Hi folks! This week I’d like you to write about one of the examples from Gilgamesh you’re exploring in your essay. What’s the author telling us about Sumer in this moment? How does it fit in with what you’re arguing in your paper overall?

One moment that stood out to me was Enkidu death and how it affected Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh became scared of dying and tried to find a way to escape death but at the end, he just accepts that, that's life.

Knowing that someone as strong as Gilgamesh couldn't escape death was a eye opener to people during that time.

This connects to my essay because it shows how everyone had a place in life and it shows the different values that people had in their lives. Weather that was with the Gods or humanity.

The scenes that explored Gilgamesh and his fear of death were the ones I found most interesting to explore in my essay on the epic. Seeing how Gilgamesh knew the fear of dying and how he accepted it was what interested me most about the story.

From his exposure to the fear of death when he unwittingly confronted Humbaba, to the severe panic he experiences upon seeing the death of his best friend, and finally how he accepts death at the end of the epic.

the scenes that caught my eye in the epic of Gilgamesh was Enkidu death and how this affected Gilgamesh and his future decisions. his death led to Gilgamesh doing a lot of missions to try to gain immortality which even with all his efforts and he is doing everything that the person before did to gain immortality he didn't because as I talked about in my essay death is considered a way of life, it is inevitable even for gods and powerful people like Gilgamesh. even though death is inevitable, what you do on earth decides your fate after death and what you get which with Gilgamesh was being the chief of the shades.

The scenes from the Epic of Gilgamesh that stuck with me the most were when Gilgamesh was shown at the beginning of the story as an arrogant king who could do whatever he wanted in his kingdom of Uruk. I learned that Gilgamesh is two-thirds God and one-third mortal, making him think he has power over his people. This angers the gods, seeing a mortal abusing his power as a king, so the god Anu creates Enkidu, the wild man, to be Gilgamesh's equal and help him see the error of his ways. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh begins to fear his death and tries his best to escape it by trying one of the impossible tests of the gods to become immortal by staying awake for seven days to prove that he can become immortal, he fails the test as no mortal man can stay awake for days without passing out. So, Gilgamesh is given another test when he tries to keep a snake from taking the plant of life from him since the plant is a symbol of nature. The snake is trying to take it back and return it to nature to show immortality is not meant for humans because all humans are bound to their mortality, and there is no way to escape it. All they can do is try to make the most of what they have while they're still alive so they can leave behind a legacy that goes on after their deaths. I think the author of the story is trying to emphasize that death is inevitable, not just for the people of Sumer but for every human being at the time who had to do what they could do while they were still alive to make an impact on their community that will last a long time after their death.

The death of Enkidu was one of the instances I used in my essay that I felt was clear and extremely important because it was both tragic and a moment of clarity when Gilgamesh had to confront his mortality and the certainty of death. This is important when discussing Sumer since it showed how pointless human attempts to defeat death were because gods were supposed to rule over them and influence their civilization's ideas and ideals. This backs up my argument in this essay since it proves that humans and even gods can’t partake in people’s fates; it’s a reality faced by every Sumerian that faces the sense of immortality. 

The part of The Epic of Gilgamesh that really stuck with me was Enkidu’s death and how it completely broke Gilgamesh. Up until that point, Gilgamesh seemed untouchable this arrogant, powerful king who thought he could do whatever he wanted. But losing Enkidu changes everything. It’s not just the grief of losing his best friend, though that alone is devastating. It’s the realization that if death could take Enkidu, it could take him too. He wasn’t immune to it. That fear of loss, of the unknown, of his own mortality pushes him into this desperate, almost irrational search for immortality.

And that desperation? That’s what really hit me. Because that’s real. People do all kinds of things when faced with loss or fear. They try to escape it, numb it, or outrun it, just like Gilgamesh did. When you lose someone close to you, it’s not just sadness it’s this deep, terrifying feeling that life is fragile and nothing is guaranteed. That vulnerability is something we all experience at some point, and it can drive people to make choices they never would have otherwise. Gilgamesh, this larger than life warrior, suddenly becomes just another person afraid of the inevitable, and I think that’s what makes this moment so powerful. He went from seeking glory in battle to chasing immortality, but in the end, he had to accept what so many of us struggle with that death is unavoidable, and the only thing we can really leave behind is the impact we have on others.

The idea that I was most interested in emphasizing in the essay is the death of Enkidu and Gilgamesh trying to be immortal, where the cycle of life is explored and recognized, and it is also a reminder to all of us that death is an essential part of us and that this can also give a change or an impact to each and every one of us, as in this case it happened to Gilgamesh.

It also reminds us that death is inevitable for human beings, that no matter how much money you have you cannot buy life or that you have a great status in society, this is similar to Gilgamesh since he was a King who had everything. And I also think that the author tries to convey to us that death is not only a curse for us but also a blessing since death can give meaning to our life and it is what makes us human. I also think that the author wants to tell us that there is no point in living an eternal life without purpose. He has compared it to living a life with an end, an end which can drive you to have a purpose and a meaning and death itself can motivate you to find the meaning of your life.

