After searching for eternal life, the end for Gilgamesh came. He was not to live forever. The final chapter is similar to an obituary, praising him as a ruler. The adventures he had, the dangers overcome, and long travels did not save him from the death he feared the most.
The memorium once again explained that his destiny was to rule the people, not live forever. Destiny and fate worked together to form his life. It was the will of Enlil, the father of the gods, that he would be king. How his subjects were treated was up to Gilgamesh. His final deadly destiny was decided by the daemon Namtar, implying that he died by sickness or disease. It was a natural death, but nothing seems to indicate if he was young or old at the time of passing.
His body might have died, but the name of Gilgamesh lived long after. No other hero would take his place for several generations. It could be possible, according to the memorium, that no one will ever be greater. There is a general list of his achievements, followed by a reminder that his body is buried and never to return. He is gone. What he left behind continues.
Reviewing the story as a whole, there were many inconsistencies. He was supposed to be a great king, but the first chapter presented him as a tyrant ruler. The people complained of his mistreatments and gods worried he could not be controlled. A powerful antagonist was created to bring him under control, but turned into a great friend. This friend's death humbled Gilgamesh more than his life. Taking a dangerous journey to find out how to never die reinforced his unavoidable mortality . It didn't matter that he was more god than human. Even the most famous narrative about the flood was not about him, although his name is forever linked to the story. These examples of a confused narrative aren't harmful, but add layers of meaning. They leave room for contemplating how life rarely is predictable, and heroes have human flaws.
writing Assignment:
Think back on the whole of the story, and write an essay on any topic that examines meaning. What is the narrative trying to say? How does it say it?
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Saturday, July 5, 2014
The Last Secret
The hero might be strong, beautiful, leader of a nation, and even quarter-god. None of that matters in the end. He will still die like other mortals. That is the great lesson learned from the long journey. It isn't the answer he wanted, but its the one he must eventually accept. No special abilities can be granted or learned to stop the destiny shared by all humanity.
At first Gilgamesh refused to believe that the Faraway husband and wife could do nothing to save him from death. In answer to his constant questioning, they gave him a test to stay awake for six days and seven nights. There is no proof they could have given him eternal life if he would have succeeded. Most likely it was a lesson to teach him the nature of mortal bodies. Scientific research is inconclusive how long a person can go without sleep. In cases where a person has gone more than a week without sleep, they lose body and brain control as thinking and reactions slow down. They can't even go completely without sleep during those times, as they drift into half consciousness and become relatively non-responsive.
Unlike lab experiments or traumatic life episodes, there is no outside stimulus to stay awake. Gigamesh must prove on his own that he can go without sleep. Knowing that he won't trust them and needing proof, the Faraway wife bakes break each day of the test. Utnapishtim, the immortal hero of the flood, gives him a nudge to awaken after six and a half days. As expected the now awake traveler denies he had fallen asleep, but the bread tells another tale. The different conditions of the breads acts as more than identifying the length of days. Each one can be considered a metaphor for each generation of mortal life. It ranges from the very old "crusty" twilight years, to the fresh new born not fully developed. The bread of life can become stale or worse; moldy and ready to be thrown out.
Having learned a sad lesson, one last secret is given. There is a plant located at the bottom of the Faraway ocean with medicine like qualities. Any mortal who uses it can become young once more. Gilgamesh becomes excited by the hope of once again gaining eternal life by returning to a youthful state. Harvesting the plant from the bottom of the ocean, he calls it "The Old Men are Young Again," and starts to head home. It is an old story similar to the Fountain of Youth, where a special medicine or natural remedy returns the body to physical fitness. Like all such tales, this one ends up a false hope. On the trip home the plant is stolen by a serpent who sheds its skin and becomes young. The great secret of eternal life, even if no more than an extension of that life, is once again out of the grasp of mortals. Death is the one monster that the great hero cannot conquer. He has no control and owns no weapons strong enough to hold back mortality.
Returning home, Gilgamesh shows the ocean ferryman the great walled city built from burnt brick. With a renewed sense of accomplishment, having stopped mourning for the loss of his friend and again washed and put on clean clothes, he proudly points out all sections of the city he helped build. Death cannot be avoided, but there is one way to remain immortal for other generations. Going back to his original idea, he writes the story of his life and adventures on a stone wall for all to read. Others will remember him long after the body dies. Assuming the stories were true, he obviously succeeded. Reading this commentary on the text is evidence that Gilgamesh lives on.
The final chapter will be a memorial to his life.
Writing Assignments:
Think back on the stories of Gilgamesh in the epic. Make up a tale about the man. What other adventures might he have encountered? Fill in the gap somewhere in his story. Whatever is written, he must be recognizable as the same character.
The character of Gilgamesh changes and develops with each adventure. He is not a flat personality. Review the text and trace how each story effects or transforms him. Was the prologue description accurate? Describe the differences between the man at the end of the tales and the one at the start.
