The Epic of Gilgamesh - Book Report/Review Example

As Lachros was preparing to leave for the Academy, Nidstye blew silently in the ear of Lachros' mother who instantly fell ill. Lachros went to his neighbors to ask for help, but in getting her to a physician while he appeared at the Academy, but Nidstye had made sure his entreaties went unacknowledged. Realizing that he had to make a choice, Lachros applied logic to his decision. Since he wanted his degree in order to please his mother, receiving it if she were to die would make little sense. So he left the Academy members waiting without explanation while he took his mother to see the physician.

The next day, he stood before the Academy and argued his decision to unanimous approval. Extra Credit Scavenger HuntThe story of Gilgamesh is one of many alternate myths surrounding a great flood that is best known in the western world as the story of Noah. Gilgamesh's story says the reason for the flood was that the noise of civilization so loud as to be intolerable the flood was the gods' way of stifling it. Like Noah, Gilgamesh is chosen to be spared, in his case by Ea, the water god, who appeared to Gilgamesh in a dream and told him to build a boat of equal width and length.

He was also told to use the wood of his house to build the boat and to inform others that he was instructed to put to sea in order to please the gods. And just like Noah, Gilgamesh was also informed that he must take two of every animal as well as grain to reseed the earth after the waters had dissipated (96). Equally similar to the story of the Ark, Gilgamesh was also allowed to take his family on the boat as well, and he also brought along the laborers who assisted in its construction. This is one point where the stories of Noah and Gilgamesh diverge significantly.

The inclusion of the craftsmen includes the reproduction of knowledge in the post-flood world. Of course, with knowledge also comes corruption and just as the sons of Noah are traditionally responsible for spreading both throughout the world, the craftsmen often get the blame for the same thing in the story of Gilgamesh. Another major difference is the length of the flood. The Gilgamesh rain lasts only six days and night instead of the traditional Biblical number of forty(Leeming 46). The myth of Gilgamesh is interesting because it bears such a strong similarity to the Biblical flood story while also containing enough stark differences to make it stand well on its own.

Gilgamesh is also fascinating because of the reason for the flood, which can be interpreted to mean exactly the same thing as God's displeasure in Genesis.