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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In his dream, what is Gilgamesh doing?

2. What is the young priestess's worry?

3. What is done with the carcass of the beast?

4. Why does Gilgamesh pour meal on the earth?

5. Where does the anticipated battle between the King and the savage take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Harim leads Enkidu into Uruk?

2. Why is there a wall surrounding Uruk?

3. What do the hunter and his father find in Uruk?

4. Of what does Gilgamesh remind Ishtar? How does she react?

5. How is Enkidu convinced to join the King on his adventure?

6. How does Ishtar threaten Gilgamesh?

7. How does Enlil react to Shamash's pity for mankind?

8. How does this wall affect the people of Uruk?

9. What happens to the hunter? What does he do in reaction to this?

10. How does Ishtar react to the battle between Humbaba and the two friends?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The story of Gilgamesh begins with an account of the geography of his world.

Part 1) Describe Gilgamesh's world. What is the purpose of this description? How can the reader relate to this world?

Part 2) How does this world enhance the story of Gilgamesh?

Part 3) How does this world influence what takes place in this story?

Essay Topic 2

The goddess Ishtar is initially enraged by the battle between Humbaba and the two men.

Part 1) Why is she enraged by the battle? How is her opinion changed?

Part 2) How does this change in her attitude reflect her personality?

Part 3) How does this change in her behavior affect the two men and the plot? How might the story have been different if her attitude regarding Gilgamesh had not changed?

Essay Topic 3

This story serves a purpose.

Part 1) What purpose does it serve?

Part 2) How might those hearing or reading this story when it was first created react to it differently than readers today? Why?

Part 3) Why is this considered an epic? Are there any stories in your culture that you would consider epics? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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