The Epic Of Gilgamesh And Odysseus - 1497 Words

THESIS STATEMENT In Greek literature, the character Gilgamesh from The Epic of Gilgamesh and Odysseus from The Odyssey by Homer can be compared by their similar journeys and differing heroic qualities. PURPOSE STATEMENT Through careful research and reasoning, Odysseus and Gilgamesh can be seen as both similar and differing characters because of their choices and changes throughout their journeys. INTRODUCTION Gilgamesh, the famous hero of The Epic of Gilgamesh and Odysseus from The Odyssey are found to be similar. Some say that The Epic of Gilgamesh was a forerunner of The Odyssey. They possessed similar traits and qualities, however they still displayed differences. Gilgamesh, the haughty and powerful king of Uruk, advanced on a quest for immortality after the loss of his greatest friend, Enkidu. Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and a brave warrior in the Trojan War, faced many obstacles in his attempt to return home from Troy. These journeys show the ways that the characters are linked. Both of these mighty characters possessed the flaw of hubris, experienced many changes, and discovered new opportunities and obstacles. Odysseus and Gilgamesh display their hubristic nature in different ways. They also hold an important status in history. The tale of Odysseus is still shared within classrooms and households today. He is considered by some to be the ideal Greek hero. Gilgamesh is the archetyp e for heroes and the basis of the hero’s journey. This concept has remained popularShow MoreRelatedOdysseus Vs. Epic Of Gilgamesh1772 Words   |  8 PagesMadison Aycock HST 328 Dr. Chang 20 Oct. 2017 Paper Topic One: Odysseus vs. Gilgamesh Sometimes it only takes a few seemingly small flaws to determine if one will live a lifetime of adversity, and this appears to be the case for both Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey and Gilgamesh in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Unlike what their grand titles may suggest, these ‘ancient heroes’ were by no means perfect people, and, if anything, it would be more realistic to attribute the conceptRead MoreAnalysis Of Odysseus And Epic Of Gilgamesh 1567 Words   |  7 PagesPaquette Hero or Zero Sept. 16, 2014 Odysseus and Gilgamesh When you think of someone who is a hero, what traits come to mind? A hero can often be described as someone who portrays heroic qualities such as strength, endurance, unselfishness and obedience. Both Odysseus in the Homers â€Å"Odyssey† and Gilgamesh in the â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh† have the characteristics of strength and endurance, but Gilgamesh does not seem to act like a hero and I will tell you why. Odysseus, who is the son of Laertes, is describedRead MoreOdysseus Or Gilgamesh - Will The Real Epic Hero Please Stand Up?1640 Words   |  7 PagesOdysseus or Gilgamesh - Will the real Epic Hero please stand up? â€Å"Gilgamesh went to the entrance into the mountain and entered the darkness alone, without a companion. By the time he reached the end of the first league the darkness was total, nothing behind or before. He made his way, companionless, to the end† (Book 9 p. 51, The Epic of Gilgamesh). In The Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem translated by N.K. Sanders, Gilgamesh is a character who is by all accounts an epic hero. As a person of nobilityRead MoreEssay about Comparing The Epic of Gilgamesh with The Odyssey1262 Words   |  6 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both are held in high respect by literature analysts and historians alike for the characterization of the hero and his companion, the imagery brought to mind when one of them is read, and the impressive length in relation to the time period it was written in. The similarities that these two epics share do not end with only those three; in fact, the comparability of these works extend to even the information o n the author and the archetypes used. However, TheRead MoreAnalysis Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh And Odyssey Essay1548 Words   |  7 Pagesmisogyny into stone. There are some exceptional cases in the famous epic poems, the Epic of Gilgamesh of the Sumerians and Akkadians and the Odyssey from Homer of the Greeks. We all can agree that these epic poems or at most the authors did not view women with our modern perspective – equality among gender. However, we cannot deny that female characters helped set the path of the epic heroes’ journey to their goals. In these epic poems, women are portrayed as figures and themes of knowledge, motherhoodRead MoreEssay on The Odyssey and the Epic of Gilgamesh847 Words   |  4 PagesThe Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh (Similarities and Differences) Both The Odyssey and the Epic of Gilgamesh are two incredible stories written long ago everyone knows this but what a lot of people dont is that these two epics share many of the same concepts. Such as the nostro (the Greek term for homecoming), xenis (guest/host relationship), oikos (household), and aganoriss (recognition). In both epics these themes are illustrated. In The Odyssey the theme of nostro is very prevalentRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Odyssey Essay790 Words   |  4 Pagestaken by characters as a tool to exhibit the alteration of the character’s nature. Examples of such can be found in The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey. The journeys undertaken in The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey were transformative experiences for the characters in each and provided valuable cultural insights to the audience. At the start of The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is the arrogant ruler of the city Uruk. He is obsessed with immortality, which can be seen in the description of himRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Odyssey1636 Words   |  7 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odysseus both are poems that have since early times been viewed as stories that teach the reader valuable life lessons, almost like a self-help book in today’s society. They both teach a lot of the same general lessons but there are some key similarities and differences throughout both works. Such as perseverance, and the inevitability of death are both lessons that are taught in each poem but they are presented to the reader through different interpretations. In theRead MoreThe Odyssey And The Epic Of Gilgamesh Essay1193 Words   |  5 Pagesrealm of epic poetry, and hero-like characters in literature, the two works The Odyssey and the Epic of Gilgamesh can be compared and contrasted in different ways. The Ody ssey and the Epic of Gilgamesh can be compared as expressions of searches for the meaning of life through knowledge. The two stories are somewhat mirrors in this manner. Throughout each story, the characters Odysseus and Gilgamesh show growth and change. The Odyssey can be summed up by stating how the great warrior, Odysseus, is tryingRead MoreOdysseus vs. Gilgamesh Essay1464 Words   |  6 PagesThe epic poems The Odyssey, written by Homer, and Gilgamesh, translated by David Ferry, feature the struggles and triumphs of two epic heroes, Odysseus and Gilgamesh. Epic heroes exemplify six common traits. They are all strong fighters, complete with physical beauty and intimidation. The epic hero is dangerous yet protects ordinary people. There is always an encounter with death and the cosmos. They are superhuman, but they are not supernatural, although they come in contact with the supernatural