Healfdene's son, Hrothgar, won great honor in battle, as well as at home. As a result, he became King of the Danes even though he was not the eldest son. Hrothgar built a large feasting hall that was used for celebrations and the distribution of gifts. It became the heart of King Hrothgar's kingdom and was called Heorot Hall. The hall was huge, lofty, and gabled, braced inside and out with hammered iron bands. It was lavishly furnished and decorated, with benches inlaid with gold. There were horns and tapestries hanging on the walls. Later in the poem, when Beowulf and his band of Geats arrived at the court of Hrothgar, they were asked to leave their ashen spears outside Heorot and were then led into the hall to meet the King, who was inside the hall surrounded by his Thanes. Therefore, Heorot served as a social hub and a reception room, as well as being a place of celebration and merriment. A jealous monster, named Grendel, lived in the area surrounding Heorot. He descended from the lineage of Cain, the man in the Old Testament who committed the first murder by killing his own brother out of jealousy and under the cover of darkness. Grendel resented all the happiness and celebration that occurred in the great hall. As a result, he decided to attack the Heorot. When he found a band of warriors asleep in the hall, he seized thirty of the thanes and led them towards his lair.
At dawn, Hrothgar discovered the tragedy. He saw Grendel's footsteps and realized that he had lost his attendants to this miserable monster. Although sad and enraged, he felt helpless against the evil Grendel. As a result, Grendel attacked the hall again. This time the assault and murders were more gruesome. Still there was no retaliation. Then for twelve long years, Grendel continued to attack the Danes, casting sorrow and doom on the people. His evil crimes were afflicted on young and old alike. Although Hrothgar was crushed to see Heorot abused, he still felt powerless against Grendel. His men had repeatedly begged for help from the gods and offered appropriate sacrifices to them; but no help came. In fact, it seemed liked the gods had forsaken the Danes. The terrible news of Grendel's cruel treatment of Hrothgar and the Danes reaches Geatland. Hygelac, the King of the Geats, tells his nephew, Beowulf, about Hrothgar's troubles. Beowulf, supposedly the strongest man alive, announces that he will go and help Hrothgar. After choosing fourteen brave thanes to accompany him on the journey, Beowulf sets sail. After many days, they successfully reach the land of the Danes and thank God for their safe passage.
From a cliff top, a Danish watchman spies the Geats as they arrive. When Beowulf and his men troop down the gangway, he sees that they are armed and grows frightened. Galloping on his horse and brandishing his sword, he challenges the Geats by asking, "Warriors, who are you? Why are you armed and why has your ship come here? I have been a coastguard for many years and . . . never have I seen warriors carrying their shields so openly. I have never set eyes on a more noble man than your leader. But before you set one foot further on Danish Land, I would like to know why you are here and who you are."
Beowulf tells the watchman, "We are Geats, companions of Hygelac. My father Ecgtheow was famed far and wide. We would like to meet your lord, Hrothgar, Healfdene's son, with most honorable intentions. We have come on an errand to him to end his ordeals by Grendel." The coastguard responds, "I can see your intentions are good. I will command my companions to guard your ship from foes and we will proceed". Once the ship is securely anchored and closely guarded, the Thanes, led by Beowulf, proceed to the heavily adorned hall, known as Heorot. When they approach the hall, the coast guard takes his leave; he does not dare to enter the hall, but he wishes Beowulf good luck and asks the gods to guard him in his enterprise against Grendel. Beowulf's warriors, dressed in gleaming chain mail and corselets, proceed to the hall. Once inside, they turn their shield to the wall and sit on a bench.
Wufgar, a Danish warrior, asks the Geats of their ancestry. Beowulf introduces himself and explains that they come from Hygelac and wish to speak to Hrothgar. The wise Wufgar responds, "I will ask the lord of the Danes about your request and bring back an answer." Wufgar then departs to rush to Hrothgar with the news.
Hrothgar, now old and grizzled, is surrounded by Thanes. When Wufgar tells him about Beowulf, he begs his leader to see the Geats. Hrothgar explains that he has known Beowulf as a boy, as well as his illustrious father, Ecgtheow. He accepts the Geats as loyal friends. Hrothgar explains that he has heard that Beowulf is extremely strong, having the strength of thirty men in his grip. As a result, the Danish leader is hopeful that Beowulf will be able to overcome Grendel. Hrothgar promises to reward
the Geat with great treasure if he succeeds. He ends by saying, "Tell them they are most welcome". Wufgar rushes back to the Geats. He tells Beowulf that Hrothgar welcomes them.
Beowulf follows Wufgar to meet Hrothgar. After greeting the King, Beowulf gives some of his credentials. He explains that he has just returned from slaying five monsters that were giants. He also tells of killing monsters from the depths of the oceans. Beowulf then tells of his desire to avenge Hrothgar by killing Grendel and cleansing the Heorot. He states, "I hear he spurns the use of weapon. I will grapple with him, and he whom death takes off must resign him self to the judgment of God. If battle claims me, you will not have to cover my body. But I ask you send my wat of mail to Hygelac."
After telling Beowulf about how he had helped his father, Hrothgar talks about Grendel's bloody destruction of his land. He welcomes Beowulf's help against this horrid monster. He then invites him to sit with him at their feast in Heorot Hall and tell them all about his exploits. Wealhtheow, Hrothgar's queen, welcomes Beowulf and offers him a drink. During the feast, Unferth taunts Beowulf, saying that Breca has defeated him in their swim in the open ocean. Beowulf shuts him up by explaining how he had saved Breca's life by overcoming monsters. He then promises to prove his strength in his battle with Grendel. Hrothgar and his queen bid their farewells to Beowulf and the others and retired for the night. After everyone departs from Heorot, the Geats fall asleep. Grendel, both angry and hungry, enters the hall. He grabs a sleeping warrior and devours him. Enraged by Grendel's action, Beowulf grabs and pulls the monster's outstretched arm. The two of them fight fiercely until Beowulf's great strength gets the better of Grendel. The monster tries to flee, but as he departs, Beowulf grabs his arm. Using his vice-like grip, he pulls Grendel's arm from his socket. The monster, howling with pain, runs out of Heorot towards the murky lake where he lives. The Geats try to follow him, but cannot track down the monster.