Pick three of the gods in the epic. Write a story based on them interacting with humanity. Don't forget to include the differences in personality and powers they possess. Will they help or hurt humanity by their actions? How will humans react to this interference?
Vocabulary:
fleece
banish
fillet
virtue
terrace
At first Gilgamesh refused to believe that the Faraway husband and wife could do nothing to save him from death. In answer to his constant questioning, they gave him a test to stay awake for six days and seven nights. There is no proof they could have given him eternal life if he would have succeeded. Most likely it was a lesson to teach him the nature of mortal bodies. Scientific research is inconclusive how long a person can go without sleep. In cases where a person has gone more than a week without sleep, they lose body and brain control as thinking and reactions slow down. They can't even go completely without sleep during those times, as they drift into half consciousness and become relatively non-responsive.
Unlike lab experiments or traumatic life episodes, there is no outside stimulus to stay awake. Gigamesh must prove on his own that he can go without sleep. Knowing that he won't trust them and needing proof, the Faraway wife bakes break each day of the test. Utnapishtim, the immortal hero of the flood, gives him a nudge to awaken after six and a half days. As expected the now awake traveler denies he had fallen asleep, but the bread tells another tale. The different conditions of the breads acts as more than identifying the length of days. Each one can be considered a metaphor for each generation of mortal life. It ranges from the very old "crusty" twilight years, to the fresh new born not fully developed. The bread of life can become stale or worse; moldy and ready to be thrown out.
Having learned a sad lesson, one last secret is given. There is a plant located at the bottom of the Faraway ocean with medicine like qualities. Any mortal who uses it can become young once more. Gilgamesh becomes excited by the hope of once again gaining eternal life by returning to a youthful state. Harvesting the plant from the bottom of the ocean, he calls it "The Old Men are Young Again," and starts to head home. It is an old story similar to the Fountain of Youth, where a special medicine or natural remedy returns the body to physical fitness. Like all such tales, this one ends up a false hope. On the trip home the plant is stolen by a serpent who sheds its skin and becomes young. The great secret of eternal life, even if no more than an extension of that life, is once again out of the grasp of mortals. Death is the one monster that the great hero cannot conquer. He has no control and owns no weapons strong enough to hold back mortality.
Returning home, Gilgamesh shows the ocean ferryman the great walled city built from burnt brick. With a renewed sense of accomplishment, having stopped mourning for the loss of his friend and again washed and put on clean clothes, he proudly points out all sections of the city he helped build. Death cannot be avoided, but there is one way to remain immortal for other generations. Going back to his original idea, he writes the story of his life and adventures on a stone wall for all to read. Others will remember him long after the body dies. Assuming the stories were true, he obviously succeeded. Reading this commentary on the text is evidence that Gilgamesh lives on.
The final chapter will be a memorial to his life.
Writing Assignments:
Think back on the stories of Gilgamesh in the epic. Make up a tale about the man. What other adventures might he have encountered? Fill in the gap somewhere in his story. Whatever is written, he must be recognizable as the same character.
The character of Gilgamesh changes and develops with each adventure. He is not a flat personality. Review the text and trace how each story effects or transforms him. Was the prologue description accurate? Describe the differences between the man at the end of the tales and the one at the start.
Pick three of the gods in the epic. Write a story based on them interacting with humanity. Don't forget to include the differences in personality and powers they possess. Will they help or hurt humanity by their actions? How will humans react to this interference?
Vocabulary:
fleece
banish
fillet
virtue
terrace
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Man of the Flood
Probably the most talked about part of the Gilgamesh story is the flood narrative, because it has many similarities to "Noah" in the Bible. Neither of these are the only such stories, although the most well known. They can be found all over the world in every continent other than Antarctica where no civilization ever existed. It doesn't matter if a world wide flood ever existed while studying the texts. What they say about the hopes and fears of the people who told them can say a lot about humanity as a whole.
For most of the ancient world the only way to survive was living next to a large body of flowing water. Among the biggest bodies of fresh running water include the Nile in Egypt, the Tigris-Euphrates in Mesopotamia, the Mississippi in North America, and the Amazon in South America. From Egypt and Mesopotamia sprang the first great cities. Water from the great rivers was used to irrigate the land for needed crops. This food supply allowed for large gatherings of people along narrow strips of land. Life giving waters that brought food also had flood seasons. It is from the combined factors of eventual overpopulation and annual flooding that most likely inspired this part of the Gilgamesh story.
All stories come from the experience of humans. We are all born, eat, drink, love, fear, and eventually die. Therefore, it is no surprise that stories have familiar themes, even if never having read them before. A world destroying flood might not be part of a modern story, but the dangers of the natural world continue. The news is filled with disasters; including earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, tsunamis, hurricanes and floods. Knowing something terrible might happen to anyone makes stories like world wide floods relatable.
