You can read my Historical Introduction to The Epic of Gilgamesh HERE. The link to each part of the study guide will be made available at the bottom of that initial post as they are available. You can pick up the book HERE. Pick one up and dive into the study. Below is the study guide for Tablet 1. I hope you enjoy and that you will share your feedback with me!
Grammar Questions: (The Facts of the Text)
What are some characteristics ascribed to Gilgamesh? What is he like? (I.i)
What is the name of the city Gilgamesh built? (I.i)
How does the author describe “the keeping place of Anu and Ishtar?”(I.i)
What epithet is attached to Gilgamesh’s name? (I.i)
What are some great feats said to be accomplished by Gilgamesh? (I.i)
Who is described as not being “safe” from Gilgamesh? (I.ii)
What do the people of Uruk seek from Aruru? (I.ii)
How is Enkidu described? What is he like? (I.ii)
What difficulties is Enkidu causing for the hunter? (I.iii)
What does the hunter’s father tell him will solve his problem? (I.iii)
What happens to Enkidu’s relationship with the animals after he lies with the Shamat? (I.iv)
Where does Shamat invite Enkidu to go with her? (I.iv)
What does Enkidu say he will do when he gets there? (I.iv)
What does Gilgamesh’s mother, Rimat-Ninsun, tell him his dream means? (I.iv)
Logic Questions: (The Interpretation of the Text)
What does it mean for Gilgamesh to be “the vanguard and the rear guard of the army?” (I.i)
In part (I.i) Gilgamesh seems to be described as a great protector of his people but in part (I.ii) he seems to be described as the opposite of that. What might account for this difference?
How should we understand the saying of the old men concerning Gilgamesh, “Is this the shepherd of the people?” What do they mean by asking this? (I.ii)
When he is first made Enkidu “feeds upon the grasslands with gazelles” and is further described similarly to the animals. What should we conclude about him because of this? (I.ii)
Why does the hunter have “fear in his belly?” What does that mean? (I.iii)
Why might having sexual relations with the prostitute make the animals flee from Enkidu? (I.iii-iv)
What does it mean that Enkidu’s “heart was beginning to know about itself?” (I.iv)
Why does Enkidu want to challenge Gilgamesh? (I.iv)
Enkidu is from “the empty plain outside Uruk” which is contrasted with Gilgamesh being from the city. Why might that be important to the story? (I.iv)
Rhetoric Questions: (The Analyzing Ideas in the Text)
The people of Uruk ask Aruru to create someone equal in power to Gilgamesh in order to bring about peace. Is there a message in this for our own day concerning power, politics, and peace? (I.ii)
What advantages are there to living in a community (in a city) as opposed to living alone in the wildlands? (I.i-iv)
How would you describe the religion of the people in Gilgamesh? To what would you compare it? (I.i-iv)
Theological Analysis: (Bringing the Scripture to Bear on the Text)
Compare the creation of Enkidu to the creation of Adam in Genesis 2:7. What is similar and what is different? (I.ii)
What comparisons might we make between Enkidu when he is first made (I.ii) and Nebudchadnezzer in Daniel 4:28-37?
How is Enkidu’s sexual encounter with the prostitute (I.iv) different from Adam and Eve’s sexual relationship in Genesis 2-4?
Given what you’ve read so far, how would you compare the religion of the people in Gilgamesh to Christianity? What similarities or differences do you see? (I.i-iv)
Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)
Despotism, Ignorance, Wisdom, Arrogance, Friendship
This study guide and your intro are tremendously insightful! It’s very generous of you to share them with us, thank you.