On their way back to the great hall, Beowulf's men start singing about their leader's exploits. They compare him to Sigemund, who killed a dragon but fell into the power of fiends. Upon their return, an overjoyed Hrothgar gives thanks to God for the victory over Grendel and promises to reward Beowulf with more 'earthly riches' than any man has seen. Beowulf gives God all the credit for his accomplishment. Beowulf displays Grendel's arm like a trophy. In the morning men from far and wide come to see the monster's arm. Later in the day, a great celebration feast is held in Beowulf's honor. Hrothgar presents to him Healfdene's sword, a battle banner woven with gold, a helmet and corselet adorned richly with gold, horses, and weapons. As the feasting and merriment continues, Wealhtheow presents a cup to Beowulf and personally thanks him and asks him to be a mentor and role model for her two sons. She also gives him two armlets, corselet rings, and a collar. After the feasting, everyone goes to sleep for the night. Grendel's mother, however, is rapidly approaching Heorot to gain revenge for her son. She rushes into the hall, taking the sleeping men by surprise. In her anger, she viciously grabs Aeschere, who is Hrothgar's favorite retainer. She also grabs her son's arm and then rushes out with her prisoner.
Hrothgar is awakened. When he finds that his favorite Thane has been seized, he is again miserable and begs Beowulf for help. When the Geat agrees to do his best, Hrothgar tells him that Grendel's mother stays in a murky lake and explains how to find it. Beowulf takes a few men and goes after Grendel's mother. Along the trail, they find the severed head of Aeschere. When they arrive at Grendel's lake, the water is boiling with blood and filled with serpents, dragons, and demons.
Beowulf blows the horn of battle. A demon attacks the warrior and is instantly killed by him. Beowulf jumps into the lake, and Unferth hands him his sword, called Hrunting. Grendel's mother emerges and tries to grab Beowulf; however, she cannot scratch through his armor. Beowulf tries to strike her with Unferth's sword, but it will not cut through her thick hide; in the end, he finally manages to sever her head. After she has been killed, Beowulf sees Grendel's corpse and cuts off his head as well. He then takes the treasure hidden in the monsters' lair. At Heorot, everyone anxiously waits for Beowulf's return. When they see him coming, they are overjoyed. Beowulf enters and lays down the treasure he has seized at Hrothgar's feet. The King praises Beowulf's bravery and rewards him with gold. Beowulf promises Hrothgar that he will come to his aid whenever he needs him in the future and that his sons will be treated with honor whenever they visit the Geatish court. Hrothgar thanks Beowulf for returning peace to the Land of the Danes and promises a lasting alliance between the Danes and the Geats. After returning the Hrunting to Unferth, Beowulf sets off for Geatland with his men. Before departing Geatland for Danish lands, Beowulf was not universally accepted as a brave hero. Upon his return, however, he tells Hygelac about his victories in the land of the Danes and about the many gifts bestowed on him for his bravery. Hygelac also rewards Beowulf with several gifts. Before long, everyone in Geatland has heard about his victories over the Danish monsters, and they celebrate Beowulf as a true hero.
When both Hygelac and his son die, the Geat kingdom passes to Beowulf. He rules wisely and harmoniously for fifty years and enjoys peace. Then a slave, escaping from his master's wrath, goes into a dragon's cave and steals the dragon's precious cup. The dragon is enraged at the theft; in retaliation he starts killing people and burning down buildings with his breath of fire. Despite his advancing age, Beowulf decides he must battle the dragon, convinced that he can slay the monster.
Taking the thief and a band of his own men, Beowulf goes to the dragon's cave and prepares for combat with the monster. He sadly bids farewell to his men, fearing his end may be at hand, and remembers the time when he had come to the Geatish court to live with his grandfather. Beowulf then challenges the dragon, striking at it with his ancestral sword, which is blunted by the monster's hard hide. The dragon breathes fire at Beowulf, causing him to fall down. Upon seeing their master on the ground, all of Beowulf's thanes run away except for Wiglaf, who tries to attract the dragon's attention away from his master and to himself. The dragon will not be distracted; it sinks its fangs into Beowulf's neck. Although he is in great pain, Beowulf picks up a sharp knife and strikes the dragon again, inflicting a deadly wound. But Beowulf is also mortally wounded. Before he dies, he tells Wiglaf to rummage through the dragon's cave to find the treasure; he then asks Wiglaf to bring all the gold to him before he dies. Wiglaf does exactly as he is told. When he returns with the dragon's treasure, he sprinkles some water on Beowulf to revive him. Beowulf rewards Wiglaf with his golden collar and golden helmet, which signifies that he will become the leader of the Geats. To mark his grave and to serve as a reminder of his courage, Beowulf also commands Wiglaf to build a fine barrow in his honor, overlooking the sea. After these instructions are given, Beowulf dies
All the thanes who ran away in Beowulf's time of trouble return to mourn his death. Wiglaf reminds them that "for every warrior, death is better than disgrace". He then condemns them as cowards and states that they are destined to become landless exiles. Wiglaf next follows Beowulf's instructions; he builds a large funeral pyre and makes a barrow, filled with lots of ornaments, in memory of the great warrior. Twelve of Beowulf's brave men ride around the barrow mourning and chanting elegies about their dead leader. Wiglaf himself mourns the cowardliness of the Geats; he feels certain that the Swedes will hear about their weakness and attack them. As the poem ends, Wiglaf wonders if Geat will ever be safe again without Beowulf.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Grendel
i think that the authors hero was meant to be beowolf. He is strong, brave, and commeted. He has the strength to over power all the monsters and beast that he has killed. He is brave because he goes against they huge things that could kill him with one hit. he is also commeted because he never gives up until he kills the monster. Grendel knows that beowolf is coming to kill him. I think that it kinda imtimidates grendel because he knows that beowolf has never lost a battle against a monster.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Key Facts-
full title · Beowulf
author · Unknown
type of work · Poem
genre · Alliterative verse; elegy; resembles heroic epic, though smaller in scope than most classical epics
language · Anglo-Saxon (also called Old English)
time and place written · Estimates of the date of composition range between 700 and 1000 a.d.; written in England
date of first publication · The only manuscript in which Beowulf is preserved is thought to have been written around 1000 a.d.
