We have been looking at archetypes to determine the characteristics of each important entity in The Epic of Gilgamesh.
Setup: We have been looking at archetypes to determine the characteristics of each important entity in The Epic of Gilgamesh. Literary characters can be either flat (cookie-cutter and predictably one-dimensional) or round (fleshed-out and three-dimensionally complex). Friendship, for example, is a theme commonly used by contemporary writers to reveal character (the true nature of someone). However, as we have seen, even this very ancient text, which probably began its life in an oral culture, utilizes the themes of camaraderie and fellowship. The fact that Gilgamesh and Enkidu remain friends, despite their significant differences, reflects the same nature of real-life friendships.
Instructions: Revisit the friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu in The Epic of Gilgamesh and write a short, but well-developed (and well-supported), 400-500 word essay (MLA, double-spaced, 1” margins on all four sides, 12pt. Times-Roman font) that examines how the theme of friendship reveals character in the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
Some things to consider as you develop a thesis: What kind of friends do Gilgamesh and Enkidu seem to be, e.g., like acquaintances? like brothers? like lovers? What motivates their friendship and moves it forward? What complicates it and hinders their friendship? Begin your short essay with a CLEARLY defined thesis statement that you can defend (this is non-negotiable). Be sure to support your thesis with several reasonable arguments (in your own words) backed up by hard evidence from the text in the form of directly quoted passages from the text and parenthetical citations with page numbers. Do NOT use outside research for this assignment (citing something other than the text will result in an assignment failure). This is an analytical exercise that involves YOUR mind and the primary text only, nothing more.
Answer preview We have been looking at archetypes to determine the characteristics of each important entity in The Epic of Gilgamesh.
APA
516 words