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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. Where do the two decide to rest and sleep?

2. Why does Gilgamesh lament to Utnapishtim?

3. Why does Gilgamesh lift a stone and throw it down onto the boat?

4. What is natural to man?

5. What does Urshanabi feel for Gilgamesh?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Utnapishtim agree to tell Gilgamesh?

3. What does Enkidu curse?

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

5. What takes place in Enkidu's dream?

6. What does the boatman say to Gilgamesh, regarding his quest?

7. How does Gilgamesh lose the magic weed?

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

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

10. What does Ea give Utnapishtim? Why?

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

Gilgamesh becomes impatient waiting for the boatman.

Part 1) Why does he become impatient? What does he do when he becomes impatient?

Part 2) What does this behavior reveal about his character?

Part 3) How does this behavior affect his quest? How might his quest have gone differently if he had behaved differently?

(see the answer keys)

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