Gilgamesh Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions #4

1.) What is the deal with Gilgamesh and Enkidu? What kind of relationship do they have? How does this add to your knowledge of Mesopotamian culture?

Gilgamesh and Enkidu were enemies and were put to challenge each other by the Gods. Gilgamesh was abusive to the people and Enkidu, who was also made by the Gods, was the one to put him in his place. Though, when they were in battle against each other they were surprised by each other’s strength. Instead of being enemies, they became friends. They were very good friends and had a very strong bond. Their friendship made Gilgamesh to become a better person and Gilgamesh pulls Enkidu out of his self-centeredness. This adds to my knowledge of Mesopotamian culture by that we

After Enkidu was killed Gilgamesh started to realize that even though Enkidu was strong and powerful he was still killed and the same thing could happen to him. So, Gilgamesh’s quest is to find everlasting life. He justify it by that he goes in the search for Utnapishtim, the Mesopotamian Noah who received eternal life from the gods, in the hope that he will tell him how he too can avoid death. Though, the Mesopotamian only gives Gilgamesh an insight of the afterlight-which gives little hope for Gilgamesh. Utnapishtim reveals that death is part of the human life and even though someone dies, humanity lives on. In the end, Gilgamesh accepts this and continues on with his life. Some symbolic functions that this quest has are that bulls represent explosive, destructive natural power, and the ability to wrestle a bull suggests humanity’s ability to harness nature’s power. Another symbolic function is that walls of Uruk symbolize the greatest accomplishments of which mortals are capable of completing. Lastly, doorways. Throughout the story the characters are faced with doorways and these represents the character’s choice. They can either keep the door shut and stay safe or they can boldly venture through them. Gilgamesh learns that death is an inevitable and inescapable fact of human life. Though, he also learns about life, how precious and special it