publisher · The original poem exists only in manuscript form.
narrator · A Christian narrator telling a story of pagan times
point of view · The narrator recounts the story in the third person, from a generally objective standpoint—detailing the action that occurs. The narrator does, however, have access to every character’s depths. We see into the minds of most of the characters (even Grendel) at one point or another, and the narrative also moves forward and backward in time with considerable freedom.
tone · The poet is generally enthusiastic about Beowulf’s feats, but he often surrounds the events he narrates with a sense of doom.
tense · Past, but with digressions into the distant past and predictions of the future
setting (time) · The main action of the story is set around 500 a.d.; the narrative also recounts historical events that happened much earlier.
setting (place) · Denmark and Geatland (a region in what is now southern Sweden)
protagonist · Beowulf
major conflict · The poem essentially consists of three parts. There are three central conflicts: Grendel’s domination of Heorot Hall; the vengeance of Grendel’s mother after Grendel is slain; and the rage of the dragon after a thief steals a treasure that it has been guarding. The poem’s overarching conflict is between close-knit warrior societies and the various menaces that threaten their boundaries.
rising action · Grendel’s attack on Heorot, Beowulf’s defeat of Grendel, and Grendel’s mother’s vengeful killing of Aeschere lead to the climactic encounter between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother.
climax · Beowulf’s encounter with Grendel’s mother constitutes the moment at which good and evil are in greatest tension.
falling action · Beowulf’s glorious victory over Grendel’s mother leads King Hrothgar to praise him as a worthy hero and to advise him about becoming king. It also helps Beowulf to transform from a brazen warrior into a reliable king.
themes · The importance of establishing identity; tensions between the heroic code and other value systems; the difference between a good warrior and a good king
motifs · Monsters; the oral tradition; the mead-hall
symbols · The golden torque; the banquet
foreshadowing · The funeral of Shield Sheafson, with which the poem opens, foreshadows Beowulf’s funeral at the poem’s end; the story of Sigemund told by the scop, or bard, foreshadows Beowulf’s fight with the dragon; the story of King Heremod foreshadows Beowulf’s eventual ascendancy to kingship.
Character list
Beowulf - The protagonist of the epic, Beowulf is a Geatish hero who fights the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. Beowulf’s boasts and encounters reveal him to be the strongest, ablest warrior around. In his youth, he personifies all of the best values of the heroic culture. In his old age, he proves a wise and effective ruler.
King Hrothgar - The king of the Danes. Hrothgar enjoys military success and prosperity until Grendel terrorizes his realm. A wise and aged ruler, Hrothgar represents a different kind of leadership from that exhibited by the youthful warrior Beowulf. He is a father figure to Beowulf and a model for the kind of king that Beowulf becomes. Grendel - A demon descended from Cain, Grendel preys on Hrothgar’s warriors in the king’s mead-hall, Heorot. Because his ruthless and miserable existence is part of the retribution exacted by God for Cain’s murder of Abel, Grendel fits solidly within the ethos of vengeance that governs the world of the poem.
Grendel’s mother - An unnamed swamp-hag, Grendel’s mother seems to possess fewer human qualities than Grendel, although her terrorization of Heorot is explained by her desire for vengeance—a human motivation.
The dragon - An ancient, powerful serpent, the dragon guards a horde of treasure in a hidden mound. Beowulf’s fight with the dragon constitutes the third and final part of the epic.
Other Danes
Shield Sheafson - The legendary Danish king from whom Hrothgar is descended, Shield Sheafson is the mythical founder who inaugurates a long line of Danish rulers and embodies the Danish tribe’s highest values of heroism and leadership. The poem opens with a brief account of his rise from orphan to warrior-king, concluding, “That was one good king” (11).
Beow - The second king listed in the genealogy of Danish rulers with which the poem begins. Beow is the son of Shield Sheafson and father of Halfdane. The narrator presents Beow as a gift from God to a people in need of a leader. He exemplifies the maxim, “Behavior that’s admired / is the path to power among people everywhere” (24–25).
Halfdane - The father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, Halga, and an unnamed daughter who married a king of the Swedes, Halfdane succeeded Beow as ruler of the Danes. Unferth - A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf, Unferth is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel, thus proving himself inferior to Beowulf.
Hrethric - Hrothgar’s elder son, Hrethric stands to inherit the Danish throne, but Hrethric’s older cousin Hrothulf will prevent him from doing so. Beowulf offers to support the youngster’s prospect of becoming king by hosting him in Geatland and giving him guidance.
Ecgtheow - Beowulf’s father, Hygelac’s brother-in-law, and Hrothgar’s friend. Ecgtheow is dead by the time the story begins, but he lives on through the noble reputation that he made for himself during his life and in his dutiful son’s remembrances.
Beow - The second king listed in the genealogy of Danish rulers with which the poem begins. Beow is the son of Shield Sheafson and father of Halfdane. The narrator presents Beow as a gift from God to a people in need of a leader. He exemplifies the maxim, “Behavior that’s admired / is the path to power among people everywhere” (24–25).
Halfdane - The father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, Halga, and an unnamed daughter who married a king of the Swedes, Halfdane succeeded Beow as ruler of the Danes. Unferth - A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf, Unferth is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel, thus proving himself inferior to Beowulf.
Hrethric - Hrothgar’s elder son, Hrethric stands to inherit the Danish throne, but Hrethric’s older cousin Hrothulf will prevent him from doing so. Beowulf offers to support the youngster’s prospect of becoming king by hosting him in Geatland and giving him guidance.
