Comparing Gilgamesh and King Arthur

964 Words2 Pages

Gilgamesh and King Arthur

The Epic of Gilgamesh has many similarities to The Legend of King Arthur. Although Gilgamesh and King Arthur have comparison they also have differences. The main difference is that one is an Epic and the other is a Legend. To compare and contrast The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Legend of King Arthor, one must first know what the words, "Epic" and "Legend" mean. Primarily, "epic" is a long narrative poem about the deeds of a semi-god, also known as a superhuman hero who's actions are depended on as the fate of a nation, tribe or a human race. This usually consists of an adventure filled plot and is concerned with timeless human problems such as honour, jealousy, war and hatred. These contain gods and goddesses and the setting is fixed in a far distant place at a time long past. Epics are based on legends and myths.
Secondly, "legend" consists of a protagonist (superman) who manages to solve some problems that a group of people have encountered. This too consists of an adventure filled plot. In knowing the words, epic and legend there is now a better comprehension of these wondrous stories.

The Legend of King Arthur is in comparison to The Epic of Gilgamesh because Arthur's closest companion was Merlin, and Gilgamesh's closest companion was Enkidu and neither Gilgamesh nor Arthur forgot their friends. Enkidu only came in contact with Gilgamesh after becoming a man. Enkidu released the animals from the hunter's traps when they ere caught, so to make him a man the prostitute slept with him so that the animals would be ashamed of him and reject him. King Arthur became aware of Merlin when he was a young man. When Arthur was born Merlin placed him in the care of Sir Ector, throughout his boyhood Arthur learned the ways of chivalry, knighthood and how to become a gentleman. At the tournament one day Arthur pulled Excalibur from the stone and this is what brought upon Arthur meeting Merlin once again. In The Legend of King Arthur, Merlin exclaimed, "it is the doom of men if they forget." Gilgamesh along with Enkidu together fought and killed Humbaba, protector of the Cedar forest, and the Bull of Heaven, sent as punishment to Gilgamesh for killing Humbaba. King Arthur nor Gilgamesh forgot their faithful friends.

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Gilgamesh and Odysseus

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gilgamesh and Odysseus are two heroes from two different time periods that were both in search of the meaning of life. The epics that the two characters are featured in Gilgamesh, was developed from early Mesopotamia and the Odyssey in early Greece. Gilgamesh was a very popular and it was very valuable to the historian of Mesopotamian culture because it reveals much about the religious world, such as their attitudes toward the gods, how a hero was defined and regarded, views about death and friendship.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Gender Inequality In The Handmaids Tale

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... and outlawed sexual harassment in the workplace.” These among many other laws put into place have dramatically pushed women towards in equal place among men.

    Read More

  • The Battles Of Pearl Harbor And The Battle Of Midway

    1806 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Battle of Midway took place around the Islands of Midway. These islands are the farthest west of the Hawaiian chain of islands. These islands were important in the U.S. defense of the Hawaiian Islands. The U.S. force’s included 3 aircraft carriers (Yorktown, Enterprise, Hornet), 234 aircraft, 110 bombers, fighters and patrol planes, along with a fleet of 25 submariners. Admiral Chester Nimitz led the Americans. The American troops had been depleted by the attack on Pearl Harbor and the battle of Coral Sea. 6 large aircraft carriers and 400 aircraft highlighted the Japanese troops. Isoroku Yamamoto led the Japan forces. The Battle of Coral Sea was the battle before the Battle of Midway. At Coral Sea, Japan didn’t finish its goal of the mission, which was to invade Port Moresby in New Guinea in order for its planes to dominate the skies over northern Australia. Even though the mission failed the naval power was still with the Japanese. (Cragg) (Lambert) (Hone)

    Read More

  • Message of Love in the Epic of Gilgamesh

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gilgamesh is an epic of great love, followed by lingering grief that causes a significant change in character. It is the story of a person who is feared and honored, a person who loves and hates, a person who wins and loses and a person who lives life. Gilgamesh's journey is larger than life, yet ends so commonly with death. Through Gilgamesh, the fate of mankind is revealed, and the inevitable factor of change is expressed.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Hero in Epic of Gilgamesh and Homer's Iliad

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thus muses Achilles, one of epic poetry's greatest heroes. Epic poetry, one of the earliest forms of literature, began as an oral narration describing a series of mythical or historic events. Eventually, these stories were written down and read aloud to an audience. Although the Epic of Gilgamesh was composed approximately fifteen hundred years prior to the Iliad, the heroes of both epics possess strikingly similar characteristics. Indeed, Gilgamesh and Achilles, as epic heroes, exemplify godlike qualities, great personal power, and fierce pride and loyalty.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Gilgamesh And Rama

