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Comparisons of The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey

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Words: 1873 |

Pages: 4|

10 min read

Published: Jan 5, 2023

Words: 1873|Pages: 4|10 min read

Published: Jan 5, 2023

The Odyssey of Homer and the Epic of Gilgamesh are two popular legendary works with heroic characters. Comparing the attributes and heroic aspirations of these two mythological figures via literature can assist us to recognize how exclusive they are. This Odyssey and Gilgamesh evaluation has aided in identifying the parallels and contrasts between the two works. Both the Gilgamesh Epic and the Odyssey are regarded in excessive regard for using literature because they furnish a historical portrayal of the heroes and their friends. When we examine them, they conjure up photos in our brains based on the size and effort spent writing them. The writing techniques, characterization detail, and most important thoughts of these two epics are starkly different. They each discuss the narrative of a lost guy who sooner or later finds his way. The purpose of this thesis is to discover the predominant characters' trips; in particular, one must center of attention on the protagonists' motivations and how both Gilgamesh and Odysseus have been changed over their adventures. This debate may additionally shed mild on the values and ideas of people who lived thousands of years ago.

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The Odyssey and the Gilgamesh Epic are two legends about ordinary men from historical Mesopotamia and Greece who had been given magnificent abilities. However, they, like all men, make errors as they go through life. Gilgamesh used to be the ruler of Uruk in Babylonia and the hero of the epic Gilgamesh. He was once a monarch with a lot of flaws. People claimed he was cruel and slept with brides before their husbands on their wedding ceremony night. He was once arrogant and had no situation for his humans at the beginning of the story, as he would govern over them but not protect them. He was massive and strong, and he thought he was once higher than them. The hero of the Odyssey, Odysseus Odysseus is the ruler of Ithaca, an island nation on the Greek island of Ithaca, and a legendary Trojan War leader. He is additionally assured. In contrast to Gilgamesh, Odysseus was blessed with mental abilities, used to be intelligent, and wanted to study and trip new things. He lacked a heavenly beginning and used to be thoroughly human and good. While coming home, he overcame several obstacles, inclusive of several monsters, but he remained focused. He was once dependable, and human beings cherished and admired him.

The epics of Gilgamesh and Odysseus illustrate the story of two heroic Odysseus' from one-of-a-kind ancient durations who had been both in quest of the motive of existence due to their valor and capability to do splendid matters whilst dealing with deities and human creatures alike. Gilgamesh is a semi-mythic ruler of Uruk from early Mesopotamia, while the Odyssey epic is based totally on Greek mythology. However, regardless of all of epic poetry's commonalities and patterns, there are several distinctions, such as character attributes and the nature of the heroes' challenges.

Gilgamesh was a popular and essential discernment in Mesopotamian culture, according to historians. He was once expanded to the divine position of a god as a result of his bravery. Odysseus used to be a distinguished hero in Greek mythology, and he was regularly portrayed as godlike, practically identical to Zeus. While each Gilgamesh and Odysseus confronted adversity on their trips, the whole thing that happened to Gilgamesh was once his fault, whereas Odysseus' difficulties seemed to be the outcome of terrible luck.

Certain traits bind Gilgamesh and Odysseus together; they each possess godlike traits that resource them in defeating their otherworldly foes. While they have been each powerful, they made decisions primarily based on their may at instances and inconsiderate choices at other times, simply like any different guy. They additionally appear to research about themselves through situations and aid in the teaching of existing classes thru the problems they encounter. Women played a position in both stories, with Gilgamesh and Enkidu having to fight the Bull of Heaven, which was despatched down by a goddess, and Odysseus being challenged by the goddesses. When it comes to life classes that we can follow to the boundaries we face in life, the two tales seem to reflect every other. As stated in Gilgamesh's epic, 'Fill your bell with goods, Gilgamesh: day and night, day and night, dance and be cheerful, feast and delight. Allow yourself to be clean, bathe in water, experience the small toddler who holds your hand, and make your wife comfortable in your embrace; all of this is necessary.'

To begin, it is critical to discuss the motives in the back of the legendary heroes' departure from their birthplace. For example, Odysseus used to be compelled to participate in the Trojan War. He wished to continue to be in Ithaca from the beginning, but he was once forced to join Agamemnon and Menelaus' army. Gilgamesh, on the different hand, was keen to embark on this expedition. Furthermore, he is influenced by numerous factors. For example, he is willing to sacrifice a semi-god named Humbaba to acquire repute and respect from others. Overall, this instance can shed light on the cultural distinctions between Ancient Greece and Sumer. Odysseus' actions exhibit that Greeks valued loyalty to their native land or families. As a result, Sumerian society placed a top rate on strength and glory. It's also vital to talk about how the trip affected both Odysseus and Gilgamesh. Odysseus faced several challenges on his journey, and in sure cases, he had to count on cunning, ruthless force, and even brutality to live and return to Ithaca. He additionally has the option of staying with Calypso. Despite this, he has dedicated to his wife Penelope and his motherland. Gilgamesh, in turn, transforms as a result of his exploits. He has a hard time accepting the reality that he is mortal. Odysseus, on the different hand, does now not attempt to attain the rank of a god. Again, the fundamental characters' experiences can indicate significant cultural contrasts between Greece and Sumer. The Greeks have been aware of a person's limitations. However, the equal might also be said of the Sumerian civilization, in which men and women could declare deity status.