Hrothulf - Hrothgar’s nephew, Hrothulf betrays and usurps his cousin, Hrethic, the rightful heir to the Danish throne. Hrothulf’s treachery contrasts with Beowulf’s loyalty to Hygelac in helping his son to the throne.
Other Geats
Hygelac - Beowulf’s uncle, king of the Geats, and husband of Hygd. Hygelac heartily welcomes Beowulf back from Denmark.
Hygd - Hygelac’s wife, the young, beautiful, and intelligent queen of the Geats. Hygd is contrasted with Queen Modthryth.
Wiglaf - A young kinsman and retainer of Beowulf who helps him in the fight against the dragon while all of the other warriors run away. Wiglaf adheres to the heroic code better than Beowulf’s other retainers, thereby proving himself a suitable successor to Beowulf. Ecgtheow - Beowulf’s father, Hygelac’s brother-in-law, and Hrothgar’s friend. Ecgtheow is dead by the time the story begins, but he lives on through the noble reputation that he made for himself during his life and in his dutiful son’s remembrances.
King Hrethel - The Geatish king who took Beowulf in as a ward after the death of Ecgtheow, Beowulf’s father.
Breca - Beowulf’s childhood friend, whom he defeated in a swimming match. Unferth alludes to the story of their contest, and Beowulf then relates it in detail.
Other Figures Mentioned
Sigemund - A figure from Norse mythology, famous for slaying a dragon. Sigemund’s story is told in praise of Beowulf and foreshadows Beowulf’s encounter with the dragon.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Quest for immorality Presentation
Today there are many people looking for the quest for immortality. Some people in our world today, revolve around trying to find the key. Some scientists say within 30 years, humans could be immune to disease, unaffected by aging, and able live to 150 or even 1,000 years old. We could be medically immortal.
Gilgamesh went on a search for immortality because he wants to bring back Enkidu, his soul mate. Gilgamesh also wants to live forever. Its similar in todays society because people are also trying to find immortality. People today i think are scared of death and that is why they want to live longer. Or some people aren't just ready to die yet.
In Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim says that to immortal, is really not that good. Its not a great as you think. Today there are also people that are really against it. they say its bad because of religion, over population, and also because of using up all the natural resources.
In today's society they say that the five steps to immortality are:
-Consuming a healthy diet
-Having an Active life
-Taking supplements
-Rejuvenation Therapies
-And the last one is freezing yourself until you are ready to come back to life. This method is called Cryonics
-Consuming a healthy diet
-Having an Active life
-Taking supplements
-Rejuvenation Therapies
-And the last one is freezing yourself until you are ready to come back to life. This method is called Cryonics
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
themes
hereos campion-
Enkidu is Gilgamesh’s dearest companion, his equal, his soul-mate. Everything that they do, they do together. That is why Gilgamesh was so upset when Enkidu died. they both have different characteristics. When you put them togother they balance eachother out and helpt eachother out. “He turned to Enkidu who leaned against his shoulder and looked into his eyes and saw himself in the other, just as Enkidu saw himself in Gilgamesh. In the silence of the people they began to laugh and clutched each other in their breathless exaltation.” (pg. 24, Gilgamesh) In every hero story, the hero always has a partner in crime. like Shrek and donkey, scooby do and shaggy, batman and robin, winnie the poo and piglet.
The common flood story:
Utnapishtim’s story about the flood is very similar to and parallel to the story of Noah’s Arc. The gods decided to send a great flood down on men because men were searching to be like the gods; searching for immortality and defying their natural or human conditions. For this, the gods see it fit to remind men of their place on Earth, and that’s when they send the floods. Utnapishtim is warned about the flood by Ea, though, because he is a man not desiring immortality. Therefore, when the flood is over and Utnapishtim and his family survive the flood in a giant boat built by Utnapishtim for the duration of the flood, the gods “choose” him to be like the gods and make him immortal merely because he had no desire of it in the first place.“The war god touched my forehead; he blessed my family and said: before this you were just a man, but now you and your wife shall be like gods. You shall live in the distance at the rivers’ mouth, at the source. I allowed myself to be taken far way from all that I had seen. Sometimes even in love we yearn to leave mankind. Only the loneliness of the Only One who never acts like gods is bearable.” (pg. 79, Gilgamesh)
Love:
These two characters are just like soul mates. They actually are though. they are so in love, as friends though. Just like how i love my bestfriends. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is so upset, he feels there is no reason to live anymore. just like if when of my best friends would die, i would be in so much agony and i would probably feel the same as gilgamesh.“Don’t be afraid, said Gilgamesh. We are together. There is nothing we should fear.” (pg. 28, Gilgamesh)
Pessimistic and optimistic:
“I think compassion is our God’s pure act which burns forever, and be it in Heaven or in Hell doesn’t matter for me; because Hell is the everlasting gift of His presence to the lonely heart who is longing amidst perishing phantoms and doesn’t care to find any immortality if not in the pure loneliness of the Holy One, this loneliness which he enjoys forever inside and outside of His creation. It is enough for one who loves to find his Only One singled in Himself. And that is the cup of immortality!” (pg. 74, 75, Gilgamesh)
Loss of innocence:
When the hunter tells the boy to go and visit gilgamesh and tell him to send a prostitue to sleep with enkidu, he does. The prostitute saduces Enkidu and sleeps with him. at that point that is when Enkidu losses his innocence.“He became bitter in his tone again: because of her. She made me see things as a man, and a man sees death in things. That is what it is to be a man. You’ll know when you have lost the strength to see the way you once did.” (pg. 49, Gilgamesh)
Gods relationship with mortals:
The gods intervene two major times in Gilgamesh. Once when Ishtar and Anu send the Bull of Heaven down on Earth and after Gilgamesh, and another time when the gods send a great flood down on the mortals “But a little hunger will replace their arrogance with new desire. Then Anu acceded to her wish. The Bull of Heaven descended to the earth and killed at once three hundred men, and then attacked King Gilgamesh.” (pg. 45, Gilgamesh)
Legacy:
“He looked at the walls, awed at the heights his people achieved and for a moment-just a moment- all that lay behind him passed from view.” (pg. 92, Gilgamesh)
hereos campion-
Enkidu is Gilgamesh’s dearest companion, his equal, his soul-mate. Everything that they do, they do together. That is why Gilgamesh was so upset when Enkidu died. they both have different characteristics. When you put them togother they balance eachother out and helpt eachother out. “He turned to Enkidu who leaned against his shoulder and looked into his eyes and saw himself in the other, just as Enkidu saw himself in Gilgamesh. In the silence of the people they began to laugh and clutched each other in their breathless exaltation.” (pg. 24, Gilgamesh) In every hero story, the hero always has a partner in crime. like Shrek and donkey, scooby do and shaggy, batman and robin, winnie the poo and piglet.
