgamesh also had multiple mentors throughout his quest for immortality. While Harry’s mentors were wizards and did not give him supernatural powers besides teaching him to produce the powers himself, Gilgamesh’s mentors assisted him by giving him advice as well as supernatural aid. Shamash, of the gods who aided Gilgamesh and one of his main mentors, assisted Gilgamesh with his fight against the evil Humbaba. Gilgamesh would not have beat Humbaba without the help of Shamash, who sent down great winds to disorient the beast. Gilgamesh’s other mentor, Utnapishtim, was the man who had what Gilgamesh most desired, immortality. He gave Gilgamesh advice on how to obtain the reward that he
It is during this time that the hero is presented with a problem which they are asked to solve. Both Harry Potter and Gilgamesh’s mentors send them companions who convince them to go on the quest. Gilgamesh’s mentors, the gods, send Enkidu to Gilgamesh because he is just as powerful as Gilgamesh. Enkidu convinces Gilgamesh to go on miniquests, like going to fight and defeat the monster, Humbaba. Enkidu and Gilgamesh become best friends and equals which eventually leads to the reason Gilgamesh goes on his final quest. Gilgamesh watches Enkidu die and realizes that this is his future, which causes Gilgamesh to go in search of immortality. Enkidu’s death presents Gilgamesh with his problem, that he is destined to die like a mortal. Gilgamesh fears this fate which prompts his acceptance of the quest. One of Harry Potter’s mentors, Dumbledore, sends Hagrid, who tells Harry who he really is and invites Harry to learn magic at Hogwarts. The details of how and why they were called differs between the two stories. Harry receives letters inviting him to learn about who he is. Harry accepts the quest with the hope of finding his true self and to escape the Dursleys. He also thinks it will be a fun adventure. Gilgamesh decides to go on his quest for immortality after Enkidu’s death. His reasons for embarking on the quest is very different than Harry’s motivation. Gilgamesh leaves out of fear of death and sadness …show more content…
A typical mentor is one who is older and wiser than the hero. They usually train or give advice and generally assist them on the path to the reward, but disappear before the supreme ordeal. The entire point of a mentor is to prepare the hero for the final battle. Harry and Gilgamesh both had multiple mentors. Harry has Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Dumbledore. They teach him everything about himself, from why he’s famous to everything about the wizarding world. Harry’s mentors also teach him the supernatural skills that he will later use to defeat his enemy and gain the reward. Harry could not have saved the reward from evil without the help of his mentors. Gilgamesh also had multiple mentors throughout his quest for immortality. While Harry’s mentors were wizards and did not give him supernatural powers besides teaching him to produce the powers himself, Gilgamesh’s mentors assisted him by giving him advice as well as supernatural aid. Shamash, of the gods who aided Gilgamesh and one of his main mentors, assisted Gilgamesh with his fight against the evil Humbaba. Gilgamesh would not have beat Humbaba without the help of Shamash, who sent down great winds to disorient the beast. Gilgamesh’s other mentor, Utnapishtim, was the man who had what Gilgamesh most desired, immortality. He gave Gilgamesh advice on how to obtain the reward that he