In reading these last pages of Gilgamesh, I felt as though I accidentally skipped some pages. There is no relation in anyway between these last pages and where we left off on page 82. However, I feel as though we can still learn from what is written.
We see that even in death, Enkidu is loyal to Gilgamesh, and hears his prayer. Enkidu agrees to get Gilgamesh's Drum and Drumstick. Surely these must be metaphors, as they are both capitalized, and Gilgamesh, a king, couldn't possibly care that much about some drum and an old drumstick. The point is, that when someone so close to you loses something, you help him/her out, even if it means going down to the Underworld. "Enkidu heard what Gilgamesh was saying, and said, his servant, then, to Gilgamesh: 'I will bring up the Drumstick from below. I will bring back the Drum from the Nether World.' " (Page 85)
The part where Gilgamesh asks about the men with sons can also teach us something. We see that as the man has more son, he is happier, even in Hell. I believe, as it is a philosophy of my own, that riches and properties don't determine the value of one's life. As we see in the text, family and one's own hapiness determines the value of a life. " 'How is it with the man with seven sons?' 'As if he were a companion of the gods, he sits upon a throne and listens to music.' " (Page 92)
jueves, 30 de agosto de 2007
lunes, 27 de agosto de 2007
Gilgamesh Blog #6
A while ago, I decided that the supernatural events that occured in the Torah, like Noah's Ark and Moses' spliting of the red sea, were either not true, or that they extremely exagerated and in reality have a simple scientific explination. After reading pages 65-82 of Gilgamesh, I realized that Noah's Ark was stolen from Gilgamesh.
"Utnapishtim, son of Ubartutu, abandon your house, abandon what you possess, abandon your house and build a boat instead. Seek life instead of riches, save yourself. Take with you, on the boat you build, an instance of each thing living so that they may be safe from obliteration in the flood" (p.66)
Are those not very nearly or even exactly the same words that god spoke to Noah? The words of the Bible were only changed to have a more moral meaning, to teach a lesson to humans so that they won't sin. The rest of the flood story is also the same as Noah's Ark in the Bible. "And on the seventh day I freed a dove. The dove flew free and flew away from the boat, seeking a place for its little feet to alight, and finding none, flew back to the boat to perch. I freed a swallow then and it flew free and flew away from the boat, seeking a place for its little feet to alight, and finding none, flew back to the boat to find a place to alight. I freed a raven and then it flew free..." (p.72)
The gods then tested Gilgamesh to see if he was worthy of being immortal and found that he was not. This reminds me of the movie Hercules, when Hercules asked Zeus how he could join him, and Zeus saying he had to prove himself as a hero.
"Utnapishtim, son of Ubartutu, abandon your house, abandon what you possess, abandon your house and build a boat instead. Seek life instead of riches, save yourself. Take with you, on the boat you build, an instance of each thing living so that they may be safe from obliteration in the flood" (p.66)
Are those not very nearly or even exactly the same words that god spoke to Noah? The words of the Bible were only changed to have a more moral meaning, to teach a lesson to humans so that they won't sin. The rest of the flood story is also the same as Noah's Ark in the Bible. "And on the seventh day I freed a dove. The dove flew free and flew away from the boat, seeking a place for its little feet to alight, and finding none, flew back to the boat to perch. I freed a swallow then and it flew free and flew away from the boat, seeking a place for its little feet to alight, and finding none, flew back to the boat to find a place to alight. I freed a raven and then it flew free..." (p.72)
The gods then tested Gilgamesh to see if he was worthy of being immortal and found that he was not. This reminds me of the movie Hercules, when Hercules asked Zeus how he could join him, and Zeus saying he had to prove himself as a hero.
Gilgamesh Blog #5
Pages 48-65 are about Gilgamesh's quest for immortality. After seeing the dead body of Enkidu, and grieving for it for seven days, Gilgamesh felt the fear of death. "Gilgamesh wandered in the wilderness grieving over the death of Enkidu and weeping saying, 'Enkidu has died. Must I die too? Must Gilgamesh be like that?' Gilgamesh felt the fear of it in his belly." Page 48
Gilgamesh then decides that he will seek the son of Ubartutu, Utnapishtim, the only one who he could find out from how to avoid death. The basic theme that runs through these pages are man's insatiable thirst for immortality. Even after coming upon the Twin Dragon Scorpion beings, even after traveling 12 leagues in a pitch black cavern, and even when he had to cross the sea to get to the island, he didn't give up.
This quest takes place in almost every culture. Everywhere in the world, people have asked themselves the reason why we die, and why we cannot live forever. This reminds me of the Harry Potter books, and Voldemorts quest to be immortal and unbeatable. He goes to the extent of spliting his soul in pieces, just like Gilgamesh goes through countless treacherous adventures in his own odyssey for ever lasting life.
Gilgamesh then decides that he will seek the son of Ubartutu, Utnapishtim, the only one who he could find out from how to avoid death. The basic theme that runs through these pages are man's insatiable thirst for immortality. Even after coming upon the Twin Dragon Scorpion beings, even after traveling 12 leagues in a pitch black cavern, and even when he had to cross the sea to get to the island, he didn't give up.