The common flood story:
Utnapishtim’s story about the flood is very similar to and parallel to the story of Noah’s Arc. The gods decided to send a great flood down on men because men were searching to be like the gods; searching for immortality and defying their natural or human conditions. For this, the gods see it fit to remind men of their place on Earth, and that’s when they send the floods. Utnapishtim is warned about the flood by Ea, though, because he is a man not desiring immortality. Therefore, when the flood is over and Utnapishtim and his family survive the flood in a giant boat built by Utnapishtim for the duration of the flood, the gods “choose” him to be like the gods and make him immortal merely because he had no desire of it in the first place.“The war god touched my forehead; he blessed my family and said: before this you were just a man, but now you and your wife shall be like gods. You shall live in the distance at the rivers’ mouth, at the source. I allowed myself to be taken far way from all that I had seen. Sometimes even in love we yearn to leave mankind. Only the loneliness of the Only One who never acts like gods is bearable.” (pg. 79, Gilgamesh)
Love:
These two characters are just like soul mates. They actually are though. they are so in love, as friends though. Just like how i love my bestfriends. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is so upset, he feels there is no reason to live anymore. just like if when of my best friends would die, i would be in so much agony and i would probably feel the same as gilgamesh.“Don’t be afraid, said Gilgamesh. We are together. There is nothing we should fear.” (pg. 28, Gilgamesh)
Pessimistic and optimistic:
“I think compassion is our God’s pure act which burns forever, and be it in Heaven or in Hell doesn’t matter for me; because Hell is the everlasting gift of His presence to the lonely heart who is longing amidst perishing phantoms and doesn’t care to find any immortality if not in the pure loneliness of the Holy One, this loneliness which he enjoys forever inside and outside of His creation. It is enough for one who loves to find his Only One singled in Himself. And that is the cup of immortality!” (pg. 74, 75, Gilgamesh)
Loss of innocence:
When the hunter tells the boy to go and visit gilgamesh and tell him to send a prostitue to sleep with enkidu, he does. The prostitute saduces Enkidu and sleeps with him. at that point that is when Enkidu losses his innocence.“He became bitter in his tone again: because of her. She made me see things as a man, and a man sees death in things. That is what it is to be a man. You’ll know when you have lost the strength to see the way you once did.” (pg. 49, Gilgamesh)
Gods relationship with mortals:
The gods intervene two major times in Gilgamesh. Once when Ishtar and Anu send the Bull of Heaven down on Earth and after Gilgamesh, and another time when the gods send a great flood down on the mortals “But a little hunger will replace their arrogance with new desire. Then Anu acceded to her wish. The Bull of Heaven descended to the earth and killed at once three hundred men, and then attacked King Gilgamesh.” (pg. 45, Gilgamesh)
Legacy:
“He looked at the walls, awed at the heights his people achieved and for a moment-just a moment- all that lay behind him passed from view.” (pg. 92, Gilgamesh)
Literary Archetypes
Hero/Antihero- Gilgamesh is both the hero and the antihero. He is a hero because he shoes lots of courage and strength. He kills Humbaba which take a lot of courage to stand up against such a powerful person. He is a hero also because his people think that he is an amazing king. They see that everything he does is never wrong. They agree with his actions toward everything. He also has a lot of determination. He so badly wants to find quest for immorality that he goes a on very long journey and he doesn't care what he has to do to get there.
Gilgamesh also though can be a antihero as well. He is an antihero because after Enkidu died he lost everything. His hope, faith, and views. He was a complete mess. On his journey alls he did was stumble along. He would greive and sleep. He just walked around.
Wise Fool- The wise fool in this book is Utnapishtim. It tells us that he is very wise and smart. Only Utnapishtim knows the quest for immorality. He shares these views with Gilgamesh. He says that being immortal or like the gods is not so great. Basically hes saying its not what you all expect it to be.
The Devil Figure- The devil figure is Ishtar. I think this because she seems as if she has very mean characteristics. First she wants to wipe out all of mankind with The Bull of Heaven (a drought) by having her father send it. She also wants Gilgamesh to die because he rufused to marry her. I think she goes off her emotions. When shes mad; she wants people to pay for it. She wants mankind gone, forever.
The Outcast- The outcast here is Enkidu. During the whole story, he is outcasted a lot, even when he was with the animals. The town, Uruk, outcasts him because he runs with the animals, and also because he's a man, but a wild man.
After the hunter tells gilgamesh to send a prostitute to sleep with Enkidu; the animals now make Enkidu and outcast. They make him feel shameful for what he has done. Enkidu dies early in the book, but when he dies, its the only place where he fitted in, with Gilgamesh.
The Double- I think immorality is the double. It has its good and its bad. Immorality is good for some reasons. It can bring back people from the dead and also it can give people to live forever! But once you have immorality it's not as great as you think. It can cause lonlieness, as Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh that he is so lonly because all his people were wiped out in the Great Flood. Immorality lets you live forever, theres no going back to it. You can never be laid at rest.
