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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. Who blesses Utnapishtim and his wife, making them immortal?

2. Is man meant to be immortal?

3. Where does Utnapishtim order the boatman to take Gilgamesh?

4. What do most of the gods want?

5. Where do the two decide to rest and sleep?

Short Essay Questions

1. What must Gilgamesh do to reach Utnapishtim?

2. What does Utnapishtim begin?

3. What happens because of Gilgamesh's impatience?

4. What does the King do when he sees Uruk?

5. How does Utnapishtim respond to Gilgamesh's quest?

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

7. How does Utnapishtim's wife describe Gilgamesh?

8. What takes place in Enkidu's dream?

9. How does Sabitu react after Gilgamesh tells his story?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gilgamesh is the main character in the story.

Part 1) Describe Gilgamesh. How do you know he is the main character?

Part 2) How do you know he is a catalyst?

Part 3) How does the creation of Enkidu help the reader gain more knowledge about Gilgamesh?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Gilgamesh does not take Shamash's advice when entering the underworld.

Part 1) What is Shamash's advice? Why does Gilgamesh not take his advice?

Part 2) What role does Shamash play in Gilgamesh's decision to not follow the rules of the underworld?

Part 3) How might the end of this story be different if Gilgamesh had followed the rules? What does this say about following rules and doing as one is supposed or expected to do?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 769 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample