“Epic poetry is one of the oldest literary traditions of human civilization, existing since the ancient Mesopotamian era and continuously produced through modern times. These poems generally contain tales of historic or cultural significance and often follow the adventures of a hero or group of heroes,” (www.wisegeek.org). Epics must include supernatural forces, an impossible deed for a superhuman, vast settings and an unbelievable hero. The ancient epic titled, “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” takes the world on a spectacular quest for immortality. Gilgamesh, the protagonist, craves for his own immortality, when he witnesses a dear friend’s death. Dying a slow death, Enkidu, Gilgamesh’s friend, dreams of the dark and brutal afterlife that awaits everyone
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Siduri, a woman of the vine, tells Gilgamesh’s closed ears how to live life. The woman of vines calmly explains, “’As for you, Gilgamesh, fill your belly with good things, day and night, night and day, dance and be merry, feast and rejoice,’” (The Epic of Gilgamesh, 17). The lesson Siduri gives, stop obsessing over the impossible and live your life to the fullest. Also, Utnapishtim tries and succeeds in the end to give Gilgamesh the same advice. Utnapishtim explains the lesson like this, “’Do we build a house to stand forever, does the flood time of rivers endure? … Life and death they do not disclosen,’” (The Epic of Gilgamesh, 19). The lesson Gilgamesh learns, shows how he fulfills his quest following the necessities of an epic. Neither Siduri nor Utnapishtim successfully put the lesson in Gilgamesh’s thick skull at first. Finely, Gilgamesh realizes that both were right about his obsession and how he should live his …show more content…
Gilgamesh mourns for days after his brother, Enkidu dies and so Gilgamesh acts the way the wild Enkidu once acted. One sees this act of suffering when Gilgamesh whines to Utnapishtim, “’I ate their flesh and I wore their skin,’” (The Epic of Gilgamesh, 19). At this point in the quest, Utnapishtim asked why Gilgamesh looks like an animal. The reader can conclude that Gilgamesh slowly adapted to Enkidu’s looks and style because he mourns for a great number of days. Also, he must tread through an extremely long, dark path for 12 days. Gilgamesh seeks the answer he long for and this search leads him to a dark passage that seems never-ending. From the Epic of Gilgamesh, it states, “When he had gone one league in, the darkness became thick around him, for there was not light, he could see nothing ahead and nothing behind him,” (16). The description of Gilgamesh’s road of trials. Gilgamesh’s road of trials broke him apart but he did end up picking the pieces
Siduri, a woman of the vine, tells Gilgamesh’s closed ears how to live life. The woman of vines calmly explains, “’As for you, Gilgamesh, fill your belly with good things, day and night, night and day, dance and be merry, feast and rejoice,’” (The Epic of Gilgamesh, 17). The lesson Siduri gives, stop obsessing over the impossible and live your life to the fullest. Also, Utnapishtim tries and succeeds in the end to give Gilgamesh the same advice. Utnapishtim explains the lesson like this, “’Do we build a house to stand forever, does the flood time of rivers endure? … Life and death they do not disclosen,’” (The Epic of Gilgamesh, 19). The lesson Gilgamesh learns, shows how he fulfills his quest following the necessities of an epic. Neither Siduri nor Utnapishtim successfully put the lesson in Gilgamesh’s thick skull at first. Finely, Gilgamesh realizes that both were right about his obsession and how he should live his …show more content…
Gilgamesh mourns for days after his brother, Enkidu dies and so Gilgamesh acts the way the wild Enkidu once acted. One sees this act of suffering when Gilgamesh whines to Utnapishtim, “’I ate their flesh and I wore their skin,’” (The Epic of Gilgamesh, 19). At this point in the quest, Utnapishtim asked why Gilgamesh looks like an animal. The reader can conclude that Gilgamesh slowly adapted to Enkidu’s looks and style because he mourns for a great number of days. Also, he must tread through an extremely long, dark path for 12 days. Gilgamesh seeks the answer he long for and this search leads him to a dark passage that seems never-ending. From the Epic of Gilgamesh, it states, “When he had gone one league in, the darkness became thick around him, for there was not light, he could see nothing ahead and nothing behind him,” (16). The description of Gilgamesh’s road of trials. Gilgamesh’s road of trials broke him apart but he did end up picking the pieces