The EpicThe Epic

Consider:Consider:

What do these What do these films have in films have in common?common?

Lord of the RingsLord of the Rings Star WarsStar Wars

The EpicThe Epic

Meets the following Meets the following criteriacriteria– It is a long It is a long verseverse

narrative on a serious narrative on a serious subjectsubject

– Told in a formal and Told in a formal and elevated styleelevated style

– Centered on a heroic Centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure or quasi-divine figure on whose actions on whose actions depends the fate of a depends the fate of a tribe, a nation, or the tribe, a nation, or the human race.human race.

VerseVerse: : any composition any composition written in written in metermeter (i.e., (i.e., poetry generally). poetry generally).

Meter: Meter: A recognizable A recognizable though varying pattern though varying pattern of stressed syllables of stressed syllables alternating with alternating with syllables of less stress.syllables of less stress.

NarrativeNarrative: a story told : a story told as a sequence of events. as a sequence of events. Often chronoglical, but Often chronoglical, but not necessarily so. not necessarily so.

The EpicThe Epic

Write down as many modern epics Write down as many modern epics that fit this criteria.that fit this criteria.

Modern EpicsModern Epics

The EpicThe Epic

Traditionally were written versions of Traditionally were written versions of oral poems.oral poems.– Usually about a tribal or national hero Usually about a tribal or national hero

during warlike times.during warlike times.

The EpicThe Epic

Hero is a figure of great national, or cosmic, Hero is a figure of great national, or cosmic, importance.importance.

Setting is ample in scaleSetting is ample in scale Action involves superhuman deeds in battle Action involves superhuman deeds in battle

or a long, arduous, and dangerous journey.or a long, arduous, and dangerous journey. Gods and other supernatural beings take an Gods and other supernatural beings take an

interest.interest. Ceremonial performance and narrated in a Ceremonial performance and narrated in a

ceremonial style. ceremonial style.

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh

Tablet 11 of Epic of Gilgamesh

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh

Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh Recited orallyRecited orally

– Recorded 2750-2500 BCERecorded 2750-2500 BCE– Predates all other major writings of antiquityPredates all other major writings of antiquity

Gilgamesh Gilgamesh – semi historical figure may have ruled Uruk semi historical figure may have ruled Uruk

around 2800 BCEaround 2800 BCE– Two-thirds god; one-third manTwo-thirds god; one-third man– Searches for ever-lasting life.Searches for ever-lasting life.

Enkidu (Inn-KEY-Do)Enkidu (Inn-KEY-Do)– Dearest companion of GilgameshDearest companion of Gilgamesh– Killed because Gilgamesh spurns affection of Killed because Gilgamesh spurns affection of

the Queen of Heaven, Ishtarthe Queen of Heaven, Ishtar

The StoryThe Story

7 Episodes; 12 Tablets:7 Episodes; 12 Tablets:– Episode 1 (Tablets 1-2): Gilgamesh and Episode 1 (Tablets 1-2): Gilgamesh and

the Coming of Enkiduthe Coming of Enkidu– Episode 2 (Tablets 3-5): The Raid into Episode 2 (Tablets 3-5): The Raid into

the Land of Humbaba (Huwawa)the Land of Humbaba (Huwawa)– Episode 3: (Tablet 6) The Bull of Heaven Episode 3: (Tablet 6) The Bull of Heaven

Ishtar falls for Gilgy; sends Bull of Heaven to Ishtar falls for Gilgy; sends Bull of Heaven to kill Gilgy after he spurns her; She kills kill Gilgy after he spurns her; She kills Enkidu instead. Enkidu instead.

The StoryThe Story

Episode 4: (Tablets 7 – 8)The death of Episode 4: (Tablets 7 – 8)The death of EnkiduEnkidu– Gilgy faces his own mortalityGilgy faces his own mortality

Episode 5: (Tablets 9 – 10) The Search Episode 5: (Tablets 9 – 10) The Search for Immortalityfor Immortality

Episode 6: (Tablet 11) The story of the Episode 6: (Tablet 11) The story of the flood:flood:

Episode 7: (End of Tablet 11) The Episode 7: (End of Tablet 11) The return to Uruk return to Uruk

From the story of the flood. From the story of the flood. Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying: "I will reveal to you, Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying: "I will reveal to you,

Gilgamesh, a thing that is hidden, a secret of the gods I will tell you! Gilgamesh, a thing that is hidden, a secret of the gods I will tell you! Shuruppak, a city that you surely know, situated on the banks of the Shuruppak, a city that you surely know, situated on the banks of the Euphrates, that city was very old, and there were gods inside it. The Euphrates, that city was very old, and there were gods inside it. The hearts of the Great Gods moved them to inflict the Flood. Their hearts of the Great Gods moved them to inflict the Flood. Their Father Anu uttered the oath (of secrecy), Valiant Enlil was their Father Anu uttered the oath (of secrecy), Valiant Enlil was their Adviser, Ninurta was their Chamberlain, Ennugi was their Minister of Adviser, Ninurta was their Chamberlain, Ennugi was their Minister of Canals. Ea, the Clever Prince(?), was under oath with them so he Canals. Ea, the Clever Prince(?), was under oath with them so he repeated their talk to the reed house: 'Reed house, reed house! repeated their talk to the reed house: 'Reed house, reed house! Wall, wall! O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubartutu: Tear down the Wall, wall! O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubartutu: Tear down the house and build a boat! Abandon wealth and seek living beings! house and build a boat! Abandon wealth and seek living beings! Spurn possessions and keep alive living beings! Make all living Spurn possessions and keep alive living beings! Make all living beings go up into the boat. The boat which you are to build, its beings go up into the boat. The boat which you are to build, its dimensions must measure equal to each other: its length must dimensions must measure equal to each other: its length must correspond to its width. Roof it over like the Apsu. I understood and correspond to its width. Roof it over like the Apsu. I understood and spoke to my lord, Ea: 'My lord, thus is the command which you have spoke to my lord, Ea: 'My lord, thus is the command which you have uttered I will heed and will do it. uttered I will heed and will do it.

Finding GilgameshFinding Gilgamesh

Recorded 2750-2500 BCRecorded 2750-2500 BC Stored at the Great Library of Stored at the Great Library of

NinevehNineveh– Ruled from 669 BCERuled from 669 BCE– Library ransacked; Library ransacked; Gilgamesh Gilgamesh lostlost

Found by archologiests in 1840’s CEFound by archologiests in 1840’s CE– Sent to British LibrarySent to British Library– Cuneiform translated in 1870’sCuneiform translated in 1870’s

Key Themes:Key Themes: Peeping Tom:Peeping Tom:

– Window into MesopotamiaWindow into Mesopotamia The nature of the The nature of the

relationship between relationship between Gilgamesh and EnkiduGilgamesh and Enkidu– Civilization vs. BeastCivilization vs. Beast– FriendshipFriendship

Cultural DifferenceCultural Difference– Role of WomenRole of Women

Nature of GodsNature of Gods Importance of Fame / Importance of Fame /

Immortality Immortality