The *Epic of Gilgamesh* is one of the oldest stories ever written, dating back over 4,000 years to around 2100 BCE. This ancient tale is not just a piece of history; it also perfectly illustrates Joseph Campbell’s idea of the hero’s journey. The story is filled with themes like divine ancestry, friendship, and the quest for eternal life. It features magical trees, lovestruck goddesses, and the terrifying demon Humbaba.
At the beginning of the story, Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk. He’s not a great ruler—he’s a tyrant who makes his people unhappy and disrespects the gods. Even though he’s two-thirds god and one-third human, Gilgamesh struggles with the idea that he will eventually die, which he finds hard to accept.
Gilgamesh’s life changes when he meets Enkidu, a wild man who becomes his best friend. Together, they go on adventures, like defeating the demon Humbaba. Enkidu helps Gilgamesh become a better king. But when Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh has to face his own humanity and the fact that everyone dies. This realization is a big turning point for him, as he starts to change from a flawed king into a more self-aware hero.
Gilgamesh’s adventures follow Campbell’s stages of the hero’s journey:
1. **Announcement of the Quest**: Gilgamesh and Enkidu decide to fight Humbaba, a scary demon.
2. **Supernatural Aid**: They get divine weapons to help them.
3. **Refusal of the Quest**: Enkidu warns Gilgamesh about the dangers.
4. **Meeting with the Goddess**: Gilgamesh’s mom, Ninsun, blesses their journey.
5. **Crossing the Threshold**: They enter a dark forest, facing their fears.
6. **Belly of the Whale**: They confront Humbaba, diving deep into danger.
7. **Atonement with the Father**: Gilgamesh defeats Humbaba, overcoming a father figure.
8. **Meeting with a Goddess**: Ishtar proposes to Gilgamesh, but he says no, causing more trouble.
9. **Death of a Friend**: Enkidu’s death sends Gilgamesh on a new quest for immortality.
After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh sets out to find Utnapishtim, who survived a great flood and became immortal. This journey takes him through dangerous lands and encounters with monsters. When he finally meets Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh learns that living forever isn’t easy and that being human means having limits.
Utnapishtim challenges Gilgamesh, showing him that his quest for eternal life is pointless. Even with all his achievements, Gilgamesh learns that he can’t escape death. Utnapishtim offers him a chance to rejuvenate with a secret plant, but Gilgamesh loses it to a snake in a careless moment. This loss symbolizes his acceptance of mortality.
Gilgamesh’s journey shows the complexities of being a hero. He’s a powerful warrior who faces great challenges and seeks immortality, but he ultimately fails in his quest. His story reflects the human struggle—aiming for greatness while dealing with our limits. As Eva Thury and Margaret Devinney explain, Gilgamesh’s wish to overcome death shows his humanity, making his journey truly heroic.
In the end, Gilgamesh learns to accept his limits and the importance of living a good life rather than an eternal one. His transformation from a tyrant to a wiser ruler reminds us of the value of growth and self-awareness in the face of human frailty.
Draw a map of Gilgamesh’s journey, highlighting each stage of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey. Use symbols or drawings to represent key events, such as the fight with Humbaba or the encounter with Utnapishtim. This will help you visualize the structure of the epic and understand how Gilgamesh’s experiences fit into the hero’s journey framework.
Choose a character from the epic, such as Gilgamesh, Enkidu, or Ishtar, and prepare a short role-play. Describe your character’s motivations, challenges, and growth throughout the story. Present your role-play to the class, and discuss how your character contributes to the themes of heroism and mortality.
Divide into two groups and debate whether Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality was a noble pursuit or a futile endeavor. Use evidence from the text to support your arguments. This activity will help you explore the theme of mortality and consider different perspectives on Gilgamesh’s journey.
Write an alternate ending to the epic where Gilgamesh successfully attains immortality. How would this change his character and the story’s message? Share your ending with the class and discuss how it compares to the original conclusion, focusing on the themes of heroism and acceptance.
Calculate the fraction of Gilgamesh’s divine ancestry, given that he is two-thirds god and one-third human. Express this as a percentage and discuss how his lineage impacts his character and actions. This exercise will reinforce your understanding of fractions and percentages while connecting to the epic’s themes.
Epic – A long narrative poem, often written about a hero or heroic deeds, that is significant to the culture of the poet. – Homer’s “The Iliad” is an epic that explores the themes of glory, wrath, and fate during the Trojan War.
Gilgamesh – The main character in one of the earliest known works of literary fiction, “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” which is an ancient Mesopotamian poem. – In “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” Gilgamesh embarks on a journey to find the secret of eternal life.
Hero – A character in literature who exhibits extraordinary abilities or courage and is admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities. – Beowulf is a hero who battles the monster Grendel to protect the kingdom of the Danes.
Journey – A significant and transformative experience or series of events that a character undergoes, often involving travel and personal growth. – Odysseus’s journey home from the Trojan War is fraught with challenges and tests of his cunning and resilience.
Mortality – The state of being subject to death; a theme often explored in literature to reflect on the human condition. – Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” delves into the theme of mortality as the prince contemplates life and death.
Friendship – A close and mutual bond between characters, often providing support and driving the narrative forward. – The friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is central to the plot and themes of “The Epic of Gilgamesh.”
Quest – A journey or pursuit undertaken by a character to achieve a specific goal, often involving challenges and adventures. – In “The Lord of the Rings,” Frodo’s quest to destroy the One Ring is filled with peril and discovery.
Immortality – The concept of living forever or being exempt from death, often explored in literature as a desirable or problematic state. – In “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” the protagonist seeks immortality after the death of his friend Enkidu.
King – A male monarch or ruler, often depicted in literature as a figure of power, responsibility, and sometimes tyranny. – King Lear’s descent into madness and his eventual redemption is a central theme in Shakespeare’s tragedy “King Lear.”
Transformation – A significant change in a character’s personality, perspective, or circumstances, often as a result of their experiences. – Gregor Samsa’s transformation into a giant insect in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” symbolizes his alienation and isolation.
