The Epic of Gilgamesh Study Questions
THE FOREST JOURNEY
1. What is Gilgamesh’s destiny?
2. How does Enkidu know this destiny?
3. Why does Gilgamesh plan the “Forest Journey”?
4. Who is Humbaba? What is he like?
5. Why does Enkidu say that Gilgamesh is not afraid of Humbaba?
6. What does Enkidu propose to do?
7. What does Enkidu believe will be the outcome of the fight?
8. How does Gilgamesh respond to Enkidu’s prediction?
9. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu debate whether or not to fight Humbaba, what is Gilgamesh’s attitude toward death?
10. How does Enkidu’s description of Humbaba reveal that the giant is evil?
11. When the two first see Humbaba to whom does Gilgamesh ask for help?
12. In calling for Shamash’s assistance what does Gilgamesh reveal about himself?
13. How does Shamash help Gilgamesh and Enkidu?
14. Does Shamash’s role in the battle diminish the heroes’ achievement? Why or why not?
15. What does Humbaba do when Gilgamesh tries to enter his house?
16. How does Gilgamesh respond?
17. What advice does Enkidu give Gilgamesh?
18. Is Enkidu successful in convincing Gilgamesh?
19. How does Enlil react to the news of Humbaba’s death?
20. What differences between Enkidu and Gilgamesh are brought out through the battle with Humbaba?
ISHTAR AND GILGAMESH, AND THE DEATH OF ENKIDU
21. Who falls in love with Gilgamesh?
22. Why does he refuse her?
23. What creature comes to Uruk to punish Gilgamesh for his refusal?
24. What happens to this creature?
25. What does Enkidu dream that night?
26. What does this being do to Enkidu in his dream?
27. How does Enkidu describe the way people live in the underworld?
28. How does Enkidu feel when he wakes up?
29. How does Gilgamesh react to Enkidu’s death?
THE STORY OF THE FLOOD
30. Why does Enlil suggest wiping out mankind with a flood?
31. How does Ea get around his oath not to tell anyone about the flood and still manage to warn Utnapishtim?
32. What does Ea tell Utnapishtim to say to the townspeople if they ask questions about his ark building?
33. What part of this response is truthful?
34. What part of this response is misleading?
35. What does Utnapishtim take with him on the boat?
36. Who among the gods and goddesses in the heavens regrets the decision to destroy the world?
37. How do the other gods feel after they have unleashed the flood upon mankind?
38. For how long does it rain?
39. For how long does the boat stay anchored?
40. How does Utnapishtim discover that the waters have receeded?
41. Whom does Ishtar refuse to let partake in the offering of Utnapishtim to the gods? Why?
42. How does Enlil react when he discovers that someone has survived the flood?
43. What advice does Ea give to Enlil when Enlil gets angry about the fact that Utnapishtim had survived the flood?
44. What gift does Enlil give to Utnapishtim and his wife at the end of the selection?
THE RETURN
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How does Gilgamesh try to prove that he is worthy of immortality? Is he successful?
What metaphor does Gilgamesh use to describe death?
How does Utnapishtim feel about his gift of immortality?
What secret does Utnapishtim tell Gilgamesh before he leaves to return?
What happens to the plant when Gilgamesh goes to take a bath?
Why does the snake shed its skin immediately?
Why doesn’t Gilgamesh go back to the bottom of the sea and fetch another plant?
What does Gilgamesh show Urshanabi when they return to Uruk?
The Epic of Gilgamesh Study Questions’ Answers
THE FOREST JOURNEY
1. What is Gilgamesh’s destiny?
To die, “everlasting life is not your destiny.”
2. How does Enkidu know this destiny?
Gilgamesh told Enkidu Gilgamesh’s dream, and Enkidu has the gift of interpreting dreams.
3. Why does Gilgamesh plan the “Forest Journey”?
He has not “established my name stamped on bricks as my destiny decreed.” He goes to make sure his name is remembered
forever by “destroy[ing] the evil” of Humbaba.
4. Who is Humbaba? What is he like?
He guards the cedars in the forest. His name means “hugeness” and is a “ferocious giant.”
5. Why does Enkidu say that Gilgamesh is not afraid of Humbaba?
Because he has not seen Humbaba before.
6. What does Enkidu propose to do?
Go to Shamash, the Sun God, who’s land Humbaba lives in and ask for his blessing.
7. What does Enkidu believe will be the outcome of the fight?
Gilgamesh will win.
8. How does Gilgamesh respond to Enkidu’s prediction?
They broke their fast, traveled more, and made an offering to the gods.
9. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu debate whether or not to fight Humbaba, what is Gilgamesh’s attitude toward death?
He tells his friend to not be afraid; it is not his time to die. With both of them fighting, they will be victorious.
10. How does Enkidu’s description of Humbaba reveal that the giant is evil?
Enkidu describes Humbaba as a bull about to charge, like a watchman yelling threats, and says his gaze is like “the eye of
death.”
11. When the two first see Humbaba to whom does Gilgamesh ask for help?
He calls to Shamash.
12. In calling for Shamash’s assistance what does Gilgamesh reveal about himself?
Personal interpretation of “O glorious Shamash, I have followed the road you commanded but now if you send no succor
how shall I escape?” A possibility: Gilgamesh knows that he is not all powerful and needs help.
