"Gilgamesh"

Book Review # 99677

English > Analysis
Literature > World

"Gilgamesh"

An analysis of the significance of the walls of Uruk in the epic "Gilgamesh".

1,024 words () | 1 source | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the epic "Gilgamesh" is irrefutably a multifaceted tale of a villain turned hero whose story is equal in tragedy and fortune. The paper explains thtat "Gilgamesh" deviates from the expected fairy-tale endings of typical hero epics and often surprises the reader with a perplexing change of events. In particular, the paper discusses how the walls of Uruk represent a range of symbols throughout the epic including signifiers of beginning and endings in a cycle, as well as mortality and immortality to Gilgamesh.

From the Paper:

"Throughout the epic, a recurring motif emerged as a significant underlying concept. Cyclical patterns or general cycles were emphasized and repeated on several occasions, namely appearing as the beginning and ending of an event in conjunction with the chronic wall motif. For example, at the beginning of Gilgamesh and Enkidu's friendship (as well as their expeditions together), the pair journeyed to the Cedar forest to kill its formidable guardian and seize his illustrious trees for the construction of a great wall to surround Uruk. The duo completed their daunting task only to be condemned and doomed for punishment for disgracing the gods. Enkidu's life (and further journeys with Gilgamesh) is proclaimed to be ceased as penalty for the pair's misdeeds. Upon learning of his imminent death, Enkidu cursed the gods, and others who had contributed to his fate, but more significantly, he cursed the wall. "