The Scapegoat-Enkidu in the books shows as a sacrifice. The gods say that either Gilgamesh or Enkidu has to die because they killed the Bull of Heaven and also Humbaba. They say that Enkidu as to die because Gilgamesh is a king and also two thirds god. So that makes Enkidu die, he is the sacrifice. Enkidu knows that he is the one that is going to die. He puts up with it. He accepts it. While is taking final last breaths of air, he talks about how he is sad that the prostitute took away his innecence and how he actually fit in with the animals.
The Temptress- The temptress i think is the prostitute. She's beautiful and she draws people in, she drew Enkidu in and he slept with her. She's an evil person because she took Enkidu's innoncence away. She made him become a man and made him become a man in the socitiey. If she hadn't slept with him, he would probably still be alive.
The Good Mother- There could be two woman figures that could be the good mother role. First is Ninsun. She is the the real mother of Gilgamesh. She is there mentaly, but she isn't there physicaly for her son. The barmaid, Siduri, is there physically for Gilgamesh she rubs his back, bathes him, clothes him, feeds him, and lets him sleep and grieve for Enkidu. She is just like a mother.
Hero/Antihero- Gilgamesh is both the hero and the antihero. He is a hero because he shoes lots of courage and strength. He kills Humbaba which take a lot of courage to stand up against such a powerful person. He is a hero also because his people think that he is an amazing king. They see that everything he does is never wrong. They agree with his actions toward everything. He also has a lot of determination. He so badly wants to find quest for immorality that he goes a on very long journey and he doesn't care what he has to do to get there.
Gilgamesh also though can be a antihero as well. He is an antihero because after Enkidu died he lost everything. His hope, faith, and views. He was a complete mess. On his journey alls he did was stumble along. He would greive and sleep. He just walked around.
Wise Fool- The wise fool in this book is Utnapishtim. It tells us that he is very wise and smart. Only Utnapishtim knows the quest for immorality. He shares these views with Gilgamesh. He says that being immortal or like the gods is not so great. Basically hes saying its not what you all expect it to be.
The Devil Figure- The devil figure is Ishtar. I think this because she seems as if she has very mean characteristics. First she wants to wipe out all of mankind with The Bull of Heaven (a drought) by having her father send it. She also wants Gilgamesh to die because he rufused to marry her. I think she goes off her emotions. When shes mad; she wants people to pay for it. She wants mankind gone, forever.
The Outcast- The outcast here is Enkidu. During the whole story, he is outcasted a lot, even when he was with the animals. The town, Uruk, outcasts him because he runs with the animals, and also because he's a man, but a wild man.
After the hunter tells gilgamesh to send a prostitute to sleep with Enkidu; the animals now make Enkidu and outcast. They make him feel shameful for what he has done. Enkidu dies early in the book, but when he dies, its the only place where he fitted in, with Gilgamesh.
The Double- I think immorality is the double. It has its good and its bad. Immorality is good for some reasons. It can bring back people from the dead and also it can give people to live forever! But once you have immorality it's not as great as you think. It can cause lonlieness, as Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh that he is so lonly because all his people were wiped out in the Great Flood. Immorality lets you live forever, theres no going back to it. You can never be laid at rest.
The Scapegoat-Enkidu in the books shows as a sacrifice. The gods say that either Gilgamesh or Enkidu has to die because they killed the Bull of Heaven and also Humbaba. They say that Enkidu as to die because Gilgamesh is a king and also two thirds god. So that makes Enkidu die, he is the sacrifice. Enkidu knows that he is the one that is going to die. He puts up with it. He accepts it. While is taking final last breaths of air, he talks about how he is sad that the prostitute took away his innecence and how he actually fit in with the animals.
The Temptress- The temptress i think is the prostitute. She's beautiful and she draws people in, she drew Enkidu in and he slept with her. She's an evil person because she took Enkidu's innoncence away. She made him become a man and made him become a man in the socitiey. If she hadn't slept with him, he would probably still be alive.
The Good Mother- There could be two woman figures that could be the good mother role. First is Ninsun. She is the the real mother of Gilgamesh. She is there mentaly, but she isn't there physicaly for her son. The barmaid, Siduri, is there physically for Gilgamesh she rubs his back, bathes him, clothes him, feeds him, and lets him sleep and grieve for Enkidu. She is just like a mother.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Book 4
book 4
after a long long time Gilgamesh goes back to his people. he askes himself and wonders if anybody will remember Enkidu. He asks a man that walks by if he knows a man named Enkidu. He has no clue to who he is. Gilgamesh then looks to his town and looks at the wall. they built for his city. he is so proud of what they have achieved that just for a bit he forgets all about enkidu and about all his greif and sorrows.
after a long long time Gilgamesh goes back to his people. he askes himself and wonders if anybody will remember Enkidu. He asks a man that walks by if he knows a man named Enkidu. He has no clue to who he is. Gilgamesh then looks to his town and looks at the wall. they built for his city. he is so proud of what they have achieved that just for a bit he forgets all about enkidu and about all his greif and sorrows.
Book 3
Book 3
Gilgamesh is so upset about his friends death. He says he felt, "no longer a king, but a man who had lost his way." He wants Enkidu back so badly that he wants quest for immorality. He wants to bring his friend back. So he goes to talk to Utnapishtim, who knows the secret to eternal life. Gilgamesh travels to the mountains of Mashu and runs into the Scorpion people who recognize Gilgamesh as being two thirds god. The people think he is stupid for trying to accomplish this mission, but they let him pass anyways into the darkness, where they said he will only find greif and pain. He then runs into the Road of Sun. Still greiving for his friend, enkidu, he shouts his name in a valley that he finds. He also tells the story. Eventually, he reaches the sea and comes across a cottage where a barmaid named Siduri lives. she helps him, cleanses him, lets him sleep and rest and grieve. After awhile , she asks him just to stay and to quit his mission for the quest of immorality. But he gets very mad at that.
