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Questions and Answers
What did Gilgamesh and Enkidu do after their fierce battle?
What did Gilgamesh and Enkidu do after their fierce battle?
Who was Humbaba?
Who was Humbaba?
What caused Gilgamesh to seek out Humbaba?
What caused Gilgamesh to seek out Humbaba?
What was Ishtar's reaction to Gilgamesh's rejection?
What was Ishtar's reaction to Gilgamesh's rejection?
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What did Humbaba do before he died?
What did Humbaba do before he died?
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What accomplishment did Gilgamesh and Enkidu achieve together?
What accomplishment did Gilgamesh and Enkidu achieve together?
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What did Gilgamesh believe after defeating Humbaba?
What did Gilgamesh believe after defeating Humbaba?
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Who is credited with revising the stories of Gilgamesh into the Standard Version?
Who is credited with revising the stories of Gilgamesh into the Standard Version?
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What attribute of Ishtar impressed Gilgamesh?
What attribute of Ishtar impressed Gilgamesh?
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How many tablets or sections is the Epic of Gilgamesh generally considered to consist of?
How many tablets or sections is the Epic of Gilgamesh generally considered to consist of?
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What significant event does the Epic of Gilgamesh feature that is similar to another well-known story?
What significant event does the Epic of Gilgamesh feature that is similar to another well-known story?
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What distinguishes Gilgamesh as a character in the epic?
What distinguishes Gilgamesh as a character in the epic?
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What form of imagery is used to describe the cedar forest in the epic?
What form of imagery is used to describe the cedar forest in the epic?
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What trait is NOT associated with Gilgamesh according to the epic?
What trait is NOT associated with Gilgamesh according to the epic?
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Which characteristic does Gilgamesh display at the beginning of the epic?
Which characteristic does Gilgamesh display at the beginning of the epic?
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What test did Utnapishtim give to Gilgamesh regarding eternity?
What test did Utnapishtim give to Gilgamesh regarding eternity?
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What type of literary work is the Epic of Gilgamesh considered to be?
What type of literary work is the Epic of Gilgamesh considered to be?
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What did Utnapishtim inform Gilgamesh about immortality?
What did Utnapishtim inform Gilgamesh about immortality?
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What event triggered Gilgamesh's quest for immortality?
What event triggered Gilgamesh's quest for immortality?
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What miraculous item was found by Gilgamesh in the sea?
What miraculous item was found by Gilgamesh in the sea?
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What was the consequence of Gilgamesh's defeat of the Bull of Heaven?
What was the consequence of Gilgamesh's defeat of the Bull of Heaven?
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What disaster followed the Bull of Heaven's descent?
What disaster followed the Bull of Heaven's descent?
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What did Gilgamesh do with one of the bull's legs after defeating it?
What did Gilgamesh do with one of the bull's legs after defeating it?
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Who assisted Gilgamesh in crossing the lake of poisonous waters?
Who assisted Gilgamesh in crossing the lake of poisonous waters?
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Which symbol in the story represents Gilgamesh's transformation into a wise king?
Which symbol in the story represents Gilgamesh's transformation into a wise king?
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What realization did Gilgamesh come to after finding the snake's dry skin?
What realization did Gilgamesh come to after finding the snake's dry skin?
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What does the number seven symbolize in the narrative?
What does the number seven symbolize in the narrative?
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In what way do monsters in the epic symbolize Gilgamesh's aspirations?
In what way do monsters in the epic symbolize Gilgamesh's aspirations?
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What does the simile comparing Gilgamesh to a lion emphasize?
What does the simile comparing Gilgamesh to a lion emphasize?
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What was the primary reason the population of Uruk began to despise their king, Gilgamesh?
What was the primary reason the population of Uruk began to despise their king, Gilgamesh?
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How is the metaphor describing the people as a storm significant?
How is the metaphor describing the people as a storm significant?
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What does the hyperbole about Gilgamesh knowing the countries of the world suggest?
What does the hyperbole about Gilgamesh knowing the countries of the world suggest?
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What central theme is highlighted through the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu?
What central theme is highlighted through the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu?
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Who was responsible for creating Enkidu to challenge Gilgamesh?
Who was responsible for creating Enkidu to challenge Gilgamesh?
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What transformation did Enkidu undergo after his encounter with Shammat?
What transformation did Enkidu undergo after his encounter with Shammat?
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What was the outcome when Gilgamesh and Enkidu faced off against each other?
What was the outcome when Gilgamesh and Enkidu faced off against each other?
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What initial role did Enkidu play in the natural world before becoming civilized?
What initial role did Enkidu play in the natural world before becoming civilized?
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Which character sent Shammat to approach Enkidu?
Which character sent Shammat to approach Enkidu?
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What was the catalyst for Enkidu's arrival in Uruk?
What was the catalyst for Enkidu's arrival in Uruk?
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What physical attributes characterized Enkidu when he was first created?
What physical attributes characterized Enkidu when he was first created?
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Study Notes
The Epic of Gilgamesh: Overview
- Oldest surviving work of literature, written during the Bronze Age.
- Composed of approximately 12 tablets, each detailing a distinct part of the story.
- Features a flood narrative similar to the Noah's Ark story.
Gilgamesh: The King
- Demigod king of Uruk, Mesopotamia.
- Son of priest-king Lugalbanda and goddess Ninsun.
- Possessed exceptional strength, beauty, and a longer lifespan than ordinary humans.
- Initially ruled tyrannically, abusing his power and causing the people of Uruk to suffer.
Enkidu: The Wild Man
- Created by the goddess Aruru to counter Gilgamesh's tyranny.
- Initially lived among animals, possessing animalistic traits.
- Civilized by Shammat, a temple priestess, after a passionate encounter.
- Became Gilgamesh's friend and rival, eventually tempering Gilgamesh’s arrogance.
The Epic's Journey
- Gilgamesh and Enkidu's adventures include defeating Humbaba, the guardian of the Cedar Forest.
- Humbaba’s death angers the gods, foreshadowing consequences.
- They also slay the Bull of Heaven, sent by Ishtar to punish Gilgamesh for rejecting her advances.
- Enkidu's death from divine retribution deeply affects Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh's Quest for Immortality
- The death of Enkidu propels Gilgamesh's quest for immortality.
- Seeks Utnapishtim, the survivor of the great flood, for the secret to eternal life.
- Utnapishtim reveals that immortality is granted only by the gods.
- Gilgamesh obtains a plant granting youth, but it's stolen by a snake.
Symbolism and Figurative Language
- Uruk: Represents Gilgamesh's transformation and the achievements of his people.
- Monsters: Symbolize the protagonists' ambition and clash with divine will.
- Hero's journey: Represents Gilgamesh's self-discovery and growth.
- Seven: Holds symbolic weight, often associated with divine power and cosmic order.
- Multiple instances of similes, metaphors, personification, and hyperbole enrich the narrative.
Author and Text
- The Standard Version, from which modern translations are derived, was revised by Sîn-lēqi-unninni around 1200 BCE.
Key Themes
- Friendship: The bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu explores loyalty, companionship, and personal growth.
- Mortality: The narrative grapples with the inevitability of death and humanity's search for meaning in the face of it.
- Wisdom/Transformation: Gilgamesh's journey is one of self-discovery and the acceptance of limitations.
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Description
Explore the oldest surviving work of literature, The Epic of Gilgamesh, which comes from the Bronze Age. This quiz covers key characters like Gilgamesh and Enkidu, their adventures, and thematic elements including friendship and tyranny. Test your knowledge on this ancient tale that features similarities to the Noah's Ark narrative.
