From The Norton Anthology Of World Literature Book The...

Those Meddling Gods Through the sampling of readings from The Norton Anthology of World Literature book, one could come to the realization that in a majority of those stories, the deities seem to influence or even control the outcomes of the heroes, often in a negative manner. In the first epic, Gilgamesh encounters the gods at various times, and in The Iliad, the gods manipulate the Greeks and the Trojans for their own desires and wants. Two understand how the gods influenced our hero, Gilgamesh, one must first look at the various ways the gods meddled into his life. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a tale of a half-mortal man whose quest to break his own boredom turns into a tale of friendship, immortality, and kingship. However, his tale would not have been able to happen if it was not for the influence of the various Sumerian deities. After the people of Uruk complained to the gods about Gilgamesh’s child-like behavior, the goddess Aruru creates the man that will become Gilgamesh’s closest fr iend, Enkidu. Enkidu was created as an equal to the king so that Gilgamesh would have a way to occupy his time. Unfortunately, after the two friends defeated the giant Humbaba, a terrible demon creature, the god Enlil becomes enraged, but despite Enlil’s best effort, he is unable to punish the two. During the second half of the tale, the goddess of love, Ishtar, makes advances toward Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh berates the goddess for her capricious emotions instead of giving into the goddessShow MoreRelated The Norton Anthology of World Literature Essay659 Words   |  3 Pages The Norton Anthology of World Literature not only makes available valuable lessons and words of wisdom, but it shares experiences from around the world. These ageless writings allow generations to encounter a heritage of tradition and culture all within the confines of its pages. The anthology’s variety offers multiple characters and ideas to explore, while each selection contains notable and impressionable material. The collection’s most memorable content presents largerRead MoreAnalysis Of Odysseus And Epic Of Gilgamesh 1567 Words   |  7 PagesKilcrease English 2205 Dr. Paquette Hero or Zero Sept. 16, 2014 Odysseus and Gilgamesh When you think of someone who is a hero, what traits come to mind? A hero can often be described as someone who portrays heroic qualities such as strength, endurance, unselfishness and obedience. Both Odysseus in the Homers â€Å"Odyssey† and Gilgamesh in the â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh† have the characteristics of strength and endurance, but Gilgamesh does not seem to act like a hero and I will tell you why. Odysseus, who isRead MoreA Critical Appraisal of: Beowulf and Gilgamesh Essay examples1640 Words   |  7 PagesA Critical Appraisal of: Beowulf and Gilgamesh There are many differences and critical comparisons that can be drawn between the epics of Beowulf and Gilgamesh. Both are historical poems which shape their respected culture and both have major social, cultural, and political impacts on the development of western civilization literature and writing. Before any analysis is made, it is vital that some kind of a foundation be established so that a further, in-depth exploration of the complex natureRead MoreKnowledge in Gilgamesh and Genesis Essay1133 Words   |  5 PagesAncient world literature and early civilization stories turn around human’s relationship with higher beings. Ancient civilizations were extremely religious, holding the belief that their very lives were in the hands of their almighty god or goddess. This holds true for both the people of biblical times as well as those of the epic era. However, their stories have some differences according to cultural variation but the main structure, idea and theme are generally found correlative. It is hard toRead MoreThe Epic of Gilgamesh1067 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, o verwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh forRead More A Comparison of the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hebrew Scriptures1302 Words   |  6 Pages A Comparison of the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hebrew Scriptures The Hebrew Flood story of Noah and his obligation to preserve man kind after God had punished all living creatures for their inequities parallels The Epic of Gilgamesh in several ways. Even though these two compilations are passed on orally at different times in history the similarities and differences invoke deliberation when these stories are compared. Numerous underlining themes are illustrated throughout each story. Humans areRead MoreComparing the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis1005 Words   |  5 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh has many similarities to the Bible, especially in Genesis and it’s not just that the both begin with the letter â€Å"g†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢! One major similarity being the flood story that is told in both works. The two stories are very similar but also very different. Another being the use of serpents in both works and how they represent the same thing. A third similarity being the power of God or gods and the influence they have on the people of the sto ries. Within these similarities there areRead MoreCompare and Contrast Between the Flood in Gilgamesh and the Old Testament1975 Words   |  8 PagesOutline Thesis: The flood stories in the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis have many points of agreement, suggesting that they are somehow connected. Yet, there are also many differences. This term paper will identify similarities and differences in both. I. Introduction II. Gilgamesh a. What is the Epic of Gilgamesh? b. When was it written? c. What is it about? d. Describe the beliefs of the people. III. The Old Testament a. When was it written? b. Describe the flood? IV. Comparison of the TwoRead MoreAnalysis Of The Thousand And One Nights 1518 Words   |  7 PagesSessy Hernandez WLIT 1113 Clark 5/3/16 Theme of Women with Power in The Thousand and One Nights The Thousands and One Nights is a book written by many authors. The teachings of the many tales in this selection are presented for one specific reason, that women can hold a specific amount of power over men. Women and Power are two major themes in this reading. A woman named Shahrazad takes the position of a storyteller and an entertainer through out the whole ancient tale. By obtaining these talentsRead MoreThe Fall From Moral Perfection1442 Words   |  6 PagesEllen Jo Marrero Professor Lou Ann Trost Humanities Honors 1A 22 November 2016 The Fall from Moral Perfection Civilization, although a simple and natural state of mankind, is a triumph of mind over matter, of reason over instinct, and of the distinctly human over mankind’s animal nature. The concept of civilization is widely used to relate to a complex and advanced society, as well as ancient cultures that flourished centuries ago, which left a significant mark on how a society functions in