Elements Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 918 Words

The epic hero has been part of world literature since time immemorial. Epic tales have contained within them, various elements that have helped define the genre. These tropes have existed at least since the writing of the ancient Mesopotamian text, The Epic of Gigamesh. These vital characteristics transcend region, as they have been employed in the literature of disparate parts of the world. These elements can be seen the Old English tale of Beowulf, as well as in the ancient Indian epic The Ramayana of Valmiki. The vital characteristics of the genre of heroic epic tales is that the hero must overcome some sort of obstacle, the tale must include supernatural forces, and must incorporate societal improvement as the result of the hero’s†¦show more content†¦After being welcomed by Hrothgar, he â€Å"is granted the glory of winning† by vanquishing the evil monster, Grendel (Heaney 908). He later defeats Grendel’s mother in her and Grendel’s lair: an underwater cave, in an evil and infested pond. After defeating Grendel’s mother, Beowulf returns to land, and comes to find that what had once been a murky and monster infested pond, â€Å"was no longer infested once the wandering fiend let go of her life and this unreliable world† (927). Being no longer in danger of attacks from these monsters, Hrothgar is able to reestablish his society, as exemplified by restoration of the longhouse, Heorot, which had hitherto been a feeding ground for Grendel. Through his adventures, Gilgamesh had successfully overcome supernatural beings, and aided in the restoration of Danish society. The Ramayana of Valmiki contains the same themes in it’s story. All three motifs can be seen through the interactions of the primary hero, Rama, and the various demons he encounters. Rama was due to become the king of Ayodhya, but was unjustly exiled when it came time for his ascension. While enduring exile in the forest, Rama’s wife, Sita, is kidnapped by the demon, and ruler of the region, Ravana. Ravana was the evil and brazen king of Lanka, who after ten thousand years of prayer and penitence to the god, Brahma, was granted â€Å"the boon that he would not be killed by any superhuman orShow MoreRelatedGilgamesh VS â€Å"Genesis†: Noah and the Flood1121 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Religion is about turning untested belief into unshakable truth through the power of institutions and the passage of time- Richard Dawkins†. We all know the breath taking story of the Genesis flood, but have we ever noticed how similar it is to the Epic of Gilgamesh. Genesis is the story of how one God created mankind, along with everything else on Earth, and what punishments he put upon them when they acted wrong .Genesis is a chapter in the Holy Bible, which was written in the 18th century B.C. by MosesRead MoreThe Search for Immortality in the Epic of Gilgamesh Essay1500 Words   |  6 Pagesfor eternal life is a cultural universal. The ideology surrounding immortality transcends time and a plethora of cultures. The theme, immortality appears in stories from the Epic of Gilgamesh, which was composed by ancient Sumerians roughly around 600 B.C., to present day works of fiction in the twenty first century. Gilgamesh, a figure of celestial stature, allows his mortal side to whittle away his power after the death of Enkidu. Undeniably, defenseless before the validity of his own end, he leavesRead MoreAthanasia: Human Impermanence and the Journey for Eternal Life in the Epic of Gilgamesh1740 Words   |  7 PagesAthanasia: Human Impermanence and the Journey for Eternal Life in the Epic of Gilgamesh â€Å"Will you too die as Enkidu did? Will grief become your food? Will we both fear the lonely hills, so vacant? I now race from place to place, dissatisfied with whereever I am and turn my step toward Utnapishtim, godchild of Ubaratutu† (Jackson â€Å"Gilgamesh Tablet IX† 4-9) Gilgamesh so much feared death that he threw away his honor as a warrior in order to obtain immortality. For centuries there have existed individualsRead MoreBeowulf And The Epic Of Gilgamesh1667 Words   |  7 Pagesthe most widely known epic poems of their time were Beowulf and The Epic of Gilgamesh. Both Beowulf and Gilgamesh embody traits known exclusively of a hero. The poem of Beowulf and The Epic Gilgamesh both showcase the characteristics required of being an epic, in that they include a hero on a quest performing valorous deeds in an elevated style, while being protected by supernatural forces. The epic poem, Beowulf was based in the country of Denmark, while The Epic of Gilgamesh was based in a regionRead MoreTheme Of Mortality In The Epic Of Gilgamesh1220 Words   |  5 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh: A Hero’s Journey Several themes are addressed throughout the Epic of Gilgamesh, but the most prominent lies within the confrontation and acceptance of mortality. Gilgamesh—king of Uruk, ambitious builder, and bravest of mercenaries—seems to be blessed by a combination of two-thirds godliness and one-third manliness, yet plagued by his very own immoderation and naivety. The hero is witnessed engaging in the molestation of his women and exhausting Uruk’s people with manual laborRead MoreGilgamesh : The Epic Of Gilgamesh909 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The Epic of Gilgamesh† is a didactic story set out to expose the inevitability of death. The true meaning of this story is sometimes overlooked because the story is told in heighten language not easily understood. The epic hero in this story is Gilgamesh; he undertakes a quest for knowledge which is overshadowed by his ignorance. The tragic death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh’s trusted companion forces the epic hero to change his perception of death. To overcome great obstacles one must be willing to putRead MoreGilgamesh704 Words   |  3 Pages2016 Essay #1 Epic heroism usually denotes to an individual of highest social class such as great kings or leaders. Epic heroes are outstanding fighters, sometimes carrying some divine powers. To show his heroic elements, the hero must confront some supernatural enemies, quests, war, or adversity. The Epic of Gilgamesh depicts most of these characteristics of epic heroism. The description about his birth to the journey and adventures in his life meets the characteristics of an epic hero. AlthoughRead MoreEpic Of Gilgamesh Myths And Dreams931 Words   |  4 PagesGilgamesh myths and dreams In World Literature Gilgamesh is considered to be a masterpiece. After, doing my research I noticed it had to be one of the oldest epics written, but it appears to be more of a myth or dream. The history of this myth draws concern about culture and religion in Babylonian. The perspective I came to understand and focus was myths and dreams. The aspects involved the inner and outer struggles of problems that are essential to this time period. When I look at the science thatRead MoreGilgamesh, the Illiad, the Aeneid1661 Words   |  7 PagesAnglo-Saxon era in history, long narrative poems, known as epics become all the rage. These poems were written in elevated styles that presented the adventures of a hero with superhuman qualities who embodied the national ideals. These ideals and adventures were presented through elements such as dreams, courage allowing the hero to overcome great trials, and a major battle scene. These elements, known as epic conventions, created epics that to t his day continue to be read and taught throughoutRead MoreA Critical Appraisal of: Beowulf and Gilgamesh Essay examples1640 Words   |  7 PagesA Critical Appraisal of: Beowulf and Gilgamesh There are many differences and critical comparisons that can be drawn between the epics of Beowulf and Gilgamesh. Both are historical poems which shape their respected culture and both have major social, cultural, and political impacts on the development of western civilization literature and writing. Before any analysis is made, it is vital that some kind of a foundation be established so that a further, in-depth exploration of the complex nature