I've added summaries of the parts of The Epic of Gilgamesh that we've read in class. After the summaries, you'll find questions to answer for classwork/homework credit.
"Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablets II - V"
Gilgamesh decides to strengthen his reputation by taking on Humbaba, Enlil's guardian of the forest. Enkidu accompanies Gilgamesh and they spend much time in preparation. Eventually they find the monster and defeat him.
Humbaba (Huwawa) - this monster was appointed by Ellil to guard the cedar forest, which is in fact one large tree, the home of the gods, and terrify mankind. 'His shout is the storm-flood, his mouth, fire, his breath is death.' (Gardner & Maier p. 105) He has seven cloaks with which to arm himself. There is a gate and a path in the cedar mountain for Humbaba to walk on. Gilgamesh and Enkidu attack. Humbaba pleads for mercy, Enkidu argues against mercy, and Enkidu and Gilgamesh decapitate him. When they present the decapitated head to Enlil they find that Enlil is enraged and gives all the splendors of Humbaba away to others. See also the Sumerian Huwawa
"Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablets IX - XI"
Gilgamesh mourns Enkidu and decides to visit Utnapishtim, the only human who does not die. He goes to the mountains of Mashu and passes by the guardian scorpion-demons into the darkness. It becomes light as he enters the Garden of the Gods and he finds Siduri the Barmaid, to whom he relates his quest. She sends him to cross the waters of death and he confronts the boatman, Urshanabi. They cross and Gilgamesh speaks with Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim recounts the tale of the flood; how the gods felt that the clamor of mankind had become intolerable and the gods were unable to sleep so they decided to exterminate mankind. The god Ea warns Utnapishtim of the upcoming flood and instructs him to build a "barque" of specific dimensions and to "take up into the boat the seed of all living creatures." The boat is built in seven days and the flood begins and lasts for six days and six nights. When the gods see the destruction of the flood they become remorseful at having agreed to such destruction. After the flood, Enlil grants Utnapishtim and his wife with immortality for surviving the flood and giving the earth the chance to be replenished. When Gilgamesh realizes that he will not be able to gain immortality by the same means as Utnapishtim, Utnapishtim offers him a chance to attain immortality. He challenges Gilgamesh to remain awake for six days and seven nights. He fails, but Utnapishtim's wife urges him to reveal to Gilgamesh a rejuvinative plant. Gilgamesh takes it, but looses it to a serpent before returning to Uruk. Gilgamesh returns to Uruk with Urshanabi and shows him, with great pride, all the splendor of his city, Uruk.
Here is a link to an electronic text version of the story, if you want to find more details but this version is fairly difficult to read/understand:
Gilgamesh Electronic Text
Questions:
1. a) Why do the gods agree to destroy humankind?because the humans were causing the gods not to be able to sleep.
b) What causes them to change their minds?the flood
2. What purpose does the flood story serve in the epic?it causes the gods to change thier minds about destroying all the humans.
3. What evidence is there that Utnapishtim is not entirely sympathetic to Gilgamesh and why might he feel this way?because utnapishtim is tyring to gain immortality
4. Which passages in the epic foreshadow the failure of the quest? Explain. he challenges gilgamesh to stay awake but he fails at doing so.
5. Why is it appropriate that a snake, rather than some other beast, steals the magical plant.because snakes are sneaky and slippery.
The original tablet of the "Flood Story" from the Epic of Gilgamesh.
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