Back from the dead? (Gilgamesh Tablet XII)

Final tablet in the Epic of Gilgamesh!!! I'm so happy!!! Definitely one of the weirdest tablets from the book. It was nice to see Gilgamesh reunite with his "brother" after all his efforts to "bring him back". Which he tries once more by seeking help of the gods to bring him back from the city of the dead. It was interesting to see that The epic of Gilgamesh was based on a poem, a poem interpreted by the author of this book.

Seeing Enkidu and Gilgamesh reunited was like to see that tablet or chapter in the book that was taken out, like a part before Enkidu's death that we missed. We can sense a different personality between Enkidu and Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh being a very obedient and rightful person and Enkidu being more bold and disobedient. An example of this is the way Enkidu acts and the bad things he does in the Netherworld. although Gilgamesh warned him not to. It also relates to Enkidu's death and how Gilgamesh tried to prepare for something which was impossible to prepare for.

A quote I thought was very significant was this one: " He did not refrain from kissing the wife he loved; He did not refrain from striking the hated wife; He embraced and kissed the son who was dear to him; and did not refrain from striking the hated son. And so the cry of the dead seized him and held him. Just because it symbolizes death and the different interpretations it has and what it could mean.

The final conversation between the two characters is I think like a final goodbye between the two of the, and as you read it you know that these two are never ever ever ever meeting again, which is in a way very sad. What Gilgamesh takes from this conversation is that he is not afraid of death, he is afraid of not being remembered, but i think he finally understands that if you are a valuable person and a person who leaves an impression on people you will be remembered as a good person.

My Conclusion:

The epic of Gilgamesh, a book with twists and turns, with a lot of insight, and a well structured plot allow us to enjoy and appreciate the classic it is. I really liked to explore all the symbolisms and themes the book entailed> I saw how in a way I am similar to Gilgamesh or Enkidu in the way they acted, although I am not afraid of death because I realize that it is something we can't avoid and something everyone must face in their given time> I really liked to read an ancient text and although it was very simple it was very insightful and enjoyable, I highly recommend it.

http://www.cervenabarvapress.com/gilgamesh450x677.jpg

follow this link for a picture on Gilgamesh.

https://intranet.cng.edu/Classes/HS_PreAP_English_9_jtangen/Shared%20Documents/Gilgamesh.pdf

and follow this link to read Gilgamesh online.


¨Two people,companions, they can prevail together against the terror.

GIlgamesh Tablet XI

This tablet is probably the one that has impacted me the most, I really enjoyed the whole deal with the floods sent by the gods and the whole dilemma with Utnapishtim. I think the most common and probably most used example of this is noah the biblical character and his ark. But enough with the ark people. I think we should really analize the tablet and start focusing on Gilgamesh and his whole life/death dilemma. In this tablet i believe it is finally made clear to Gilgamesh that death is something he cannot avoid, although he is rich and is royalty, he finally figuresnout that death is something that no one can escape. Just as my close friend Stephen Colbert said: "Attack life, it´s going to kill you anyways". But back to Gilgamesh, by not passing the test of sleep and immortality it is proven that he just isn´t cut out to immortal. Another reason which proves that he is not worthy of immortality is when the snake (evil character in almost every possible piece of writing) steals the plant from him. Utnapishtim on the other hand, does deserve immortality from my point of view and isn´t some wise-ass king who thinks he knows everything.

Gilgamesh Tablets IX and X

Gilgamesh, although a strong powerful man inside and outside, is very hurt and grieves Enkidu´s death. Gilgamesh journeys to Utnapishtim to find out about death, all the questions Enkidu has raised and how it could be avoided. Gilghamesh does not make any sort of attempt to forget Enkidu, he does exactly the opposite. I feel that Gilgamesh going into the wild and dressing woth the attire that he did is something which symbolizes how much he misses and still remembers Enkidu.

A significant moment in these tablets I think is when Gilgamesh alone and unaccompanied has to face the monster and In my opinion is the only true time that Gilgamesh is afraid given the fact that it is the first time he faces a monster since Enkidu died, hence alone. I don´t think that he fears death, i think he just has a fear of being alone and insecure and not being comfortable and having his "brother", beside him.

The fear I was talking about can be understood in this extract from tablet 9 page 50: "Terror in the body of Gilgamesh seized hold of him from within and held him there in terror. But then in terror, he went forward."

Gilgamesh Tablets VII and VIII

In Tablets VII and VIII, Enkidu has a dream that the gods are furious with him, because he killed Huwawa. He then becomes ill and dies. Gilgamesh mourns his death and suddenly we see the love they had for each other, and we realize how much Gilgamesh will miss Enkidu. I think that in this part of the tablet it is very important to notice how Gilgamesh the powerful, the terror, has no choice but to see as his best friend passes on to the next life. Gilgamesh then makes a statue in Enkidu's honor, which shows once again the love they felt for each other. This reminds me of the statue of Alexander the great on his favorite horse Buchephalus.

Gilgamesh Tablet VI

We see in this last tablet that Enkidu appears to be more fearful and powerful than Gilgamesh because it is he (Enkidu) who overpowers Huwawa and protect Gilgamesh during the battle. Gilgamesh, exhausted after battle decides to wash his hair, his body, put new clothes on, and put a tiara on. The goddess Ishtar sees him and falls in love with him. She asks him to give her the seed of his body (semen). To this he refuses, which enrages Ishtar. She goes to the heavens to her mom and dad to ask for permission to release the bull of heaven, they ask if she is prepared and she says yes so they release it to her. She sends it to kill Gilgamesh, but they fight it and with skill put a sword in his back, they invite the town to watch them tear the bull apart and the take the horns and fill them with oil. Being very tired they got to sleep and Enkidu has a dream which he then wakes up and asks Gilgamesh: Why is it that the gods are meeting in council?. And, why is it that Gilgamesh gets so scared infront of Enkidu, does he feel comfortable beside Enkidu?

Gilgamesh Tablest IV and V

In these tablets we see that the strong bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is still going strong, and that they are still together in the long run. Gilgamesh and Enkidu go on a journey of 150 leagues, they get there in 3 days so that means that they walked 50 leagues per day, a feat that would take normal men 3 weeks. This was only achieved because they didn't rest and only stopped to sleep at night and to eat during the day. While they sleep at night Gilgamesh has a lot of dreams and he is scared and thinks he is in danger but Enkidu assures him that everything is fine, I think that th dreams are symbolisms and that they define what is going to happen to them, but Enkidu always makes it look likes its a good thing. They then get to the forest, where they meet the demon Huwawa who starts talking to Gilgamesh, Enkidu quickly interrupts and says that the demon must be killed and that they shall construct a gate with the finest wood in the forest, they slay the monster and suck its insides out and start constructing the gate. In these tablets there are many symbloisms, for example, the gate which means protection, and security. Huwawas head which means that they have slayed them and that they are powerful, among many others. To me these symbols relate to the symbolism seen in the famous book: Lord of the flies. The only doubt I have is: What do Gilgamesh's dreams really mean?

Gilgamesh Tablets II and III

In this chapter we start to sense a relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh given that they are both big, powerful, and fearful men, I think I can relate to the bond they had because I think I am very similar to my friends just like Enkidu relates to Gilgamesh. Enkidu, the wilderness man is earing food and drinking beer with the prostitute, he then learns that some people are going to Uruk, the city of Gilgamesh. Enkidu demands that he is taken to Uruk where he meets Gilgamesh and challenges him, Gilgamesh accepts the challenge and wrestles Enkidu to his knees, which causes Enkidu to say: You are the strongest of all, the perfect, the terror. When enkidu says this he is accepting and acknowledging that Gilgamesh is much more powerful and fearful than himself. Then they debate on who should go to the forest first to go to heaven, and they finally decide that the wild man Enkidu is better suited for the quest. His purpose is to kill the demon hateful to the sun god. Then Shamash adopts Enkidu with a ritual involving a sacred pendant. Enkidu and Gilgamesh remind me of old cowboy movies where two inseparable buddies fight evil and crimes together. Will the friendship of Enkidu and Gilgamesh last long?

Introduction and Questions

Hello dear bloggers,

My name is Oliver Nilsen, I am 14 years old. I like to play soccer and surf the internet.
I live in Bogota, Colombia, and i love this country. Tell me something about yourself.

Questions:

A. According to this author where does the word blog come from?

The word "blog" is a portmanteau term for Web log or Weblog. In 1999 Peter Merholz, the author of a Weblog called Peterme, split it in two like this—"We blog"—creating a word that could serve as either noun or verb. "Blog" was born.

B. Why might the writer object to a book about blogs? What is the difference between a blog and a book?

Books are tight. Blogs are reckless. Books are slow. Blogs are fast. Books ask you to stay between their covers. Blogs invite you to stray. Books fret over copyright and libel. Blogs grab whatever they want with impunity—news, gossip, pictures, videos.

C. How have blogs changed recently?

Now a days, a blog can be about anything and can link you to other blogs.
blogs are normally subjective, and recently are much more biased than before.

D. Why might you read a blog rather than a book, or a magazine, or a newspaper?

A blog can have many points of view, where a book, magazine or newspaper have only the authors perspective.

D. Is there reason to doubt the objectivity of a blog? Why? Why not?

Yes, there is a reason to doubt the objectivity because it may posses many pints of view.

E. If you kept your own blog, what would you title it?

I would call it: Blogatized!!

F. Find three blogs that mention our summer reading.

http://zionistfederation.blogspot.com/

http://www.finaltrump.com/

http://www.bluefountainmedia.com/blog/