Odysseus and Gilgamesh are comparable in the way they both fight for awareness in their dangerous careers, but what motivates them and helps them to strengthen as heroes at the top of the story is what is necessary and different. When Odysseus enters the land of the Cyclops, he ought to find a way to escape. In this time of crisis, Odysseus is thinking about saving no longer solely himself but additionally his team with the aid of coming home to see his family. Odysseus' self-sacrifice and skill are evident in his willpower to keep his people. However, the proud king Gilgamesh needs to kill Humbaba just to prove to the humans of Uruk that he, simply a mortal man, has killed the god. Gilgamesh says, 'I, Gilgamesh, would see! Whose identity is regarded in all the earth, I will hunt him in the forest of cedars? I will make the world a land' Initially, Gilgamesh's explanations behind many of his selections were to seek attention, however when his first-class friend, Enkidu, died suddenly, a surprising change occurred for Gilgamesh, and his explanations changed. Gilgamesh comes to receive the divine order and is greater cozy with his role as king. The first of these changes in preserving his love for Enkidu and the flood of Utanapishtim is when Gilgamesh sees it as better to shop a life than to ruin it. Thomas VanNortwick explains that 'Although it is questioned whether Odysseus is experiencing personal development or not' like Gilgamesh, others can see how he is learning to adapt to the trials that have been reserved for him. Odysseus finds approaches to use much less and much less violence in his journey, however, in the end, Odysseus is viewed as a dry character.

Odysseus and Gilgamesh both epic characters become heroes through the challenges they face in their variety of journeys. In every character's journey, you research the characteristics that a leader and a hero must have. They both begin as guys and leaders with mistakes 'and the trials they face in their experience educate them to overcome their mistakes and end up higher leaders and heroes. An actual leader must be free and alone. Gilgamesh suffers from loneliness extra than once at some stage in history. At first, he is so lonely that he behaves like a dictator, ignores his duties as a king, and pursues younger children and virgins in the course of his empire in search of friendship. on the different hand, trapped on the island of Calypso for seven years with no hope of returning home, he longs to return home to his wife and son, however, he has no boat and no one. workers who should assist him in getting there.

A common theme is heroism in both Epic stories. They are guys of tremendous power and stature. Heroes provide us with the full energy of the thought and on the different hand, to recognize the electricity of the physique of heroes in particular. Both heroes confronted the loss of life and went their way with courage and admiration and the family of Odysseus who faced adversity for his lengthy ride in pursuit of understanding and wealth. Both characters destroy up into heroes and dictators. Gilgamesh succeeds in his study of the reality that man dies soon. He also understood that not be counted what man's success was, even if he used to be like a god to Gilgamesh, man appreciates small things. It took Gilgamesh one day when Odysseus' journey multiplied to twenty years to realize that each person has to have a life. Gilgamesh and Odysseus are designed to tackle the external boundaries of human lifestyles and restore the facts extracted from this supernatural standpoint (Launderville). Gilgamesh is unkind to the beast and kills it with the proper recommendation from Enkidu, who says: ‘Kill Gilgamesh now. Do not exhibit favoritism or foolishness to a foxy enemy.’ Taking the advice, Gilgamesh cuts off the beast. Odysseus, on the different hand, notwithstanding Athena's divine help, and Telemachus, alongside a few different shepherds, had been capable to kill all lovers. Katabasis is often referred to among many others as a ride to the underworld. Katabasis has been marketed for a day trip throughout the country to some other airport in the match of an underground time out.

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Overall, comparisons of these manuscripts may want to beautify readers' understanding of Sumerian or historic Greek culture. Homer's music displays such values 'as faithfulness in marriage, devotion to one's homeland, and acceptance of human limitations, mainly death. On the different hand, the Epic of Gilgamesh emphasizes power, prestige, and the recognition of others. Both legendary heroes have shown that everybody has the accountability to face challenges and analyze from experience. Thus, the familiar theme of both fiction texts suggests that heroic characteristics can be obtained by means of everybody as long as he is prepared to face challenges. However, there are some aspects of the place Odysseus is very special from Gilgamesh. The latter, for example, is involved in misleading practices, while the former is remarkably involved in these round him.

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Comparisons of The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey. (2023, January 05). GradesFixer. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/comparisons-of-the-epic-of-gilgamesh-and-the-odyssey/
“Comparisons of The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey.” GradesFixer, 05 Jan. 2023, gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/comparisons-of-the-epic-of-gilgamesh-and-the-odyssey/
Comparisons of The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey. [online]. Available at: <https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/comparisons-of-the-epic-of-gilgamesh-and-the-odyssey/> [Accessed 26 Apr. 2024].
Comparisons of The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey [Internet]. GradesFixer. 2023 Jan 05 [cited 2024 Apr 26]. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/comparisons-of-the-epic-of-gilgamesh-and-the-odyssey/
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