The Epic of Gilgamesh, in regard to the rendition by Danny P. Jackson, is an elaborate tale that uses various forms of metaphorical language, paradoxes, imagery, foreshadowing and comparisons, to relay the story of an ancient hero. This tale revolves around the god-like character, Gilgamesh, and the endeavors he goes through while dealing with self-discovery, friendship, danger, and real-world situations. Not only does the author’s use of these literary devices contribute to the amount of depth within the tale’s chapters, but they also help provide a multifaceted meaning to each of the story’s different circumstances that can be interpreted in a multitude of ways by the reader. Tablet IX discusses the grief that Gilgamesh experiences after
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The author uses this form of metaphorical language as a means of conveying to the reader just how wide and deep the reaches of death can be; death can reach a person through many unpredictable ways, and is very mysterious, likewise with a lake. By using this technique, the reader can begin to understand just how powerful death can be, and after this realization occurs, the fact that Utnapishtim can evade said death puts an even bigger spotlight on the immortal being that plays a crucial role in this portion of the story. In addition to this, the portrayal of Utnapishtim as a being who cannot be touched by death conveys to the reader just how challenging Gilgamesh's journey to reach him will be. In this same column, on line 170, the passage reads, “You yourself have hurt this effort most, sir, by blasphemy and sacrilege, by breaking idols and by holding the untouchable sacred stones.” The previous line is a perfect example of an oxymoron used by the author. This form of figurative language uses contradicting words, in this case “holding” and “untouchable”, in order to portray a crucial image that will help the reader greater understand the plot. When Urshanabi says this to Gilgamesh, he does so in order to tell him of all the wrong that he has done. By holding these “sacred stones”, Gilgamesh disrespects sanctified symbols within a society’s culture that end up jeopardizing the chances he had to save himself from the oncoming
The author uses this form of metaphorical language as a means of conveying to the reader just how wide and deep the reaches of death can be; death can reach a person through many unpredictable ways, and is very mysterious, likewise with a lake. By using this technique, the reader can begin to understand just how powerful death can be, and after this realization occurs, the fact that Utnapishtim can evade said death puts an even bigger spotlight on the immortal being that plays a crucial role in this portion of the story. In addition to this, the portrayal of Utnapishtim as a being who cannot be touched by death conveys to the reader just how challenging Gilgamesh's journey to reach him will be. In this same column, on line 170, the passage reads, “You yourself have hurt this effort most, sir, by blasphemy and sacrilege, by breaking idols and by holding the untouchable sacred stones.” The previous line is a perfect example of an oxymoron used by the author. This form of figurative language uses contradicting words, in this case “holding” and “untouchable”, in order to portray a crucial image that will help the reader greater understand the plot. When Urshanabi says this to Gilgamesh, he does so in order to tell him of all the wrong that he has done. By holding these “sacred stones”, Gilgamesh disrespects sanctified symbols within a society’s culture that end up jeopardizing the chances he had to save himself from the oncoming