Name __________________________________
English 9
Ms. Jakymiw
Gilgamesh
We will be reading a verse translation of an ancient Sumerian epic. Below, you will find
a reading schedule that you should follow:
Reading assignment one (11-24) due ____________
Reading assignment two (27-41) due ____________
Reading assignment three (42-50) due ___________
Reading assignment four (50-70) due ___________
Reading assignment five (71-92) due ___________
*Note: A Glossary of names and places appears on pages 95 and 96 and could prove
helpful to a careful reader.
Homework: Each day that a reading assignment is due, you will be responsible for the
following:
a) Answer all of the reading guide questions you have been given the day before in your
notebook. Use your own words. Do not copy from anyone else! You do not have to
use full sentences, but you should be sure that you understand the answers you have
written.
b) You can expect a reading quiz on the day a reading assignment is due. If you answer
these homework questions while you read it will help you prep for the quiz.
c) Look up the vocabulary from the list in a dictionary and write down the meaning of
the words in your notes. Be sure that the meaning you choose fits into the meaning of
the story. Put the definition in your own words. Write down the part of speech.
d) Come in ready to ask two good thought questions about the story.
Reading assignment one (11-24)
Reading guide questions:
1. Who is Gilgamesh? Who is Enkidu? What kind of relationship do they have with
each other?
2. Where is Uruk located? Why is this setting important? How did Gilgamesh treat his
people? Give an example.
3. How does the hunter’s son describe Enkidu? What do these concrete details reveal
about Enkidu as a character?
4. Who is Ninsun? Why is Ninsun important?
5. Why does Gilgamesh send a prostitute to visit Enkidu?
6. How does Enkidu respond to the prostitute when he first sees her? What kind of
interaction do they have?
7. How does Enkidu feel about the animals that had been like his brothers the next day
after he sleeps with the prostitute?
8. What does Gilgamesh dream about? Provide two concrete examples and provide the
interpretations that Ninsun gives him.
9. How does the prostitute convince Enkidu to give up his life among the animals?
Where and how does she convince him to live instead?
10. Describe what happens in the scene where Gilgamesh and Enkidu first meet. Move
from the concrete to the abstract with this scene. In other words, what happens?
Why does it happen?
Vocabulary
1) Steppe (n) (15)
2) tyrant (n) (15)
3) birthright (n) (15)
4) callous (adj) (16)
5) dexterity (n) (16)
6) idleness (n) (16)
7) forsake (v) (19)
8) lunged (v) (23)
9) bellowing (v) (23)
10) exaltation (n) (24)
Reading assignment two (27-41)
Reading guide questions:
1. Who is Humbaba?
2. What does Gilgamesh want to do to Humbaba? How does Enkidu feel about
Gilgamesh’s plan?
3. Give at least two specific examples of how Enkidu describes Humbaba. What do
these concrete descriptions mean?
4. Who are the elders? How do they react to Gilgamesh’s plan? Why?
5. How do Gilgamesh and Enkidu sleep the night before the meet Humbaba? Why?
6. How does their meeting with Humbaba go? Explain what happens, with special
attention to who does what.
7. Who gets hurt? Who dies? What could these concrete actions represent in the
abstract?
Vocabulary:
1. vow (n) 27
2. sway (v) 28
3. enveloping (v) 29
4. springs (v) 29
5. audibly (adv) 31
6. quiver (n) 31
7. austere (adj) 31
8. abhor (v) 33
9. witnessing (v) 35
10. paralysis (n) 37
Reading assignment three (42-50)
Reading guide questions:
1. Who is Ishtar? What does she offer to Gilgamesh? How does Gilgamesh react?
Why does he react in this manner?
2. Who is Anu? Why does he send the Bull of Heaven down to earth?
3. Describe the fight that Enkidu and Gilgamesh have with the Bull of Heaven, using at
least two concrete examples to support your answer.
4. Describe Enkidu’s feverish dream the night after they fight with the Bull of Heaven.
Use two concrete examples to support your answer.
5. What kinds of statements does Enkidu make as he is dying to Gilgamesh? How does
he seem to feel about dying? Use two concrete examples to support your answer.
6. How does Gilgamesh feel when Enkidu dies? Use two concrete examples to support
your answer.
Vocabulary:
1. patroness(n) 42
2. fruitfulness (n) 42
3. coyness (n) 42
4. relent (v) 43
5. naiveté (n) 43
6. subsided (v) 44
7. universal (adj) 46
8. underworld (n) 47
9. devoid (adj) 47
10. maimed (v) 49
Reading assignment four (50-70)
Reading guide questions:
1. How does Gilgamesh feel after Enkidu dies? Use two specific examples to support
your answer.
2. Describe Gilgamesh’s interaction with the Scorpion people. Use two specific
examples to support your answer.
3. Describe the Road of the Sun. Where does it lead? What does it look like? Use
sense impressions in your description.
4. Who is Siduri? Describe Gilgamesh’s interaction with her. Use two specific
examples to support your answer.
5. Who is Urshanabi? Describe Gilgamesh’s interaction with him. Use two specific
examples to support your answer.
6. Who is Utnapishtim? What secret does he know? Why does Gilgamesh want to find
him? Explain.
Vocabulary:
1. convalescence (adj) 53
2. conversion (n) 53
3. diversion (n) 54
4. quest (n) 55
5. ashen (adj) 57
6. effusions (n) 57
7. arduous (adj) 57
8. vividly (adv) 61
9. impetuous (adj) 65
10. mock (v) 67
Reading assignment five (71-92)
Reading guide questions:
1. Describe Utnapishtim. Why does he look the way he does? Explain.
2. What questions does Gilgamesh ask Utnapishtim? Why does he ask these
questions?
3. Describe the relationship between Utnapishtim and his wife.
4. What is the main plot of the story Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh? (76-80)
5. Why does Utnapishtim tell this story to Gilgamesh?
6. What does Gilgamesh leave with? Why?
7. What happens to this thing that he leaves with when he goes swimming? What
does this action represent?
8. What does Gilgamesh do at the end of the epic? Who does he talk to? What do
they say to each other? What does this conversation represent? Explain.
Vocabulary:
1. rugged (adj) 72
2. hospitality (n) 72
3. compassion (n) 74
4. inclined (v) (75)
5. downcast (adj) 75
6. perplexed (v) 77
7. subsided (v) 78
8. yearn (v) 79
9. disheartened (adj) 83
10. contemplated (v) 83