1. The Epic of Gilgamesh

2. What is Myth? Symbolize and embody the spiritual values of a culture.
Society preserves myths because it believes world views found in them are crucial to the survival of the culture.
They attempt to answer key questions of life .

3. Functions of Myth Transmit Culture
Explain the world—floods, mortality, human nature.
Provide Role Models—larger than life figures that embody cultural values.

4. Common Themes in Myth Gods of sky and earth Creator gods Flood story
Death and rebirth
Heroes and hero’s journey

5. The Two Truths
1st Truth 2nd Truth Literal Truth Metaphorical Truth Did it really Happen? What is the takeaway from the story? How can we apply the events in myth to our lives?

6. History of Gilgamesh
Earliest recorded word of literature – dates to 2100 b.c.
Written in cuneiform
Sumer (Middle Eastern)

7. History of Gilgamesh
Borrows the name of an apparent king of Uruk circa 2500 b.c.
Recounts a flood that may have occurred in the region in 2900 b.c.
Uncovered in Nineveh in 1845
First outlined in 1862

8. Biblical Parallels Noah Adam and Eve
Flood Narrative with human “savior”
Adam and Eve
Creation of man from god and natural elements.
Tempted by a female
Man must leave former self never to return

9. The Epic
Adj.  
Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size: "A vast musical panorama it requires an epic musical understanding to do it justice" (Tim Page).
Noun:
An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.
An epic is a long narrative poem--one that tells the story of a great hero.

10. The Epic Most epics begin with the “before words” -- the words
before the story, which is called a “prologue.” This usually
takes one of the two following forms:
A Genealogy
A Prayer
history of the people involved
asking the gods for
genealogy of the hero
inspiration
summary/introduction of
praising the hero and his
the crisis
adventures

11. The Hero’s Journey What is a Hero? According to Joseph Campbell
A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something greater than oneself
They set out to recover something that has been lost or to discover a life-giving elixir
They must die to an infantile personality and psyche and come back having gained wisdom
They undergo trials that serve to purify the hero to gain the ultimate boon.
The hero’s morals come from sacrificing the self to save a people, a person, or to support an ideal that they believe in.

12. The Hero’s Journey Separation Return Initiation Departure Return Known
The Call to Adventure
Refusal of the Call
Supernatural Aid
The Crossing of the First Threshold
The Belly of the Whale
Departure
Return
Known
Return
Refusal of the Return
The Magic Flight
Rescue from Without
The Crossing of the Return Threshold
Master of the Two Worlds
Freedom to Live
Unknown
Initiation
The Road of Trials
The Meeting with the Goddess
Woman as the Temptress
Atonement with the Father
Apotheosis
The Ultimate Boon
Initiation