View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Can one become immortal by feats of daring alone?

2. Why does the dove that is released return?

3. What does one of the scorpion-men do upon seeing Gilgamesh?

4. What does the wife of Utnapishtim urge her husband to give Gilgamesh?

5. What happens when both Gilgamesh and Urshanabi take a morsel of the plant?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the wine maiden, Sabitu, react to Gilgamesh's appearance?

2. What does Gilgamesh do when he realizes his quest is hopeless? How does Utnapishtim respond?

3. What does Sabitu explain to Gilgamesh that he will find on the shore?

4. How does Gilgamesh arrive at the short of the Bitter River?

5. What happens because of Gilgamesh's impatience?

6. What does Enkidu curse?

7. What happens when Gilgamesh reaches the Mountains of Mashu?

8. Why is the crow sent out? Why does it not return?

9. How long does the storm last? What happens when the water begins to recede?

10. What does Utnapishtim tell Gilgamesh that would allow him to return to Uruk honorably?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Enkidu agrees to do as the elders request, regarding Gilgamesh.

Part 1) What do they request? Why do they request this?

Part 2) Why does Enkidu agree to this request? What does this reveal about his character?

Part 3) How is this decision by Enkidu significant to the characters and the plot?

Part 4) What message does Enkidu's decision send to the reader?

Essay Topic 2

There are many similarities and differences between Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

Part 1) How are they similar? How are they different?

Part 2) To what do these similarities and differences lead?

Part 3) How does this relationship guide the plot of the story?

Essay Topic 3

At every point of his journey, Gilgamesh is warned of the dangers.

Part 1) How is he warned? Why is he warned?

Part 2) Gilgamesh is not only warned but urged to act a certain way. How is he urged to behave? Why?

Part 3) What is the purpose for this urging? How might it affect those hearing or reading the story in this society?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 828 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample