Comparing The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Iliad - 2049 Words

Character relationship similarities and differences in The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad: In The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad, heroes Achilles and Gilgamesh have important relationships with characters that directly and indirectly give readers a look at the character we may not normally see. For the mighty demi-god Achilles, the person who aids in revealing his feelings is the warrior, Patroclus. Patroclus is a warrior who Achilles has a great respect for, and his eventual death sends him into an enraged killing spree. For the tyrannical king Gilgamesh, this was Enkidu; the hairy man sent by the gods to put him in his place after displeasing them. Enkidu’s death brings to light feelings that Gilgamesh did not even know he had; his fear of death being the most prominent. The relationships that these characters have with their companions open them up for readers, allowing the characters to be viewed in a whole new light. Due to the deaths of their companions, we see tenderness and emotional vulnerability from the heroes. That is uncharacteristic to these characte rs when we are first introduced to them. Despite Achilles and Gilgamesh both having their outlook on life changed after the death of their friends, there is also a lot that separates these two relationships while all characters are alive. Unlike Enkidu does for Gilgamesh, Patroclus is not needed to define Achilles as a character. Achilles himself does not change his characteristics a great deal before hisShow MoreRelated Comparing the Hero in Epic of Gilgamesh and Homers Iliad Essay730 Words   |  3 PagesThe Hero in Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad    One and the same lot for the man who hangs back and the man who battles hard. The same honor waits for the coward and the brave. They both go down to Death, the fighter who shirks, the one who works to exhaustion. (IX,385-88) Thus muses Achilles, one of epic poetrys greatest heroes. Epic poetry, one of the earliest forms of literature, began as an oral narration describing a series of mythical or historic events. EventuallyRead MoreSimilarities Between Paradise Lost And Paradise Lost1239 Words   |  5 PagesParadise Lost comparison to three epics of antiquity There are many ways to compare and contrast Paradise Lost with the three other epics of antiquity. The epics are Paradise Lost, Aeneid, The Epic Gilgamesh, and The Iliad. The most obvious difference is era. Paradise Lost is an epic poem from the 17th century and is written in blank verse which is the most modern phrasing method. According to an article on Enotes, out of the other three epics, the Iliad and Aeneid came from the same dactyllicRead MoreGilgamesh, the Illiad, the Aeneid1661 Words   |  7 PagesAnglo-Saxon era in history, long narrative poems, known as epics become all the rage. These poems were written in elevated styles that presented the adventures of a hero with superhuman qualities who embodied the national ideals. These ideals and adventures were presented through elements such as dreams, courage allowing the hero to overcome great trials, and a major battle scene. These elements, known as epic conventions, created epics that to this day continue to be read an d taught throughoutRead MoreThe Heroes Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh1215 Words   |  5 Pagesthemselves. Noble, kind, selfless; these are all traits that embody the modern hero. This was not always the case, however. In ancient literature, the heroes are not good role models, most of the time. Gilgamesh in The Epic of Gilgamesh is prideful and selfish in his conquests. Achilles in The Iliad drug his enemy’s body around his friend’s funeral pyre for days on end. Heroines in ancient literature are closest to what is considered a hero today, even if their methods are unconventional. LysistrataRead MoreComparing The Epic Of Gilgamesh1779 Words   |  8 PagesPride The Epic of Gilgamesh was translated by Andrew George and the Iliad was written by Homer. These are both heroic epics that show some similarities in their stories. The Epic of Gilgamesh came to us in a fragmentary form and was written in some form we no longer have. It possibly influenced the Iliad because the Iliad showed some modification of the epic and was written later than Gilgamesh. Both stories show some similarities in theme, such as pride, morality, friendship, love, fate, and free