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The Epic of Gilgamesh
Study Questions I
Comparative Mythology
Prologue
1. What did the gods give Gilgamesh when they created him?
2.
What is Shamash god of?
3.
What did Shamash endow Gilgamesh with?
4.
What did Adad endow Gilgamesh with?
5.
How much of a god is Gilgamesh?
6.
How much of a human is Gilgamesh?
7.
What three objects does Gilgamesh build?
a.
b.
Who is Anu?
8.
c.
9.
What two traits is Ishtar goddess of?
a.
b.
Chapter 1
1. What does Gilgamesh do to the sons of Uruk?
2.
What happens because of Gilgamesh's lust?
3.
What does the trapper take to the watering hole from Uruk?
4.
What happens when Enkidu returns to the wild beasts after seven nights?
5.
Who is Gilgamesh's mother?
6.
7.
What two items is Enkidu portrayed as in Gilgamesh's dreams?
a.
b.
What does Enkidu become?
8.
What does Gilgamesh demand to be first with?
9.
Who wins the wrestling match?
10. What is sealed after Gilgamesh and Enkidu wrestle?
Chapter 2
1. Who lives in the forest?
2.
What will Gilgamesh leave if he falls?
3.
Why do the travelers visit Ninsun?
4.
What had Shamash given Gilgamesh?
5.
Who is Lugulbanda?
6.
How does Gilgamesh enrage Humbaba?
7.
What request does Humbaba make of Gilgamesh?
8.
What does Enkidu want to do to Humbaba?
9.
Why is Enlil enraged?
1
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The Epic of Gilgamesh
Study Questions II
Chapter 3
1. Who wants Gilgamesh for a husband?
2. What did Ishtar turn the shepherd into?
3. What did Ishtar turn Ishullanu into?
4. What does Gilgamesh believe will happen if he becomes Ishtar's lover?
5. What does Ishtar want her father to make?
6. How long will the drought last?
7. What does Enkidu say he would do to Ishtar if he could?
8. What god says Enkidu shall die?
9. What god does not believe Enkidu ought to die?
10. How many days does Enkidu lay on his bed of pain?
11. How does Enkidu wish he could die?
12. How long does Gilgamesh weep for Enkidu?
Chapter 4
1.
What is Gilgamesh afraid of?
2.
What is Mashu?
3.
What does Mashu guard?
4.
Who stands guard at Mashu?
5.
How long is the mountain?
6.
What is on the bushes in the Garden of the Gods?
7.
What god sees Gilgamesh?
8.
What does this god tell Gilgamesh?
9.
Who is Siduri?
10. Why does Siduri bolt her door to Gilgamesh?
11. What does Siduri say to Gilgamesh?
12. What does Gilgamesh smash?
13. What does Gilgamesh use to propel the boat across the ocean?
14. What does Utnapishtim tell Gilgamesh?
2
Comparative Mythology
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The Epic of Gilgamesh
Study Questions III
Chapter 5
1.
How does Ea warn Utnapishtim?
2.
How much ground space does the boat take?
3.
How many days does it take to build the boat?
Chapter 6
1.
How many loaves of bread are baked for Gilgamesh?
2.
What will the plant that grows underwater restore?
3.
Whom does Gilgamesh say he will give the plant to?
4.
What takes the plant?
Chapter 7
1.
What was not Gilgamesh’s destiny?
3
Comparative Mythology