Gil’s Lit. Devices Gilgamesh and Friends Journey Stages Gilgamesh’s Journey A “Meso” Sumeria

“When the gods created Gilgamesh, they gave him a perfect body. Shamash the glorious sun god endowed him with beauty, Adad the god of the storm endowed him with courage.” Which of the following literary devices is most clearly displayed in the above quote? FlashbackIndirect Characterization Symbolism Parallel Structure Direct characterizationEpic similes

Direct Characterization

So Urshnabi took Gilgamesh and led him to the washing-place, he washed his long hair as clean as snow in the water, he shall throw off his skins and let the sea carry them away... Which of the following literary devices is most clearly displayed in the above quote? FlashbackIndirect Characterization Symbolism Parallel Structure Direct characterizationEpic similes

Symbolism (or symbolic archetype!)

Enkidu warns Gilgamesh about the power of Humbaba – “But Enkidu sighed bitterly and said, ‘..... terrible to all flesh is Humbaba.’” Which of the following literary devices is most clearly displayed in the above quote? FlashbackIndirect Characterization Symbolism Parallel Structure Direct characterizationEpic similes

Indirect Characterization

“One whole day the tempest raged, gathering fury as it went, it poured over the people like the tides of battle....” Which of the following literary devices is most clearly displayed in the above quote? FlashbackIndirect Characterization Symbolism Parallel Structure Direct characterizationEpic similes

Epic simile

Gilgamesh said to him, “Why should not my cheeks be starved and my face drawn? Despair is in my heart and my face is the face of one who has made a long journey....” Which of the following literary devices is most clearly displayed in the above quote? FlashbackIndirect Characterization Symbolism Parallel Structure Direct characterizationEpic similes

Parallelism

A character also called “The Faraway”

Utnapishtim

She was rejected by Gilgamesh and unleashes the Bull of Heaven.

Ishtar

The god that causes the Great Flood

Enlil

Both of these gods are friends to man

Ea and Shamash

This is the Queen of death whom Enkidu encounters in his dream. She reigns over the house of dust.

Irkalla

Often the hero feels that he/she has it "too good" and refuses to give up all that they currently have (often resulting in the hero being forced to move on).

Refusal of the call

The hero overcomes fear, judgment, and mental blocks that may have been holding him/her back. This stage shows growth and the ability to take on adult responsibilities.

Atonement with the father

This a character who helps the hero after he or she has committed to the quest. This figure offers hope or good advice to keep the hero going.

Meeting with the Goddess

The hero has attained wisdom in both the spiritual and material world (conscious world).

Master of Two Worlds

The hero has his reward, now he must return to safety. A “chase” ensues.

Magic Flight

Gilgamesh successfully makes his way through the twelve leagues of darkness. When he comes out on the other side of Mashu, he is greeted with an astounding sight.

Belly of the Whale

At night when he came to the mountain passes Gilgamesh prayed: "In these mountain passes long ago I saw lions. I was afraid and I lifted my eyes to the moon; I prayed and my prayers went up to the gods, so now, O moon god Sin, protect me."

Supernatural Assistance

This too was the work of Gilgamesh, the king, who knew the countries of the world. He was wise, he saw mysteries and knew secret things.....and returning engraved on a stone the whole story.

Master of Two Worlds

[Siduri] answered......'Let your clothes be fresh, bathe yourself in water, cherish the little child that holds your hand, and make your wife happy in your embrace; for this too is the lot of man."

Meeting with the Goddess

In anger and ignorance, Gilgamesh smashes some sacred stones that Urshanabi is fashioning into a prow to protect his boat. Gilgamesh then builds another boat, and Urshanabi guides him across the ocean and over the waters of death.

Road of Trials

The ancient Sumerians settled in the region of the middle East between what two rivers?

Tigris and Euphrates

When the ancient Sumerians first settled in Mesopotamia

around 5000 BC

This natural resource of Mesopotamia was most important to the Sumerians, as indicated by Gilgamesh’s actions early in the epic.

Timber / cedar forest

What belief caused the Sumerians’ anxiety about death?

When these people invaded Sumeria, they preserved the writings on clay tables in a library at Ninevah

the fact that there was no joyful afterlife

Babylonians