Gilgamesh #4

Read chapters 9-10 of Gilgamesh the Hero

Also, read about the discovery of the Gilgamesh tablets

Try:
A very simple comprehension quiz.
Another quiz (the version is somewhat different so you might miss some of the answers)

Gilgamesh the Hero #3

Read chapters 7-8 of Gilgamesh the Hero

A symbol is a person, place, or thing comes to represent an abstract idea or concept -- it is anything that stands for something beyond itself.

Symbolism is "the investing of outward things or actions with an inner meaning"

symbol (from Etymology Dictionary)

early 15c., "creed, summary, religious belief," from L.L. symbolum "creed, token, mark," from Gk. symbolon "token, watchword"... literally. "that which is thrown or cast together," from syn- "together" + bole "a throwing, a casting, the stroke of a missile, bolt, beam," from bol-, nom. stem of ballein "to throw" (see ballistics). The sense evolution in Greek is from "throwing things together" to "contrasting" to "comparing" to "token used in comparisons to determine if something is genuine." Hence, "outward sign" of something. The meaning "something which stands for something else" first recorded 1590 (in "Faerie Queene").

There is much use of the idea of "symbols" in literary works -- tracking down symbols in literature can certainly be overdone, but having the idea in mind can be useful in understanding what is going on in literary works. For example, in Lord of the Rings, the Ring is a real thing, but it also seems to represent something besides just a powerful magical item.

We will probably talk more about this in future literature lessons.

Here's a Scatter with some possible symbols from Gilgamesh. Can you see anything in common between these symbols and the use of similar "signs" in other works?

Gilgamesh #2

Read Chapter 5-6, about death and fear.

Try this Scatter on the characters in Gilgamesh. It might help you to keep the names straight if you are having trouble.

Also, review the Heroic Journey flashcards.

Gilgamesh #1

Read chapter 1-2 of Gilgamesh the Hero if you haven't already.

Here is a Scatter on the Heroic Journey. Gilgamesh doesn't contain all these elements, but as most "heroic" stories do, it does contain some. Can you think of examples of these themes from different stories you have read?

Gilgamesh #5

Read chapters 11-2 of Gilgamesh the Hero


That should bring you to the end.

Here are 10 Epic Conventions.   They apply more to Greek (Homeric) epics than Gilgamesh.  Do you see any of these conventions in Gilgamesh?

Try the Scatter

Gilgamesh and the Story of the Flood

If you didn't understand it well the first time, reread the story of the flood in the last tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh

As you read, try to get a sense of what is happening, and look for the answers to these questions. We will discuss them together.