She then tells him he must cross the sea of death with the help of the boatman, Urshanabi. She angers Gilgamesh even more when she tells him he is blind with self-love. He replies that he is "blinded with loss, not self-love." On the way to the boatman, Gilgamesh is smashing things into pieces in all his anger and smashes the "stone images" that were going to help him corss the sea of death. urshanabi says that now he must build poles to push his way across the sea of death. Gilgamesh uses all his poles, but one (the poles are rotted by the sea) and with the last pole, he takes his clothes off and amkes a sail that sails him across the sea of death. He meets Utnapishtim. Uptnapishtim and Gilgamesh discuss immortality and how Uptnapishtim thinks it is to be achieved; however, Uptnapishtim does not thnk that nay man should desire everlasting life. Uptnapishtim is lonely, and full of sorrow. He tells how he came to immortality. He was chosen, he did not desire it as Gilgamesh does. He said that the gods decided to send a great flood down on the city, Shurrupak because men are defying mortality and beginning to search for immortality which is not the condition of men. Ea warns Utnapishtim of the flood and tells him to make a great ship and put all life possible in it. Utnapishtim does this and the animals, his family, and some of his people are safe during the flood. However, many others that are not in the great ship die, and Utnapishtim can hardly bear this. The flood lasts seven days. (This story is very similar to Noah's Arc) Enlil touches U's head and says that now he and his family will be like gods because they survived the great flood. However, Utnapishtim is still very upset at having seen so much death. He still suffers fthis grief as he continues to live on. (Utnapishtim says he envies Gilgamesh's freedom.) Gilgamesh again feels sleepy and sleeps seven days. Utnapishtim says that this is a slothlike man, a man living in death, not really living. He tells the boatman to burn the pelts of Gilgamesh so that he may begin to move on from his grief by letting it go and not hanging onto it. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh of a plant deep in the river that will help Gilgamesh lead a new life. Gilgamesh goes to the river and retrieves the plant and hugs Utnapishtim in thanks. He then crosses with urshanabi back over the sea of death. Gilgamesh is now alone again, but he does not feel very lonely anymore with the plant he has. He goes for a refreshing swim in a pool of water and leaves the plant unguarded. A serpent eats the plant and sheds its skin. Gilgamesh sees that the plant is gone and sees the snake skin.
Gilgamesh is so upset about his friends death. He says he felt, "no longer a king, but a man who had lost his way." He wants Enkidu back so badly that he wants quest for immorality. He wants to bring his friend back. So he goes to talk to Utnapishtim, who knows the secret to eternal life. Gilgamesh travels to the mountains of Mashu and runs into the Scorpion people who recognize Gilgamesh as being two thirds god. The people think he is stupid for trying to accomplish this mission, but they let him pass anyways into the darkness, where they said he will only find greif and pain. He then runs into the Road of Sun. Still greiving for his friend, enkidu, he shouts his name in a valley that he finds. He also tells the story. Eventually, he reaches the sea and comes across a cottage where a barmaid named Siduri lives. she helps him, cleanses him, lets him sleep and rest and grieve. After awhile , she asks him just to stay and to quit his mission for the quest of immorality. But he gets very mad at that.
She then tells him he must cross the sea of death with the help of the boatman, Urshanabi. She angers Gilgamesh even more when she tells him he is blind with self-love. He replies that he is "blinded with loss, not self-love." On the way to the boatman, Gilgamesh is smashing things into pieces in all his anger and smashes the "stone images" that were going to help him corss the sea of death. urshanabi says that now he must build poles to push his way across the sea of death. Gilgamesh uses all his poles, but one (the poles are rotted by the sea) and with the last pole, he takes his clothes off and amkes a sail that sails him across the sea of death. He meets Utnapishtim. Uptnapishtim and Gilgamesh discuss immortality and how Uptnapishtim thinks it is to be achieved; however, Uptnapishtim does not thnk that nay man should desire everlasting life. Uptnapishtim is lonely, and full of sorrow. He tells how he came to immortality. He was chosen, he did not desire it as Gilgamesh does. He said that the gods decided to send a great flood down on the city, Shurrupak because men are defying mortality and beginning to search for immortality which is not the condition of men. Ea warns Utnapishtim of the flood and tells him to make a great ship and put all life possible in it. Utnapishtim does this and the animals, his family, and some of his people are safe during the flood. However, many others that are not in the great ship die, and Utnapishtim can hardly bear this. The flood lasts seven days. (This story is very similar to Noah's Arc) Enlil touches U's head and says that now he and his family will be like gods because they survived the great flood. However, Utnapishtim is still very upset at having seen so much death. He still suffers fthis grief as he continues to live on. (Utnapishtim says he envies Gilgamesh's freedom.) Gilgamesh again feels sleepy and sleeps seven days. Utnapishtim says that this is a slothlike man, a man living in death, not really living. He tells the boatman to burn the pelts of Gilgamesh so that he may begin to move on from his grief by letting it go and not hanging onto it. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh of a plant deep in the river that will help Gilgamesh lead a new life. Gilgamesh goes to the river and retrieves the plant and hugs Utnapishtim in thanks. He then crosses with urshanabi back over the sea of death. Gilgamesh is now alone again, but he does not feel very lonely anymore with the plant he has. He goes for a refreshing swim in a pool of water and leaves the plant unguarded. A serpent eats the plant and sheds its skin. Gilgamesh sees that the plant is gone and sees the snake skin.
