The Book of The Dead Questions

1) Briefly state what is going on in this text.

The speaker is talking to gods about why he should be blessed in the afterlife, and how he has been pure throughout his life.

2) What is the purpose of the text (for the speaker)?

He is trying to convince the judgeing gods to allow him to be accepted into afterlife.

3) What makes this text entertaining or confusing? 

There are many "hailings" for the gods. This gives the poem a repetitive song like sound, it is actually a spell. The paragraphs in the beginning are long sentences which is strange because they obviously have full functionality of punctuation.

Gilgamesh Questions

Al Weber

Alex Ackerman

Sienna Johnson

Gilgamesh questions

1.     What is going on in this story? Put it in your own words.

There was the ginormous guardian (Humbaba) who protects the trees  and is a slave to the gods. Two peasants (Gilgamesh and Enkidu) want some of the cedar trees to build their own houses.  Gilgamesh takes pity on the monster, but Enkidu says to kill him.

2.     Can you relate this story to any other you know or have read?

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss is very similar to the Epic of Gilgamesh. In both there is a guardian that protects trees whom is overrun by tree cutters.

3.     What do you think the epic says about Sumer.

It tells you that Sumer does not have a lot of trees because they are sacred. It also showed that they believed in monsters, and guardians.

4.     What strengths does Gilgamesh have as a hero?

He does not want to cause harm to the monster, and takes pity on it.

5.     What is your groups opinion of Enkidu?

Enkidu is enraged that he is almost killed by Humbaba, and wants to take revenge. His mentality is “an eye for an eye”.  Basically, he is a jerk.