Abstract
This paper examines the epic of "Gilgamesh" and focuses on how it deals with immortality on many levels, and at the same time points back to mortality, trying to discover a reason for living and dying. It discusses how the story put over the message that life is only significant because it is limited, and a life of immortality would ultimately be worse.

From the Paper
"Unlike in the physical world, immortality is regarded as typical of Gilgamesh's spiritual world. This does not appear to be entirely true, through. When the Bull of Heaven is sent to Uruk from the gods, Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay it by stabbing a sword into the Bull's neck. If the Bull of Heaven is a god, then clearly the gods can be killed. Later the story describes a flood-weapon that gods are actually fearful of, maybe because it could bring about their death. This makes an interesting distinction between immortality and invincibility; although life might continue forever if left alone, it is not necessarily incapable of being stopped. "

Tags:mortality, Enkidu, death, rebirth

Abstract
"The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne and "The Mortal Immortal" by Mary Shelley are stories that deal with mystery and love. The predominant theme in each story focuses on the dangers of unexplored science. Additionally, both authors employ elements setting, mood, plot, and character to enhance their themes. This paper examines how Hawthorne and Shelley use these techniques to craft incredible stories.

From the Paper
"Additionally each plot centers on the hope that a mysterious elixir will improve one's place in life. Aylmer is convinced that he can correct what nature made imperfect by removing Georgiana's birthmark. He becomes so obsessed with it that Georgiana has little choice in the matter. Similarly, Wenzy is provoked by the "Jealousy, with all its venom, and all its misery that consumed him" (Shelley). The pursuits of science and the false promise of the future heavily influence both situations. "

Tags:Aylmer, Winzy, Georgiana

Abstract
This paper provides an essay that argues T'ao Yuan-ming's poem "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit" is a philosophical treatise designed to help human beings find some comfort faced with the fear and anxiety stirred up by their own confrontation with mortality.

From the Paper
"The pre-T'ang poet, T'ao Yuan-ming, lived in a time of uncertainty in Chinese society and his poetry often reflects the unease and anxiety that beset society during his time. The poem "Substance, Shadow and Spirit" focuses on man's inevitable confrontation with his own mortal nature although it offers some form of hope against the fact that we all die. Watson said of Yuan-ming's work; "There is an overall ambiguity to his poetry-exclamation upon the beauties of nature and the freedom and peace of...""

Tags:Taoism, Confucianism, worldly concerns, immortality, wine, hedonism, moral virtue, reputation, nature, acceptance

Abstract
This paper reviews "The Mortal Immortal" by Mary Shelley. The paper discusses the problematic issue of the paradox between mortality and immortality as being inconsistently represented in regards to the title of Mary Shelley's short story. The paper argues that the problematic theme of immortality is not rationally explained within the characters history and timelines Shelley's main character describes in this short story.

From the Paper
"This literary study will examine the theme of immortality in "The Mortal Immortal" by Mary Shelley. The problem of age is a critical error in this tale, as immortality implies a deathless state for the main character. Shelley does not provide an accurate depiction of how immortality is a possibility in the text, since many of her descriptions of time do not correspond with a personality that could possibly exist beyond the realm of death. In essence, the problematic theme of immortality is not rationally explained within the characters history and timelines Shelley's main character describes in this short story. Shelley, in the beginning of her short story provides a first person narrative that defines the age of her main character in relation to the ageless myth of the "Wandering Jew." "

Tags:shelley, mortal, immortal

Abstract
There are many similarities between Gilgamesh, the legendary Babylonian king, and Odysseus, the Greek warrior famous for his cunning and fortitude. The paper shows that both characters' stories are told in poetic epics ("The Epic of Gilgamesh" by an anonymous author and ancient Greek writer, Homer's "The Odyssey"). The paper shows how both characters are engaged in quests - Gilgamesh, who is partially divine, does not wish to die and searches for a way to achieve immortality, whilst Odysseus is fully human and even rejects an offer of immortality in order to continue his struggle to return home after the end of the Trojan war. Both epics also feature the interference of the gods who encourage, assist, or thwart the two heroes and debate among themselves about the courses they should take in regard to the relatively insignificant human beings. The paper shows that the endings of the two epics are different--as might be expected from the differences in the two characters' goals. However, the basic themes of the endings have much more in common than might be expected. Gilgamesh is eventually convinced that immortality is something reserved for the gods. His partially mortal parentage means that he must die and that he should, therefore, take pleasure and pride in what is best about life rather than worrying about living forever. The paper shows that Odysseus is also intent on restoring order by returning home and in doing so, he makes the best of life, accepting fate and eventual death.

From the Paper
"The episodes involving the offers of the goddesses also provide similarities and differences. In the case of Gilgamesh Ishtar "looked with longing" on his beauty and begged him to be her "bridegroom" (6.6-7). But Gilgamesh boldly rejected her, despite the list of beautiful things that she promised him, because he was aware of the sad histories of all the men and animals that she had taken for her lovers in the past. In the case of Calypso and Odysseus, however, the goddess is not accused of falseness and her offers of everything wonderful are quite serious. She does indeed want Odysseus to remain with her forever and makes the offer of immortality. He would be ageless and would "preside in our house with me / and be immortal"."

Tags:Humbaba, Cyclops, Ishtar, Calypso, Enkidu

Abstract
The paper compares the texts "The Odyssey" by ancient Greek writer Homer, with "Gilgamesh", an old Babylonian epic poem written by an anonymous author. This paper makes the claim that the gods in "Gilgamesh" and "The Odyssey" are not perfect. They are less flawed, however, than the human characters present in both novels. It also discusses the differences between polytheism and monotheism. Several specific examples are given from each story to support this claim.

From the Paper
"Polytheism is a norm in the everyday life of Eurydice. He lives in ancient Rome and never thinks twice about worshiping the almighty Zeus, Athena, and all the rest of his gods. After all, how could one god possibly possess all the traits that these gods have, and possess them to perfection? One can take the view that man created the gods of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey in his own image or in an image thought much greater. No matter which of the two, the image of these gods in Gilgamesh and The Odyssey was truly fashioned by man, and man is imperfect. Man is imperfect in thought and in action. Therefore, the gods of these two stories must be flawed as well. Nevertheless, despite a few flaws, the gods' characters and actions are certainly nobler and less suspect than those of either Gilgamesh or Odysseus."

Tags:athena, christian, enkidu, humbaba, odysseus, poseidon, religion, troy, utnapishtim, zeus

Abstract
This paper discusses how, in both "Iliad" by Homer and "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles, the idea of authority is used by both authors to construct the chains of relationships between the characters of these literary works. The paper further looks at how this idea also reflects the attitudes of one social group towards the other, or the relationships between men and women, between father and son, mortals and immortals. In addition, the paper discusses how both books help us understand better the ethics of ancient society.

From the Paper
"From the first pages of Book One of the "Iliad" we can see a number of levels of authority existing in the Ancient Greece. Even in the first few sentences one can notice hints which show the relationships between different classes. "Will of Zeus was accomplished"(Homer 59) can explain the very high level of authority of this god above others. The audience does not know what was that will exactly and how was it accomplished, so it makes an impression that anything said by Zeus was accepted and done immediately and without compliant. This leads to the conclusion that Zeus indeed possessed the highest level of authority above all others - both mortals and immortals. However, as we know from the further readings, other gods did not always agree with Zeus. "

Tags:mortals, authority, immortals

Abstract
This essay explores the idea of the "deflated hero" with reference to Jason, as well as to some comparable heroic figures from mythology. The thesis argues that given the notable personal failings of many comparable heroes to Jason, these inadequacies may be revealing of the essence of "heroism" as opposed to a deflation of it. The paper further addresses how such failings render some "heroes" such as Jason more human, and thus more relevant to our experience, along the spectrum between the Mortal and the Immortal, between Man and God.

From the Paper
"Barry Powell, in his discussion of the legend of Jason and the voyage of the Argo, describes Jason as being a 'deflated hero' given how the mythic narrative represents him as being notably inadequate in comparison to not only the great heroes of Greek myth, but also to some of his fellow Argonauts such as Heracles, and even to a woman in the form of his bride-to-be, Medea . This essay will explore this idea of the "deflated hero" with reference to Jason, as well as to some comparable heroic figures from mythology. The thesis will be argued that..."

Tags:jason, myth, argo

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts beliefs about life and death and the possibility of existence beyond death. The author examines these beliefs as exemplified in several philosophical frameworks: Plato's Republic, The Phaedo, The Apology, and as illustrated in Taoism as indicated in Wandering on the Way: Early Taoist Tales and Parables of Chuang Tzu.

From the paper:

"The Chunag Tzu's idea of life after death is very different than Plato's in the absolute sense, but they share similar details. One shared detail is that death may not be a bad thing. In The Phaedo, one has Plato arguing that all true philosophers must join him in death. If they truly love wisdom, then they should shed off this illness that is mortal life and venture into the immortal where true wisdom can be actualized, where true knowledge exists. Chunag Tzu holds a bit differently...one just cannot know. Knowledge about death cannot be actualized. It is an unknown. In fact all things are unknown. The only knowledge one can really have is that the Tao exists. In Platonism, truth exists through logic and reason. In Taoism, it is through contradiction. In Taoism, A is not A, because this world is flux, one thing is never the same thing."

Tags:absolute, chuang, forms, plato, socrates, taosim, tzu

Abstract
This paper provides a comparison of the poetry of Colonial era poet Anne Bradstreet with that of Emily Dickinson. The analysis focuses on some similar themes in the work of each poet who went against the conventions of patriarchal control in order to write.

From the Paper
"The poetry of Anne Bradstreet and Emily Dickinson are related in the sense that Bradstreet's pioneering efforts in a field dominated by men paved the way for poets like Dickinson who would further dismantle conventions of poetry wrought by male poets. However Bradstreet's poems are much more in keeping with the sentiments of women of her era than are Dickinson's. Bradstreet's poems from the Colonial Era in American history demonstrate the devout worship and religious faith of most individuals of the period. We see this in..."

Tags:love, marriage, God, soul, eternity, life, death, mortality, immortality