GILGAMESH by David Ferry - Book Report/Review Example

7 June Gilgamesh by David Ferry Response: Gilgamesh by David Ferry is a very interesting narrative of a man’s effort with immortality. The translation made by David Ferry was fairly accurate and made use of simple words. This raises the reader’s interest in the story and the experience with the book becomes quite pleasant. In Gilgamesh, the author has introduced a writing pattern which is way off the conventional style of writing. While Gilgamesh and Enkidu make preparations for invasion into the forbidden Cedar Forest in order to encounter the demon Humbaba, Enkidu says: Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar the floodwater; his breath is death.

Enlil made him guardian of the Cedar Forest, to frighten off the mortal who would venture there. But who would venture there? Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar is the floodwater; he breathes and there is death. He hears the slightest sound somewhere in the Forest. Enlil made him terrifying guardian,Whose mouth is fire, whose roar the floodwater. (Ferry). In this epic, the articulate manner in which the verses have been repeated is indeed, a very incredible literary technique. It is difficult to generalize the literary style used in the epic because of the fact that different English translations relate to the poems in different ways and there is a great deal of variation in the ancient versions as well.

There are repetitions that associate with the formal structure in that the repetitions might have helped the storytellers with mnemonic assistance when the storytellers did not have any written versions. The repetitions may prove very incantatory in effect both in the original languages of Gilgamesh and the English translation. In the lines mentioned above from the book, the audience is made aware of the awesome presence of Humbaba as well as the fear which is inspired in the challengers of Humbaba.

In Gilgamesh, the author has come up with many transitions in the literature. This can be estimated from the fact that Gilgamesh’s despair upon losing his last chance for immortality, the magical plant turns out to be false since the loss was a truthful moment. Gilgamesh takes Urshanabi with him and reaches the wonderful expense of Uruk. Its fields, towering ziggurat and the orchards fascinate him and Gilgamesh takes pride in it. Throughout the book Gilgamesh keeps finding the real meaning of life and by the end of it, discovers the meaning in nowhere else but his own home.

Gilgamesh has certain elements in common with The Odyssey, particularly the meeting with the souls of expired people and the trip to Underworld. If this book was to be defined in one word, it would be cute, because it does sound absurd and strange at times, yet this never comes as a compromise upon the intrinsic beauty of the literature and creativity of ideas of the author. The translation by David Ferry is highly recommendable. A reader may feel bored to read the first few pages of the book, though if the reader continues to read, the book gradually starts to reveal its hidden powers.

Works Cited: Ferry, David. Gilgamesh: A New Rendering in English Verse. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1993. Print.