The gods in the Gilgamesh story have human qualities that end up causing the flood. Enlil heard the clamor of a growing population and, like a neighbor upset by the sounds of a party while trying to sleep, decided to silence the masses. His solution was to wipe them out with water, drowning the whole of them. Although all the gods agreed to the plan, Ea went behind his back and warned Utnapishtim in a dream to save himself and his family. Once the damage was done, the goddess Ishtar lamented the loss of so many lives as a bad choice. The rest of the gods became angry with Enlil and shunned him. Ae spoke up with the news he had saved at least a few, and warned that people should be judged and punished as individuals. If not that, then at least in ways that a large number can still survive. Anger brought the deluge, but loyalty and remorse saved future generations.
The hero of the story, Utnapishtim, was not a free agent. He would have died with the rest if it wasn't for the dream Ae gave him. That wasn't enough to save him. He was also told how to build the giant boat, what to put in them, the family and friends he was allowed to bring inside, and then hope he would float. His greatest achievements were organization and survival.
The reason Gilgamesh searched for Utnapishtim was to ask him how he and his wife gained eternal life. He had hoped to learn some secret that would keep death away. There was no repeatable formula in the answer. Because of the remorse felt by the gods, Enlil who brought the flood put his hand on their foreheads and blessed them with eternal life. They were then taken into a far away land to live. Chances of the same happening to Gilgamesh, no matter how much he wished not to die, were most likely impossible. The trip might have been a waste of time.
Writing Assignments:
Think of a character in a story that is already written or plan to write. Make up a life story from birth to death, tracing the most important moments. Make it an autobiography from the character's point of view.
Write of a moment in your own life. Why is it memorable? In what way did it change you as a person? It doesn't have to be tragic or a big event. It might even be comical.
Find a story in the news. Again, it doesn't have to be tragic or a big event. Use it as a backdrop for a story. Put yourself or a made up character into the middle of the action.
Vocabulary:
pitch
bullucks
firmament
transgression
torrent
tempest
For most of the ancient world the only way to survive was living next to a large body of flowing water. Among the biggest bodies of fresh running water include the Nile in Egypt, the Tigris-Euphrates in Mesopotamia, the Mississippi in North America, and the Amazon in South America. From Egypt and Mesopotamia sprang the first great cities. Water from the great rivers was used to irrigate the land for needed crops. This food supply allowed for large gatherings of people along narrow strips of land. Life giving waters that brought food also had flood seasons. It is from the combined factors of eventual overpopulation and annual flooding that most likely inspired this part of the Gilgamesh story.
All stories come from the experience of humans. We are all born, eat, drink, love, fear, and eventually die. Therefore, it is no surprise that stories have familiar themes, even if never having read them before. A world destroying flood might not be part of a modern story, but the dangers of the natural world continue. The news is filled with disasters; including earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, tsunamis, hurricanes and floods. Knowing something terrible might happen to anyone makes stories like world wide floods relatable.
The gods in the Gilgamesh story have human qualities that end up causing the flood. Enlil heard the clamor of a growing population and, like a neighbor upset by the sounds of a party while trying to sleep, decided to silence the masses. His solution was to wipe them out with water, drowning the whole of them. Although all the gods agreed to the plan, Ea went behind his back and warned Utnapishtim in a dream to save himself and his family. Once the damage was done, the goddess Ishtar lamented the loss of so many lives as a bad choice. The rest of the gods became angry with Enlil and shunned him. Ae spoke up with the news he had saved at least a few, and warned that people should be judged and punished as individuals. If not that, then at least in ways that a large number can still survive. Anger brought the deluge, but loyalty and remorse saved future generations.
The hero of the story, Utnapishtim, was not a free agent. He would have died with the rest if it wasn't for the dream Ae gave him. That wasn't enough to save him. He was also told how to build the giant boat, what to put in them, the family and friends he was allowed to bring inside, and then hope he would float. His greatest achievements were organization and survival.
The reason Gilgamesh searched for Utnapishtim was to ask him how he and his wife gained eternal life. He had hoped to learn some secret that would keep death away. There was no repeatable formula in the answer. Because of the remorse felt by the gods, Enlil who brought the flood put his hand on their foreheads and blessed them with eternal life. They were then taken into a far away land to live. Chances of the same happening to Gilgamesh, no matter how much he wished not to die, were most likely impossible. The trip might have been a waste of time.
Writing Assignments:
Think of a character in a story that is already written or plan to write. Make up a life story from birth to death, tracing the most important moments. Make it an autobiography from the character's point of view.
Write of a moment in your own life. Why is it memorable? In what way did it change you as a person? It doesn't have to be tragic or a big event. It might even be comical.
Find a story in the news. Again, it doesn't have to be tragic or a big event. Use it as a backdrop for a story. Put yourself or a made up character into the middle of the action.
Vocabulary:
pitch
bullucks
firmament
transgression
torrent
tempest
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