This quest takes place in almost every culture. Everywhere in the world, people have asked themselves the reason why we die, and why we cannot live forever. This reminds me of the Harry Potter books, and Voldemorts quest to be immortal and unbeatable. He goes to the extent of spliting his soul in pieces, just like Gilgamesh goes through countless treacherous adventures in his own odyssey for ever lasting life.
jueves, 23 de agosto de 2007
Gilgamesh Blog #4
These pages are all about the suffering of Enkidu after he learns that he has to die.
"In the early hours of the next morning dawning, Enkidu lay in his bed, fear in his belly" Page 41
This reminds me of the Odyssey in that the gods feel the human emotion of anger. In the Odyssey, Poseidon becomes angry at Odysseus for blinding the cyclops. It it the same when the god Enlil is angry at what Enkidu does in the forest.
Why is it that in these myths, gods become angry at humans? After all, shouldn't gods be better because of their divinity?
"In the early hours of the next morning dawning, Enkidu lay in his bed, fear in his belly" Page 41
This reminds me of the Odyssey in that the gods feel the human emotion of anger. In the Odyssey, Poseidon becomes angry at Odysseus for blinding the cyclops. It it the same when the god Enlil is angry at what Enkidu does in the forest.
Why is it that in these myths, gods become angry at humans? After all, shouldn't gods be better because of their divinity?
martes, 21 de agosto de 2007
Gilgamesh #3
From pages 21-36 in Gilgamesh, we learn a lot about teamwork, companionship, and brotherhood. As soon as they left the gates of Uruk, Enkidu and Gilgamesh helped eachother out in every thing.
"Two people, companions, they can prevail together against the terror." Page 26
As a team, Gilgamesh and Endiku kill Huwawa and go back to Uruk.
In Uruk, Gilgamesh angers the goddess of love, Ishtar by not sleeping with her and exposing her foulness. In her rage, she tells her father Anu, who in turn summons the Bull of Heaven to go and attack Gilgamesh. However, once again, the combined power of the men is too much for the beast to handle.
" 'Two people, companions, they can prevail together,' and Enkidu seized the Bull by the reeking tail and Gilgamesh thrust his sword with the skill of a butcher between thhe shoulders and horns, and they killed the Bull" Page 34
This reminds me of the movie Fantastic Four, when the four heroes combine their powers to defeat Von Doom, who alone is stronger than each one of them. I think it is important to work as a team, and it shows us that in working with a team, you can accomplish near impossible tasks.
"Two people, companions, they can prevail together against the terror." Page 26
As a team, Gilgamesh and Endiku kill Huwawa and go back to Uruk.
In Uruk, Gilgamesh angers the goddess of love, Ishtar by not sleeping with her and exposing her foulness. In her rage, she tells her father Anu, who in turn summons the Bull of Heaven to go and attack Gilgamesh. However, once again, the combined power of the men is too much for the beast to handle.
" 'Two people, companions, they can prevail together,' and Enkidu seized the Bull by the reeking tail and Gilgamesh thrust his sword with the skill of a butcher between thhe shoulders and horns, and they killed the Bull" Page 34
This reminds me of the movie Fantastic Four, when the four heroes combine their powers to defeat Von Doom, who alone is stronger than each one of them. I think it is important to work as a team, and it shows us that in working with a team, you can accomplish near impossible tasks.
lunes, 20 de agosto de 2007
Gilgamesh Blog #2
In the following pages, Endiku goes to the city of Uruk to challenge Gilgamesh. After wrestling, Gilgamesh comes out victorious, proving that he is indeed the superior of the two. However, instead of being enraged, Endiku embraces this and becomes Gilgamesh's friend. I think it was very honorable of Endiku to do this and because of it, I have yet again seen an example of not not becoming angry when losing something. When I was younger I used to get mad when i lost in anything, and now I have learned not to.
Additionaly, at the end of Tablets II and III, Gilgamesh and Endiku set off to the forest to do the task no one has done before. I think it is great that even though Gilgamesh knows he is the greatest man, he is willing to do something that will actually test him and bring his family eternal glory. That says a lot about not being scared to accomplish something you think you might not be able to do and facing your fears.
Additionaly, at the end of Tablets II and III, Gilgamesh and Endiku set off to the forest to do the task no one has done before. I think it is great that even though Gilgamesh knows he is the greatest man, he is willing to do something that will actually test him and bring his family eternal glory. That says a lot about not being scared to accomplish something you think you might not be able to do and facing your fears.
Gilgamesh Blog #1
In the first eleven pages of Gilgamesh, up to Tablets II and III, we learn about the man from the wild, Enkidu. He was made by the gods as a double to the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh. However, strong as he was, he could not resist the call of a woman when the harlot came to the watering place to seduce him. I think this is sending a message that no matter how powerful a man is, he cannot resist a woman. I think the harlot also represents the weakness of Endiku. Maybe it is saying that every man has a weakness and that no one is perfect, Endiku's being a woman.
This reminds me of the movie Batman & Robin, when Poison Ivy sets off a scent that makes both Batman and Robin fall in love with her. While they were in love with her, they could not function correctly and save the city.
This reminds me of the movie Batman & Robin, when Poison Ivy sets off a scent that makes both Batman and Robin fall in love with her. While they were in love with her, they could not function correctly and save the city.
viernes, 17 de agosto de 2007
Introduction to blog
In this blog I will be discussing and analyzing the different books that we will read through out the semester in pre-AP English. The analysis will serve as a way to connect the books to my own life and experiences. Also, it will serve as a type of discussion forum for the class and our discussions of literature.
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