Discussion Questions Regarding the Epic of Gilgamesh

1. Given the examples of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, how do you think the ancient Mesopotamians viewed and defined heroism? What seem to be some key elements of a Mesopotamian "hero"?
2. How do you think Gilgamesh, and possibly Enkidu, might fulfill the roles of epic heroes as discussed in class? What are their goals? How do they develop as the story moves along? Are they perfect (remember that Gilgamesh is 2/3 God, and Enkidu is a divine creation), or do they have flaws?
3. Does some sort of predetermined, divine fate control the outcome of the story, or are the heroes' talents and weaknesses at least partly responsible for what happens? How much control do our mortal heroes actually seem to have over their lives? How much control do the gods have?
4. How do the various divinities interact with our protagonists? What characteristics seem to separate the "mortals" from the gods?
5. What do you thinkThe Epic of Gilgamesh tells us about the attitudes of ancient Mesopotamian people toward their Gods and Goddesses? Toward life in general? Toward the afterlife? Does this story encourage fear? Humility?
   
   

Discussion Questions Regarding the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey

1. How do you think the characters in the Odyssey show us idealized models of conduct for ancient Greeks? Of ideal Greek manhood and/or womanhood? How is Odysseus portrayed as an ideal hero? How is Penelope presented as an ideal wife? How is she juxtaposed with other female figures in the Odyssey? How is she presented differently than the women we meet in Gilgamesh? Consider Ishtar, Shamhat, Calypso, and Circe. Also, how is Odysseus different than the hero(es) presented in Gilgamesh?
2. What do both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey tell us about the civilizations from which they came (Mesopotamian civilizations, ancient Greece)? How do these stories show us how these ancient peoples viewed heroes/heroism (see questions above), their gods, their relationships with their gods, the afterlife, and the divine in general? How are their views similar? Different? Is the Greek version perhaps a bit more optimistic? Why might you think so/think not?
3. What do you think are the main themes or lessons of these works? Are they similar? How do the stories approach the concepts of love, loyalty, friendship/familial devotion, loss, and free will? Can men overcome divine obstacles to reach what they seek? When? Compare Gilgamesh’s ultimate goals with Odysseus,’ and explain why you think one could succeed while the other failed. Was it a matter of personal flaws? Did one simply have more ideal or ‘heroic’ qualities than the other? Was it a matter of ‘knowing one’s place’ when choosing/seeking the ultimate goal? Or is it simply a matter of cultural differences?