13. How does Shamash help Gilgamesh and Enkidu?
Shamash sends winds and a storm so that Humbaba cannot run away and hide.
14. Does Shamash’s role in the battle diminish the heroes’ achievement? Why or why not?
Personal opinion.
15. What does Humbaba do when Gilgamesh tries to enter his house?
Humbaba cries and begs for mercy even saying that he will be Gilgamesh’s servant.
16. How does Gilgamesh respond?
Gilgamesh is moved to compassion saying that he wouldn’t think of making a slave of Humbaba.
17. What advice does Enkidu give Gilgamesh?
Enkidu says to kill Humbaba, because Humbaba will betray Gilgamesh.
18. Is Enkidu successful in convincing Gilgamesh?
Yes. Gilgamesh kills Humbaba.
19. How does Enlil react to the news of Humbaba’s death?
Enlil is furious and curses both Enkidu and Gilgamesh.
20. What differences between Enkidu and Gilgamesh are brought out through the battle with Humbaba?
Many possible answers: Enkidu is worrisome while Gilgamesh has faith in the gods. Enkidu has lost his strength while
Gilgamesh is still strong. Enkidu is cowardly while Gilgamesh is brave.
ISHTAR AND GILGAMESH, AND THE DEATH OF ENKIDU
21. Who falls in love with Gilgamesh?
The goddess Ishtar
22. Why does he refuse her?
Gilgamesh is afraid she will get bored with him and cause him pain in the future like she has done to others.
23. What creature comes to Uruk to punish Gilgamesh for his refusal?
The Bull of Heaven.
24. What happens to this creature?
Gilgamesh kills it.
25. What does Enkidu dream that night?
Anu, Englil, Eas and Shamash meet to say that either Enkidu or Gilgamesh must die, and it will be Enkidu.
26. What does this being do to Enkidu in his dream?
He takes Enkidu to the Underworld after being killed by a vampire-faced, lion footed, eagle’s talon handed being.
27. How does Enkidu describe the way people live in the underworld?
People sit in darkness collecting dust. Those who once wore crowns are now equals to those they ruled. Everyone spends
their days serving the gods.
28. How does Enkidu feel when he wakes up?
Terrified – “The I awoke like a man drained of blood who wanders along in a waste of rushes; like one whom the bailiff has
seized and his heart pounds with terror.”
29. How does Gilgamesh react to Enkidu’s death?
He mourns his friends upcoming death, and has a statue built of Enkidu.
THE STORY OF THE FLOOD
1. Why does Enlil suggest wiping out mankind with a flood?
Mankind is too noisy and he can’t sleep.
2. How does Ea get around his oath not to tell anyone about the flood and still manage to warn Utnapishtim?
Ea warned Utnapishtim in a dream.
3. What does Ea tell Utnapishtim to say to the townspeople if they ask questions about his ark building?
Enlil is upset with Utnapishtim and is no longer allowed to live in his land or in his city. So he is going to live in the Gulf, the
land of Ea.
4. What part of this response is truthful?
Enlil is wrathful towards Utnapishtim.
5. What part of this response is misleading?
Enlil is upset with everyone, not just him.
6. What does Utnapishtim take with him on the boat?
All his possessions, his family, his kin, every animal, and all the craftsmen that helped him build the boat.
7. Who among the gods and goddesses in the heavens regrets the decision to destroy the world?
Ishtar and the “great gods of heaven and hell.”
8. How do the other gods feel after they have unleashed the flood upon mankind?
They fled to the firmament of Anu and cowered in fear.
9. For how long does it rain?
6 days and 6 nights
10. For how long does the boat stay anchored?
7 days
11. How does Utnapishtim discover that the waters have receeded?
He let loose a raven which did not return.
12. Whom does Ishtar refuse to let partake in the offering of Utnapishtim to the gods? Why?
Enlil, because he didn’t think before he sent the flood.
13. How does Enlil react when he discovers that someone has survived the flood?
He was enraged.
14. What advice does Ea give to Enlil when Enlil gets angry about the fact that Utnapishtim had survived the flood?
Do not punish the people too harshly for their sins, because no one will be left. (This is important, be cause the gods need
sacrifices from people to live.)
15. What gift does Enlil give to Utnapishtim and his wife at the end of the selection?
Eternal life.
THE RETURN
16. How does Gilgamesh try to prove that he is worthy of immortality? Is he successful?
Stay awake for 6 days and 7 nights. He is not successful.
17. What metaphor does Gilgamesh use to describe death?
Death is like a thief in the night.
18. How does Utnapishtim feel about his gift of immortality?
Personal opinion.
19. What secret does Utnapishtim tell Gilgamesh before he leaves to return?
There is a plant that grows under the water, with thorns, that will restore youth to the one who can retrieve it.
20. What happens to the plant when Gilgamesh goes to take a bath?
A serpent takes it.
21. Why does the snake shed its skin immediately?
Because his youth has been restored. The dead skin is gone.
22. Why doesn’t Gilgamesh go back to the bottom of the sea and fetch another plant?
He is overcome by grief that he received a sign and lost it.
23. What does Gilgamesh show Urshanabi when they return to Uruk?
The brickwork of the city.