The Epic of Gilgamesh: Analysis and Summary

Running head: THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
1. Gilgamesh conversation with Ishtar shows her lustful nature and fury that she has brought
to other fellow men whom she offered her love. It also displays the predominant and wilful
nature of goddess Ishtar who is empowered to do anything with her beloved in most cruel and
brutal manner. Ishtar has turned her lovers into a broken winged bird, a frog, a captive in the
underworld, a wolf and so on hence the relationship has always brought doom to the humans at
the expense of powers and fury of goddess. Ishtar pleads Gilgamesh to become her husband in
return of wealth of kings and princess, lapis lazuli chariot with golden wheels, and a house of
cedar.
2. The forest journey taught Gilgamesh to be resilient and face every obstacle courageously. This
quality built in his forest journey facilitated him to avoid temptation of the temptress Ishtar
which offered her the proposal of marriage.
3. The concept of reversal in the love stories of Ishtar show that his lovers experience her
impulsive heart and her inordinate whims. The lovers had a brutal end as her husband who was a
shepherd was captivated and people mourned for him every year in the festivals. The other three
shepherd lovers were turned into a broken-winged bird, a frog and a wolf respectively hence this
shows her barbaric wrath towards her beloved. A relation between a goddess and a human has
led humans to meet a deadly end.
4. Ishtar threatens her father that if she is not allowed to take the Bull of Heaven she threatens to
allow the all the people who died to come and feed on the living people which could lead famine
for seven years. She is furious with the Gilgamesh and wants to see him devoured by the Bull of
Heaven.

2THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
5. Gilgamesh is extremely grieved by the death of his dear friend Enkidu and is drawn towards
the world of nature as Shamash had told that his dying friend have moved to wilderness.
Wandering alone in the wild forests, he is filled with sorrows and yearns to die too.
6. Gilgamesh is seeking for Utnapishtim, for he has survived the devastating floods which
ravaged all lives on Earth and only he survived the disaster. He is seeking help from Utnapishtim
to survive death for he is feeling devastated for his loss of friend. Utnapishtim has been granted
mortality by the Gods lives in a farthest place unexplored by any mortal.
7. Gilgamesh faces many challenges in his turbulent journey as he is unable to see in the
complete darkness which triggered him prayed to moon God, Sin for granting him vision. The
long tunnel took almost twelve hours to cross but in complete darkness. In the middle of the
night he is awakened to find lions around him, which he slaughtered courageously. Later he finds
two monsters, a scorpion-man and his wife guarding the gates, and asked about his efforts to
explore this remotest place where no mortal has ever reached.
8. Siduri intends describe the ravages of Death to sway him from his purpose by describing that
it is not possible for any individual to follow the sun god, Shamash. Siduri also informs that even
if he survives the stormy sea he will be devoured by the venomous Waters of Death. Failing to
divert Gilgamesh from his purpose Siduri advices him to take Urshanabi’s aid to reach to
Utnapishtim and if he fails he should return.
9. Urshanabi was the boatman of the Hubur, river of the dead.
10. Gilgamesh has killed the Urnu-snakes and smashed the Stone Things in anger.
11. Gilgamesh have cut over one hundred and twenty poles as asked by the Urshanabi to fix by
on the boat for a safe voyage to be covered in two months.