    1590 Words  | 4 Pages

    The epic hero’s journeys hold the hopes for future of ordinary people’s lives. The Epic of Gilgamesh was written in approximately 2000 B.C.E which is highly enriched with Ancient Mesopotamian religions, and The Ramayana was written by ancient Indians in around 1800 B.C.E. The stories were written in two different parts of the world. However, these two stories etched great evidence that show people from generation to generation that different cultures and religions are interconnected; they share ideas with each other. Both Gilgamesh and Rama traveled long journeys in these tales. These epic journeys played a role in the creation of different archetypes. We can clearly see that these two tales share similarities between these archetypes. Although

    Read More

  • F. Scott Fitzgerald

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    F. Scott Fitzgerald studied at Newman School, a Catholic prep school found in New Jersey (“F. Scott Fitzgerald” St. James). Fitzgerald played for their football team (“F. Scott Fitzgerald” American). He spent two years at the Newman School then enrolled at Princeton in 1913. He was placed on academic probation in 1917 and figured that it was highly unlikely for him to graduate. So he left Princeton and went to the Army (“F. Scott Fitzgerald” St. James).

    Read More

  • An Essay About Mexico

    1845 Words  | 4 Pages

    When most people think of Mexico, they picture a normal Christian country but, little did they know, th...

    Read More

  • Violent Video Games and their Effects on Children.

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    Video Games have been around since the early 1940s. Meaning people have been playing video games for at least the last 74 years. Based on research the first violent video game came out in 1976 known as Death Race. This game was described as sick and disturbing. Death Race was a driving game and you received points when you ran over people. Think that is violent, imagine the violence in the video games 28 years later. Violent video games affect the present and the future because they impact children’s mind, behavior, and education.

    Read More

  • The Pay Gap

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...se it will affect our children. We cannot “silently” discriminate on the basis of male and female or being a mother. The question is why does a gap in pay exist? As women acquire higher education degrees, it’s not making a difference in the labor market. Being a mother has been seen as a negative attribute when they wish to return to the work force. Part of the trend seen in the income wage gap is because women are choosing careers that are considered to be “pink” collar. Part of the blame should be on the “boss” or employer. He or she is to blame for the 40% income wage difference that exists in full time and part time workers. President Kennedy promised to close the income wage gap that existed during his time as President, yet constant strives by Congress has not closed it yet. Once again, does the U.S. need a female President to do something about this?

    Read More

  • Juvenile Gun Violence

    1262 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this day and age the media is always covering breaking stories about juveniles and violence. It seems that every other day there is a headline about shootings or stabbings. There are many things that need to be taken into consideration when analyzing juvenile violence and more specifically juveniles and gun violence. Gun violence is the intentional use of a weapon against a person, group or community that can possibly result in injury, death or psychological harm. There are many factors that need to be analyzed in order to come to a decision about the proper course of action to reduce gun violence amongst juveniles. The things that need to be taken into consideration are gun laws, different uses of a firearm, how youths attain firearms, causes of gun violence and most importantly, the options to combat juvenile gun violence.

    Read More

  • Essay On The American Court System

    2361 Words  | 5 Pages

    Justice is a vital part of the American Court System and influenced and continues to influence since the beginning of American history. Structure and organization is an important factor that creates our outstanding court systems. The State and U.S Constitutions are not the only foundation of the court systems, but also that people that work hard to thrive for justice. Today, justice and equality causes the court systems to change and adapt to continue protecting the rights of the people.

    Read More

  • Psychiatrist Case Study

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    With the help from the team of doctor the jury was able to come up with a verdict.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Epic of Gilgamesh with The Odyssey

    1263 Words  | 3 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 on the author and the archetypes used. However, The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh contrast from one another in their writing styles, character details, and main ideas. Both epics weave together a story of a lost man who must find his way, but the path of their stories contrast from one another.

    Read More

  • Gilgamesh Reflection Paper

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest text in history. Gilgamesh is a powerful king and an awe-inspiring warrior who is 2/3 divine and 1/3 human. I think it is interesting that the epic has so many factors that I can relate to in our current time. There are a lot of lessons that can be gained from reading the epic. The text relates to me as a college student in a various ways. It has a few key experiences that reminds me of my own personal life experiences. The epic is an important text that should be read because it has life lessons for modern humans from centuries ago.

    Read More

More about Comparing Gilgamesh and King Arthur

Open Document