The Epic of Gilgamesh

Abusch, Tzvi. "The Development and Meaning of the Epic of Gilgamesh: an Interpretive Essay." Journal of the American Oriental Society 121.4 (2001): 614-622. Literature Resource Center. Gale. University of Louisiana At Lafayette. 17 Sept. 2007 .

The three major versions of The Epic of Gilgamesh are contrasted to emphasize how Gilgamesh's personality is portrayed in each. In the Old Babylonian version, Gilgamesh gives up his role as a hero and concentrates on ensuring a positive future for his posterity. The eleven-tablet version ends depicting Gilgamesh as a just ruler whose achievements outlast his lifetime while the twelve-tablet version end with Gilgamesh as a god learning to adjust to his new lifestyle. Although each is slightly different, all three display the stages of growth throughout Gilgamesh's life.

Analysis: Tzvi examines these versions in depth to analyze the modifications that each contains. His work is very coherent, as he has broken down each version into three parts to examine the differences in the beginning, middle, and ends of each. This setup allows the reader to see what is different between the three, but also to see that each shares the common idea of Gilgamesh as a leader whose friendship with Enkidu and fear of death define him.

Bailey, John A. "Initiation and the Primal Woman in Gilgamesh and Genesis 2-3." Journal of Biblical Literature 89.2 (1970): 137-50. Literature Resource Center. Gale. University of Louisiana At Lafayette. 17 Sept. 2007 .

Enkidu, who lives in harmony with the animals, was created as a counterpart to Gilgamesh. The harlot is sent to serve the specific purpose of civilizing this creature. After giving him sexual pleasure, the harlot abruptly disappears, but this does not upset Enkidu. This shows that even though the harlot gave him a new sense of awareness, he is hurt more by the betrayal of his former companions. The harlot can be seen as a temptress because she only emphasizes the positive side of change, and leaves Enkidu to discover the negative side of change for himself.