2 Discussion Responses

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Topic: How does the Epic of Gilgamesh fulfill the major characteristics of the literary genre known as “the epic”?

In literature, the meaning of the word epic is a long poem that tells a great and heroic story. Epic literature was written to commemorate the struggles and adventures of kings, warriors, and heroes. On the other hand, epics are also collections of historical events that are not recorded in common history books. The main function of an epic poetry is to transmit values of the hero to inspire them to be ready to perform heroic actions. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story about the life of an Assyrian king whose name is Gilgamesh. The poetic style of The Epic of Gilgamesh includes a lot of repetition which helps make his story easier to remember. Gilgamesh is a young arrogant king who was portrayed as half-god and half-human. This empowers him to be seen as in excess of a man, yet not exactly undying. Simultaneously, Gilgamesh’s condition is one in which he comes to comprehend certainties about being human. He encounters agony, misconception, and the very development of mortality. Gilgamesh is known as the most grounded man on the planet and is respected for his fortitude. Throughout this epic, Gilgamesh performs many different accomplishments such as defeating Humbaba, the Bull of Heaven deify him, and achieves an enduring inheritance. Gilgamesh’s strength, beauty, and attitude becomes troublesome for him. The gods grow sick and tired of Gilgamesh’s arrogant attitude, so they decide to teach him a lesson. His punishment is to fight then he is summoned to set off on a long journey which will teach him life lessons along the way. The Epic of Gilgamesh fits the main definition of an epic because it is a long poem that tells a heroic story. Gilgamesh is considered an epic saint as a result of his extraordinary quality, fearlessness, and accomplishments.

Source:

Epic - Examples and Definition of Epic. (2015, December 02). Retrieved October 21, 2020, from https://literarydevices.net/epic/

2nd Discussion

Title: Egyptian Pyramids

Topic: What do the impressive efforts to build the pyramids indicate about death in Egyptian society?

A lot of hours and labor went into building the Egyptian Pyramids. Most stood several hundred feet tall and took on average about 30 years to build. Pyramids were made out of limestone and granite and were built with tools such as copper saws and chisels. A lot of work and planning went into building the pyramids to protect the pharaohs and the people that were buried with them. It was once thought that the pyramids were built by slaves but was later discovered they were built by skilled builders and were rewarded with burials in the tombs. Egyptians believed in immortality, and that after you die, if you were approved by the gods, you would be born again. They believed that death was just a temporary state. It seems as though Egyptians lived their lives just preparing for death and making sure they were good enough for the afterworld. The Book of the Dead was used, and Osiris, the god of the underworld would judge them on if they could live life after death. The Book of the Dead was thought to be a manual to help guide them to afterlife if they were approved by the gods. When they would die, the organs were taken out except the heart and the body was mummified to prepare for afterlife. They were buried with prayers and jewelry such as gems and gold. Pharaoh’s were even buried in gold tombs. Outside of the tomb there would be food, drinks, clothing, and furniture for when they awake from the dead. They even went to great measures to protect the pharaohs and the belongings of them for when they came into the after world. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop thieves from creating tunnels underneath to rob the tombs. They then had to think of other ways for burial.

Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition. 7th ed. McGraw-Hill Education, 2015, pp. 49-57