Gilgamesh & Enkidu
3A/Oct. 9, 2012/Tablet VIII/Classic Lit
Sophia Kadi
Characters
• Gilgamesh – the protagonist/main character
(semi-divine ruler of Uruk)
• Enkidu – Gilgamesh’s second self and faithful
companion. (lives in the wilderness w/ a group of
shepherds)
• Elders and men of Uruk-Haven (Uruk – a home
city of Gilgamesh)
Jackal
• Enkidu’s parents Donkey
Herds
Lion
Men of the Mts. & Hills
Bear
Hyena
Panther
Tiger
Water Buffalo
Wild Bull
Stag
Ibex
All creatures of the plains
The farmer
The herder
1. Character Lifelikeness
Gilgamesh – is hard to comprehend that he is
believable because we do not have hard core
proof; time period effects this.
(Has feelings/emotions and can communicate)
2. Relevance
Gilgamesh – is hard to relate; is a human being
and acts as if he is one but is not relatable
because of the time period and plot.
3. Judging
Gilgamesh – contributes intensively into the
story and is very relevant because without him,
no story. He is the main character/protagonist.
4. Simple
Gilgamesh – one sided character who did not
represent predictable characters; why? His
choice of vocab was eye catching and his
emotions were a different showing.
5. Complex
Gilgamesh – is capable of surprising us. Do not
know what to expect next out of him which is
entertaining although, he is not as lifelike.
1. Character Lifelikeness
Enkidu – can relate because all humans must die
at some point but don’t really grasp a whole lot
of detail in this Tablet with him.
2. Relevance
Enkidu is very relatable. Everyone has a
beginning and end; someone by your side
through it all.
3. Judging
Relevant and important because it lets us know
we are living; we all have an end, we go through
friends and memories along the way and those
are the ones that stick around will there when
you end your life.
4. Simple
Enkidu – nothing really to predict. Was a good
friend
5. Complex
Enkidu – once again; nothing really to surprise
us with. Tablet VIII did not give us enough
information to answer.
Summary
As the sun sets, Gilgamesh addresses his friend,
Enkidu that the community raised him together and
that the Roads of Enkidu to the Cedar Forest to the
Elders of the broad city of Uruk-Haven and the men
of the mountains and hills, feel sorrow for you. As
Gilgamesh’s friend lies next to him, he expresses
how good the friend was to him. Although, he
realizes that he eyes no longer moved, and his heart
beat did not thump then goes on a rant on how
much he did for his friend that recently passed. He
then asks the blacksmith, lapidary, coppersmith,
goldsmith, jeweler to make a statue of the friend he
lost.
Quote
“I had you recline on the great couch,
indeed, on the couch of honor I let you recline,
1 had you sit in the position of ease, the seat at
the left, so the
princes of the world kissed your feet.
I had the people of Uruk mourn and moan for you,
I filled happy people with woe over you,
and after you (died) I let a filthy mat of hair grow
over my body,
and donned the skin of a lion and roamed the
wilderness.”