Examples of Themes in Gilgamesh

Question 1

Extreme Pride & Hubris

Answer 1

Gilgamesh believes he is the strongest of men

• willing to fight Humbaba
• fights the bull of heaven sent by Anu
• fights with Enkidu

Question 2

Motivation & Drive

Answer 2

He wants to be immortal and never die
- this fear is what drove him to seek Utnapishtim

To prove and empower his heroic status
- he wants to kill Humbaba

Question 3

Dreams

Answer 3

On their way to kill Humbaba, Gilgamesh has several dreams. Enkidu interprets these dreams for him

Dream 1

the mountain represents Humbaba, and it means that they’ll defeat the monster.

Dream 2

Enkidu says that the bull was Shamash, and was apparently a protector, not an enemy. He also says that the figure who gave Gilgamesh a drink was Lugalbanda—Gilgamesh’s dead father—who is now his divine guardian.

Dream 3

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Question 4

Love and the way it is expressed & Teamwork & Friendship & Brotherhood

Answer 4

The way love and sex are introduced is as being a corrupting force

• Every time Enkidu sleeps with a woman nature rejects him and he loses parts of his innocence.
• Ishtar the Goddess of love and war develops an enormous crush on Gilgamesh after he has killed Humababa. Upset she tells her father to send the bull of heaven to attack the men. (E and G)]

The love that comes with friendship is both more powerful and more positive than romantic love.

• Before he meets Enkidu, Gilgamesh is an arrogant leader, hated by the people of his city

But Gilgamesh’s friendship with Enkidu and Enkidu’s death lead Gilgamesh on a quest for everlasting life, and then to accept his own mortality.

It is his the happiness and fulfillment he finds in his friendship with Enkidu, that allows Gilgamesh to find meaning even in his finite existence.

Question 5

Fame & Recognition

Answer 5

G seeks to kill Humbaba to make his name better know

Question 6

Fear of Death

Answer 6

It is his the happiness and fulfillment he finds in his friendship with Enkidu, that allows Gilgamesh to find meaning even in his finite existence.

Question 7

Limitations

Answer 7

He can not become immortal due to the impossible task of staying awake for 6 days

Question 8

Mourning

Answer 8

After his loss for Enkidu, we see that G has lost a part of his happiness