The Epic of Gilgamesh
Essay Assignment
Choose one of the following questions and create an outline of your
response on an index card. Bring the card to class on Friday. You will refer
to the card as you construct your answer. You will receive a grade for both
the five-paragraph essay and the index card.
Essay Questions:
1. Analyze the friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Use details from
the text to support your thesis.
2. Discuss Gilgamesh and whether or not he fits into the mold of “epic
hero.” How does he compare to contemporary heroes?
3. Compare and contrast the “Flood Story” in The Epic of Gilgamesh to
that of Noah in the Bible. Incorporate appropriate compare/contrast
transition words into your response.
4. Analyze the role of women in the text. Even though the relationship
between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is central to the text, there are a
number of female characters. Cite examples from the text to support
your thesis.
5. What do the selections from The Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about the
society that produced it?
6. What is Gilgamesh like at the beginning of the story? How does
Enkidu change Gilgamesh? Discuss how the character of Gilgamesh
changes and grows in response to the events in the story.
7. What does Gilgamesh learn about death and immortality from
Utnapishtim? Would you like to have the type of immortality that
Utnapishtim possesses? Does death give meaning to life? Use details
from the story to support your answer.