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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. Which goddess creates Enkidu in order to bring down Gilgamesh's arrogance?

2. From which civilization do these myths originate?

3. What facet of mankind annoys Ellil to the point where he nearly casts a plague upon them?

4. In the final tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh, what does Enkidu offer to retrieve for Gilgamesh?

5. What is unique about the plant Gilgamesh retrieves from the Apsu?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is significant about Ninsun adopting Enkidu as her own son?

2. Why does all sexual activity on Earth stop while Ishtar is in Kurnugi?

3. Why does Belet-ili bring Enkidu to life?

4. What remedies are offered after the flood to help control the population of the world?

5. In the Mesopotamian myths discussed in this book, what early beliefs are depicted?

6. How does Ishtar gain entrance into the Underworld?

7. In the longer version of this story, what happens after Namtar fails to find Nergal outside of the Underworld?

8. For what reasons does Enkidu die?

9. What reasons are given for the Mesopotamian myths becoming the basis of stories for several other cultures?

10. What function does the man, Good-Looks, serve in this story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How and why is flying a predominant theme in Mesopotamian myths? Develop a clear thesis statement and write an essay, including (but not exclusively) the following topics:

1) Etana and the eagle.

2) Anzu.

3) Marduk's use of the winds.

4) Tiamat's army.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

In the story of Etana, the eagle betrays the snake by eating its young, leading to the eagle's violent punishment. Discuss the roles of the eagle and the snake. What are some of the natural connotations, literary and otherwise, dredged up when thinking of snakes? What about eagles? How does this role reversal shift the reader's preconceptions of these animals? How does this speak to the diversity of Mesopotamia? What are the underlying themes of the eagle and the snake's story?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the similarities between the Mesopotamian and Biblical flood myths in the following format:

Part 1) The over-indulgence and destruction of mankind.

Part 2) The similarities and differences of Noah and Atrahasis.

Part 3) The relationship between mankind and their god or gods.

Part 4) The final flood.

Part 5) The reconstruction of Earth and mankind.

(see the answer keys)

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