Book 2
Book 2-
Gilgamesh and Enkidu, now friends, decide to go kill Humbaba, guardian of the cedar forest. Actually, Gilgamesh is all for this idea, to prove that Humbaba isn't all that scary and powerful and to kill him. However, Enkidu is fearful of this idea. He knows the forest much better than Gilgamesh. The two go to Uruk's wise elders to ask what they should do. The elders decide that to kill Humbaba would be a mighty victory. NInsun "adopts" Enkidu and prays to Shamash (the sun god) to protect the two of them on their journey. The two travel to the cedar forest and enter it. They go to sleep, and Enkidu has frightful dreams that show that only one of them will survive this mission. The next day, Gilgamesh hits a tree with his axe to summon/irritate Humbaba. The two are very scared. Humbaba appears and hits Enkidu to the ground and wounds him. After this, Humbaba falls to the ground, and quickly, Gilgamesh strikes his axe down on Humbaba's neck. Humbaba is dead, but now Enkidu is wounded., The next morning, Ishtar, goddess of love, fruitfulness, and war, visits Gilgamesh and Enkidu. She tries to get Gilgamesh to marry her, but he will not due to the way she has treated her past "lovers." She gets really angry at his refusal and tells her father Anu, god of all gods and god of the sky, that to punish Gilgamesh, they should send the Bull of Heaven (a drought) to starve and thirst men and Gilgamesh. She also thinks the drought will instill new desire in Gilgamesh and all men. Anu sends the Bull of Heaven down to Earth, and it kills three hundred men. Then it goes after Gilgamesh. Enkidu grabs the Bull's tail and twists it until the bull cannot breathe. Then he stabs the bull in the back of its neck. The bull dies, but Enkidu is still suffering from the wound that he received from Humbaba, and he begins to run a fever. The gods decide that either Humbaba or Enkidu must die because they killed first Humbaba and then the Bull of Heaven. Shamash says that Enkidu shouldn't die because he is "innocent," however, Enlil says Enkidu should die because Gilgamesh is two thirds god and is king. They choose Enkidu, who already knows that they will choose him to die. As Enkidu begins to fade away, he talks about his animal friends and blames the prostitute for making him "a man, a man who sees death in things." He asks Gilgamesh why this happens to them; is this what happens to friends?
Gilgamesh and Enkidu, now friends, decide to go kill Humbaba, guardian of the cedar forest. Actually, Gilgamesh is all for this idea, to prove that Humbaba isn't all that scary and powerful and to kill him. However, Enkidu is fearful of this idea. He knows the forest much better than Gilgamesh. The two go to Uruk's wise elders to ask what they should do. The elders decide that to kill Humbaba would be a mighty victory. NInsun "adopts" Enkidu and prays to Shamash (the sun god) to protect the two of them on their journey. The two travel to the cedar forest and enter it. They go to sleep, and Enkidu has frightful dreams that show that only one of them will survive this mission. The next day, Gilgamesh hits a tree with his axe to summon/irritate Humbaba. The two are very scared. Humbaba appears and hits Enkidu to the ground and wounds him. After this, Humbaba falls to the ground, and quickly, Gilgamesh strikes his axe down on Humbaba's neck. Humbaba is dead, but now Enkidu is wounded., The next morning, Ishtar, goddess of love, fruitfulness, and war, visits Gilgamesh and Enkidu. She tries to get Gilgamesh to marry her, but he will not due to the way she has treated her past "lovers." She gets really angry at his refusal and tells her father Anu, god of all gods and god of the sky, that to punish Gilgamesh, they should send the Bull of Heaven (a drought) to starve and thirst men and Gilgamesh. She also thinks the drought will instill new desire in Gilgamesh and all men. Anu sends the Bull of Heaven down to Earth, and it kills three hundred men. Then it goes after Gilgamesh. Enkidu grabs the Bull's tail and twists it until the bull cannot breathe. Then he stabs the bull in the back of its neck. The bull dies, but Enkidu is still suffering from the wound that he received from Humbaba, and he begins to run a fever. The gods decide that either Humbaba or Enkidu must die because they killed first Humbaba and then the Bull of Heaven. Shamash says that Enkidu shouldn't die because he is "innocent," however, Enlil says Enkidu should die because Gilgamesh is two thirds god and is king. They choose Enkidu, who already knows that they will choose him to die. As Enkidu begins to fade away, he talks about his animal friends and blames the prostitute for making him "a man, a man who sees death in things." He asks Gilgamesh why this happens to them; is this what happens to friends?
Book 1
Book 1-
in this book we get introduced to Gilgamesh, the king of uruk. He is the type of person that does what he wants no matter what other people think. We also learn about Enkidu, a half man half animal. he is a man but he acts like an animal. He is supposed to be equal to Gilgamesh.
During Gilgamesh's sleep he started to have dreams of his mother telling him that he would find his soulmate. Mean while Enkidu is drinking with the animals and being one of them. He doensn't know any better than this for he has lived like this all his life.
One day a hunters son, comes across Enkidu and watches him without enkidu knowing it. He see Enkidu release animals from his fathers traps. The boy runs home and tells his father about it.
The hunter then sends the boy to Gilgamesh and to ask him to send a prostitute to Enkidu to sleep with and when he does, he will be shameful and all the animals with leave him forever. So when the prostitute leaves him he feels that the animals have abandond him and he is know alone. The prostitute shaves his long hair and makes him appear to be a proper man. She then takes him into Uruk where he meets Gilgamesh. Alike in appearance, Enkidu a little stronger the town assumes Ekidu to be Gilgamesh's equal. They wrestle around in dislike for one another, but then realize that they are each others' equal and become friends instead.
in this book we get introduced to Gilgamesh, the king of uruk. He is the type of person that does what he wants no matter what other people think. We also learn about Enkidu, a half man half animal. he is a man but he acts like an animal. He is supposed to be equal to Gilgamesh.
During Gilgamesh's sleep he started to have dreams of his mother telling him that he would find his soulmate. Mean while Enkidu is drinking with the animals and being one of them. He doensn't know any better than this for he has lived like this all his life.
One day a hunters son, comes across Enkidu and watches him without enkidu knowing it. He see Enkidu release animals from his fathers traps. The boy runs home and tells his father about it.
The hunter then sends the boy to Gilgamesh and to ask him to send a prostitute to Enkidu to sleep with and when he does, he will be shameful and all the animals with leave him forever. So when the prostitute leaves him he feels that the animals have abandond him and he is know alone. The prostitute shaves his long hair and makes him appear to be a proper man. She then takes him into Uruk where he meets Gilgamesh. Alike in appearance, Enkidu a little stronger the town assumes Ekidu to be Gilgamesh's equal. They wrestle around in dislike for one another, but then realize that they are each others' equal and become friends instead.
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