A moment that I am discussing in my essay is when the snake takes away the plant granting eternal youth. In that scene, I think the author was emphasizing that Sumerians had the same fear many of us have today, the fear of getting older and dying. Gilgamesh wanted to stay young and gain immortality but the snake took away that chance from him. Snakes usually represent deceit, betrayal, and wisdom. The snake taking the plant away, can be seen as a sign that immortality is not part of human nature and humans are meant to . Humans should value the time they have instead of being worried and afraid of dying or wasting it on finding ways to stay young like Gilgamesh did. This scene is similar to the story of Adam and Eve from the Bible. In both cases, the snake took away the chance of living a long life. However, in the case of Gilgamesh, I believe it was more of a blessing than a curse. Gilgamesh was a tyrant who made the lives of his people hell on Earth. After meeting Enkidu, Gilgamesh improved as a person, becoming compassionate and mature. When Enkidu passed and Gilgamesh went through many lengths to talk with Utanapishti, he came to terms with his mortality and learned to value the time he has now. He should use the time to create his legacy, either by fighting monstrous beasts or by creating the greatest city of his time. I believe if he achieved immortality, he would not appreciate the time he has and would have reverted to his old ways.

Perhaps the most moving scene in The Epic of Gilgamesh is when Gilgamesh laments Enkidu's passing, realizing that even the greatest warriors are not immune to death. His sorrow turns into a fanatical search for immortality, which represents the Sumerian worldview that the gods are the final determiners of life and death. This scene not only makes Gilgamesh a more developed character but also highlights the epic's overall theme regarding human limitations. His journey is typical of the human dichotomy of hope and reality—hope for immortality, and then death becoming inevitable. It is an analogy of the shared human condition in which aspiration must contend with the constraints of destiny. The story teaches us that though great endeavor is desirable, wisdom lies in accepting the limits of mankind.

The most impressive scene in the epic of Gilgamesh is the death of Enkidu, which is definitely one of the crucial scenes for Gilgamesh to grow up as a person. At the beginning of the story, Gilgamesh thought he was proud of being dead and he was optimistic about it when he was going to fight Humbaba, as he could be praised his death if he fights bravely. However, he felt the reality of death and was terrified of the death that he would inevitably encounter someday as he experienced the death of his best friend. Throughout the experience of his best friend's death, he started his journey to seek out a way to get immortality, and he could eventually recognize the limitation of human power, which is one of the most important experiences to be a king who is respected by individuals. The author emphasizes on the scene that human need to accept their finiteness, and it is surely a thought to grow up. Furthermore, the author also tries to tell the importance of having friends: For instance, Gilgamesh could have experienced various things and mature because he traveled with Enkidu and overcome difficulties with him, which connects to not only physical, but also mental maturity.

One moment I talked about in my essay was how Gilgamesh rejected Ishtar. I think this shows how Sumer at the time relates to our current world as well. Ishtar got very mad and emotional when she was rejected. That also happens now in present day. Another thing that also happens now in our time is people want to get revenge. We saw Ishtar wanted to get revenge when she sent the bull of heaven to Gilgamesh. This moment from the epic supported my argument that Gilgamesh didn’t respect the Gods. He slayed the bull of heaven and embarrassed Ishtar.

In the rehearsal, perhaps I will address Enkidu's meeting with Shamhat, the priestess who civilizes him by sex and living among human beings. Enkidu exists in nature like an animal before he meets her, but his meeting with her converts him into a civilized human. This scene shows how Sumerian women played a central role in civilization and societal order. Not only were they objects of desire, but also agents of knowledge and change.

In my essay, I will talk about the death of Enkidu and Gilgamesh's reaction. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh falls into deep sorrow and goes on a journey to seek immortality, demonstrating how much he fears death and wishes to overcome his human fate. This is a critical section because it emphasizes the reality of mortality and that even a king who is extremely powerful cannot escape death.

One of the most powerful moments in The Epic of Gilgamesh is when Gilgamesh mourns Enkidu’s death, realizing even the strongest can’t escape mortality. His grief drives him to seek immortality, reflecting the Sumerian belief that the gods control life and death. This scene highlights the epic’s message about human limitations and the struggle to accept fate, which connects to my focus on the tension between ambition and reality.

In my essay I've chosen to focus on the themes of mortality and religion in the epic of Gilgamesh. The scene where Ishtar proposes to Gilgamesh shows this the best. When Ishtar is rejected by Gilgamesh for how she treated her past lovers Ishtar then plots violent revenge. Her aggressive and emotional demeanor explain how the gods were viewed in Ancient Sumer. In my essay I want to explore how the author depicts the gods unpredictability and the mercy that the ancient Sumerians believed they could find themselves in. Ancient Sumerian society was very superstitious and very religious. I also hope to cover the ancient Sumerians fear of their own mortality because of their view of the gods.

In my essay on The Epic, I’m particularly interested in exploring the role of women and how they shape the narrative, especially through the character of Shamhat. One moment that stands out is when Shamhat, the temple prostitute, introduces Enkidu to human civilization. When she seduces Enkidu, she not only brings him into the world of humans but also initiates his transformation from a wild man to someone who understands societal norms and values. This scene is important because it shows that women in The Epic are portrayed as agents of change, using their sexuality to influence and guide men. This moment emphasizes a key idea the author might be trying to communicate the power of women in shaping male identity and social order. Despite their limited roles, women like Shamhat wield considerable influence over the course of events, underlining a more complex view of gender roles in Sumerian society than might be expected. Women may not be the central heroes of the epic, but their actions and choices often drive the male characters development, highlighting their subtle yet significant role in the narrative.