World Literature – Gilgamesh Quiz – Flashcards
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Who was Ninsun?
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The mother of Gilgamesh, also called the Lady Wildcow Ninsun. She is a minor goddess, noted for her wisdom.
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Who was Ninurta?
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The god of war and wells, one of the council members.
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Who was Shamash?
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The sun god, brother of Ishtar, patron of Gilgamesh. Shamash is a wise judge and lawgiver. The one who talks Enkidu into not cursing Shamhat.
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Who was Shamhat?
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The prostitute who led Enkidu into the city, also tamed Enkidu.
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Who was Urshanabi?
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The guardian of the mysterious "stone things." Urshanabi pilots a small ferryboat across the Waters of Death to the Far Away place where Utnapishtim lives. He loses this privilege when he accepts Gilgamesh as a passenger, so he returns with him to Uruk. The wise boatman.
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Who was Utnapishtim?
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A king and priest of Shurrupak, whose name translates as "He Who Saw Life." By the god Ea's connivance, Utnapishtim survived the great deluge that almost destroyed all life on Earth by building a great boat that carried him, his family, and one of every living creature to safety. The gods granted eternal life to him and his wife.
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Who was Ishtar?
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The goddess of love and fertility, as well as the goddess of war. Sometimes she is a nurturing mother figure, and other times she is spiteful and cruel. She sets the bull out on Enkidu and Gilgamesh, because Gilgamesh refuses her hand in marriage.
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Who was Humbaba?
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The fearsome demon who guards the Cedar Forest forbidden to mortals.
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How did the story circulate before it was written down?
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Orally.
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Uruk is in modern...?
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Iraq.
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Was Gilgamesh a good leader?
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No, he was more of a tyrant. Enkidu was made to be his challenger, originally.
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Why does Enkidu battle Gilgamesh when they first meet?
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Because Gilgamesh thinks he has a right to sleep with women who get married first instead of the husband. Gilgamesh wins, but Gilgamesh respects Enkidu and they become ~soul mates.
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Difference between the battle with Humbaba and the battle with the bull?
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Battle w/ Humbaba was more dramatic. They were actually scared but took him down anyways, while with the bull they had confidence they would win because of their past victory.
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What is Gilgamesh like after Enkidu's death?
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He trades his clothes for rags and tears apart animals, loses weight and becomes a wild man like Enkidu was, probably to become closer to Enkidu.
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What happens on Gilgamesh's last quest for immortality?
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He sets out to find the really old immortal dude, he meets two scorpion monsters who warn him of his quest. He proceeds on, beating the sun in the tunnel. He makes it to the river and meets the boat dude who tells him he needs the stones that the boat dude has to past. Instead of asking, Gilgamesh attacks and smashes the stone. He and the boatman then cross with handcrafted poles. He makes it there and the test is to stay awake for a week and Gilgamesh fails, bread proves it. Then he is given the last chance to find a plant at the bottom of the ocean. He makes it and gets the plant, washes up to shore and proceeds to fall asleep. A snake eats it, all hope is lost dun dund udndnnnnnn.
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