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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. What do the axe and meteorite signify in relationship to Enkidu?

2. Which god is said to have her throne in the Cedar Forest?

3. Who reminds Gilgamesh of his boast in Uruk?

4. What does Gilgamesh want to do in the Cedar Forest?

5. Who helps Enkidu and Gilgamesh defeat Humbaba?

Short Essay Questions

1. What effect do the missing lines of interpretation have on Gilgamesh's dreams?

2. What two things does Gilgamesh dream about and what does his mother say they mean?

3. Describe what Enkidu sees in his dream of the underworld.

4. Why do the scorpion people finally agree to let Gilgamesh pass through the gates into the mountain paths?

5. Discuss why Gilgamesh has such a difficult time dealing with Enkidu's death.

6. Why does Enkidu not like living in the city?

7. Discuss Enkidu's interpretations of Gilgamesh's dreams.

8. Describe Gilgamesh's character.

9. What does Shamash say to Enkidu after Enkidu curses the courtesan?

10. Describe Gilgamesh's attitude towards the journey to the forest.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the role of women in the Gilgamesh epic. The courtesan functions to lead Enkidu out of the woods and introduce him to civilization. This could be considered a good event or a bad event. Ishtar becomes enraged when Gilgamesh spurns her love. Ishtar does not easily let her anger go and calls down terrible curses on Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

Essay Topic 2

When Gilgamesh identifies himself to Siduri, he lists the accomplishments of his life. He also lists these accomplishments when describing Enkidu. Discuss why these accomplishments are so important to Gilgamesh's life. Relate your discussion to class discussions throughout the book that focused on the importance of a man leaving some sort of legacy for himself and dying a valiant death.

Essay Topic 3

Many lines are missing throughout the story. Some are uninterpretable, while others have been destroyed by wear and tear or lost altogether. Discuss the impact missing lines have on the story. How do they affect understanding of events? How difficult is it for translators to piece together a complete story from different manuscripts each with missing lines?

(see the answer keys)

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