The epic of gilgamesh

Sumer

• is the site of the earliest known civilization

• where the epic comes from, the southernmost part of Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

• The ancient city of Uruk is located in present-day Iraq, on an abandoned channel of the Euphrates River.

The epic of gilgamesh

• oldest known epic poem written (2100 BC)

• written in Cuneiform, one of the oldest forms of writing

• discovered in 11 tablets as a series of Sumerian poems

• semi-mythic (based on real people but highly mythologized)

main characters

• Gilgamesh

• Enkidu

• Ishtar

• Ninsun (mother of gilgamesh)

• Humbaba (monster)

• Utnapishtim (gives Gilgamesh the location of plant for immortal life)

plot overview

The epic centers on Gilgamesh, a formidable yet flawed king, and Enkidu, his loyal companion. Their journey encompasses heroic feats, tragic loss, and existential quests, presenting a compelling narrative about leadership, human connection, and self-discovery.

Christopher Vogler’s hero’s journey

• describes the series of events that more or less consistently occur in stories regardless of historical, cultural, and regional origin.

• first developed by Joseph Campbell by examining the recurring patterns that heroes go through in mythology

• There are 17 stages to Campbell’s Monomyth, but Vogler narrowed it down to 12 in his screenwriting guide titled “The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers” in 2007.

• his monomyth provides a universal template for analyzing character arcs and plot development across diverse storytelling mediums.

stages of hero’s journey

1. the ordinary world

2. the call to adventure

3. refusal of the call

4. meeting with a mentor

5. crossing the threshold

6. tests, allies and enemies

7. approach to the innermost cave

8. the supreme ordeal

9. reward or seizing the sword

10. the road back

11. ressurection

12. return with the elixir

1: the ordinary world

definition: original world of the hero, where he is lacking something

in the story: gilgamesh is presented as a flawed king, enkidu is made and the two become friends after they wrestled

2: call of adventure

definition: The hero is given a challenge/adventure to face, often shows the hero’s goals

in the story: kill humbaba (shows gilgamesh’s goal to attain immortality)

3: the refusal of the call

definition: the hero must be set on the right path, must weigh the consequences of his adventure

in the story: enkidu warns gilgamesh because he knows how ferocious humbaba is (enlil made the forest to guard humbaba)

4: meeting with the mentor

definition: The hero encounters a wise figure who prepares him for the journey

in the story: Gilgamesh meets with his mother, Nimsun. She calls on Shamash, god of justice to protect gilgamesh (also adopts enkidu)

5: crossing the threshold

definition: The hero has committed to the task, and enters the special world. Often met by a guardian.

in the story: battle with humbaba

6: tests, allies and enemies

definition: In the special world, the hero learns the new rules by meeting people and obtaining new information. where hero’s true characteristics are revealed

in the story: when gilgamesh rejects the goddesss Ishtar, she cursed enkidu and he dies (shows gilgamesh’s grief and fear of death)

7: approach to the innermost cave

definition: Now our hero has come to the edge of the dangerous place where the “object of the quest” is hidden. This stage is often the land of the dead.

in the story: Gilgamesh travels to the valley of gods (land of the dead) to recieve the knowledge of utnapishtim (the object of the quest)

8: the supreme ordeal

definition: The hero faces danger, often a life-or-death moment that is either physical or psychological.

in the story: utnapishtim’s challenge (stay up for 6 days and 6 nights) ← he dioes not accomplish this because hes exhausted

9: reward/seizing the sword

definition: After surviving, the hero takes possession of the object

in the story: even though he failed, utnapishtim still tells him where to find plant of “The Old Man Will Be Made Young”/immortality

10: the road back

definition: The hero must now deal with the consequences of their actions. faced with the decision to return to the ordinary world

in the story: Gilgamesh plans to return and share the plant with his people: old council members first

11: ressurection

definition: One final test is required for the purification and rebirth of the hero.

in the story: snake eats plant, gilgamesh gives up quest for immortality

12: return with the elixir

definition: The triumphant hero returns bearing the “elixir” or doomed hero is meant to repeat the lesson

in the story: Gilgamesh returns to Uruk, accepting his fate as a mortal.

yes

is gilgamesh triumphant