Epic Cycle

Elish explains how the world was created according to Mesopotamians. The epic taken place in Mesopotamia shows how through a battle between a good god, Maarduk, and an evil god, Tiamat, the world was created (Enuma Elish, p. 41-42). Also, their view of the afterlife was very different from that of Egypt and China. They did not think the afterlife was a good place to be or that their former kings lived well in peace. The Epic of Gilgamesh shows their understanding of the underworld. In this story…

Merikare, a letter addressed from a father to a son about how to be an effective pharaoh, is able to be analyzed to determine facts about kingship from the region. In Mesopotamia, to identify the same principles, we are able to look at an epic poem referred to as The Epic of Gilgamesh. The poem discusses a tale of a wretched king undergoing a journey to find immortality to show characteristics of what a king should…

A hero is an individual who is admired for his or her brave acts or for their fine individual qualities. The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh’s main protagonists are heroes. However, one of the main characters falls short from being a true hero, making him unworthy of the title. The Epic of Gilgamesh begins with a long exaltation about Gilgamesh—the epic’s main protagonist—¬hero attributes. The author uses direct exposition to describe Gilgamesh, as a hero and a godlike character. He does this…

though it is from a society that has long disappeared – is the concept of gender roles, or at least a rather noticeable difference between men and women. Most of the women in this epic, with the exception of Ishtar, are sympathetic towards Gilgamesh or Enkidu and attempt to assist either one or both of them. The women in this epic all exhibit at least one stereotype that people sometimes attribute to women, such as being “soft” or irrationally angry. Of course, these are only stereotypes…

Beowulf features the protagonist Beowulf, who goes through the trials and tribulations of an archetypal hero. The Iliad features a plethora of characters but the main focus is directed toward Achilles. Achilles also goes through the archetypal hero cycle, but a little bit differently. The idea of an archetypal hero is someone who goes through a series of steps from their beginning, to meeting their mentor, to the eventual climax or ordeal. After that series of steps they then redeem themselves…

There is a breadth of themes that lie in the text of Beowulf. The idea of Good vs. Evil runs through the entirety. It is ultimately the simplest story to tell, but no less effective. Courage and fatalism flood the story as well, with the warrior's bravery coming from a completely fatalistic boldness regarding life and apathy to death. Loyalty and vengeance are reflected in the morals and philosophies of the characters in Beowulf and help to clarify the motivations of the numerous characters…

The Good, the Bad, and Beowulf Although no confirmation can be made regarding Beowulf’s author, an indisputable aspect of the great epic poem is its Anglo-Saxon origin. In fact, this Old English influence plays a significant role in the work, and ultimately governs the behaviors and conduct demonstrated in the poem. These heroic code behaviors exemplified typically include: a courtly demeanor, unparalleled strength, and valor. However, perhaps the most prominent value evidenced in Beowulf, is…

Literary theory argues that the first literatures are based on epics which act as guidelines for future cultural development and expressions of each civilization’s unique vision of the world. Western literature however, exhibits an array of poems and literary works which together compose the baseline for literary evolution. Among these we count Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, one of the most chivalric romances, set in the Arthurian universe, with a resounding impact on both old and modern…

The Mesopotamians built their culture around The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Indians used the Ramayana to provide a teaching on how to live their lives according to their dharma. Gilgamesh taught the Mesopotamians about dominance through his ruling of his city (32-33), love of your fellow man through Enkidu…

to live his life and savor the good. Gone are the days of tyranny and selfishness. Gilgamesh is a humbled ruler and is finally at peace. Gilgamesh spends the remainder of his life preaching his story and lessons. This is Gilgamesh’s return in the cycle of a hero’s…